Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) recently wrote a letter to Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS), urging his support for Ohio’s sportsmen and sportswomen by calling on the agency to maintain robust hunting and fishing access on wildlife refuges. The letter comes as FWS enters settlement negotiations following a lawsuit that sought to stop hunting expansions on wildlife refuges throughout the nation which collectively total over two million acres.
“I am writing today to express my strong support in maintaining the expansion of hunting and fishing on National Wildlife Refuges across the country,” Congressman Ryan wrote. “Sportsmen and sportswomen across the country, especially in Ohio, enjoy the unique and important opportunity to hunt and fish in our wildlife refuges. Ohio has a strong history of conservation, hunting, and fishing. Our state ranks fifth nationally in resident hunters and 11th in the number of jobs associated with hunting-related industries. Hunting generates more than $853 million in Ohio through the sale of equipment, fuel, food, lodging, and more.
Ryan continued, “While private lands are important for hunting and fishing, the contribution of our public lands adds value to our natural areas and wildlife habitat. Please consider the sportsmen and sportswomen who are important to maintain an ecosystem for conservation and best wildlife management practices.”
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