ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson Inducted into AFS Hall of Excellence

On August 17, Gordon Robertson, vice president of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), was inducted into the American Fisheries Society’s (AFS) Fisheries Management Hall of Excellence during AFS’s annual international meeting held August 17-21, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Established in 1992, the AFS Hall of Excellence recognizes fisheries management professionals who have made significant contributions to improving and advocating for science-based fisheries management.

Since joining ASA in 2002 as Vice President and lead for Government Affairs, Robertson has been a crucial advocate for fisheries conservation and management, representing the recreational fishing industry with federal and state government agencies and policymakers responsible for resource management. Robertson announced his retirement from ASA in June of this year and will conclude his service at the end of August.

“I was very humbled and touched by this award because it came from the American Fisheries Society division that represents fishery biologists and researchers,” said Robertson. “As a lifelong advocate for science-based fisheries management, I know how important their work is and that this is the division that puts fisheries conservation efforts on the ground in this country.”

The award also holds special meaning for Robertson because he was jointly nominated for the award by the six former Government Affairs Policy Fellows that he mentored during his twelve year tenure at ASA. These Policy Fellows worked alongside Robertson in ASA’s Government Affairs department as he mentored them and provided them with many opportunities to interact with a broad spectrum of policymakers. The six Policy Fellows who worked under Robertson are currently working in federal and state agencies and non-governmental organizations.

Robertson began his career in 1971 as a Service Forester in West Virginia, then moved on to work as a conservation biologist for New York’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. He spent six years as the Northeast Representative for the Wildlife Management Institute and three years as Legislative Counsel for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Prior to ASA, for 13 years, Robertson served as Deputy Chief of Wildlife Resources for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.