Private: Policies

Interested in seeing what causes TBF is currently fighting for? Click here to see what management efforts are affecting our community and what you can do to help.

TAKE ACTION

If you resonate with any of TBF’s efforts or policies, learn how you can make your voice be heard.

Ways to Help

Our success would not be possible without the support of our community. Review the ways you can support our efforts.

CURRENT POLICIES

Fighting for the rights of the recreational sport fishing community can be a tireless effort, but it’s an ever-evolving mission that we’re beyond committed to!

Filter Recent Policies by Ocean
Pacific Ocean
N/A
Pacific Ocean
Commercial Fishing
Indian Ocean
Commercial Fishing
Indian Ocean
Commercial Fishing
Atlantic Ocean
Commercial Fishing

The Billfish Foundation

Advocacy

TBF prides itself in being the voices for recreational anglers. Using our platform, we are consistently contacting our representatives, traveling to governmental panels and conferences, and using your reported data to fight for the rights of the recreational sportfishing industry. If you’re looking for ways to help support anglers, TBF, or billfish conservation, check out the links below.

The Billfish Foundation

Advocacy

TBF prides itself in being the voices for recreational anglers. Using our platform, we are consistently contacting our representatives, traveling to governmental panels and conferences, and using your reported data to fight for the rights of the recreational sportfishing industry. If you’re looking for ways to help support anglers, TBF, or billfish conservation, check out the links below.

TAKE ACTION

Here’s your chance to get involved! Let’s work together to make sure your voices are heard! Here’s how to do it.

1

CONNECT WITH AN ISSUE

Click here to review some of the current domestic and international issues affecting the angling community.

2

FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

Learn who your local spokesperson is surrounding the topics you’re passionate about.

3

CONTACT THEM

Now, it’s easier than ever to connect with a local representative. Click here to learn what to do!

Current Issues

Learn more about what’s making an impact on our community

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Advocacy News

Filter by Type
The table below provides the total number of billfish (January 1, 2018, through, December 31, 2018) landings in numbers of fish for Atlantic blue and white marlin, roundscale spearfish, and…
NOAA Fisheries determined that the Angling category southern area “trophy” bluefin tuna (measuring 73 inches or greater) subquota of 1.8 mt had been reached and exceeded and therefore closure of…
The Proposed Okaloosa County (north central Gulf of Mexico) recreational fishing Buoy/Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) System was approved as a means to improve catches of billfish and other species. The…
The Billfish Foundation recently submitted comments again to The South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council regarding the future management of a dolphin (mahi mahi) and wahoo fishery. The Amendment looks to…
Could China’s heavy financial investments in and aid to Panama along with the 47 recent trade agreements between the two nations possibly lead to a diminishment of Pacific fish stock…
Courtesy of Jasen Gast – Rehab The Modern Fish Act (MFA), signed into law at the end of 2018, is to improve recreational fishing landings data, increase allocation of fish…
How many blue marlin are in the ocean? Counting them isn’t exactly feasible (though you could have fun trying!) so scientists rely on catches and how much effort these catches…
A nice yellowfin tuna caught off Panama Recreational fishing in Panama and throughout Central America is likely to feel negative impacts from a fishery partnership between Panama and China established…
Fly Navarro and Adrienne Katz with a nice mahi-mahi The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) is considering management options to Amendment 10 on the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan. The…
Deep-set buoy gear finally has management alternatives for use in a swordfish fishery off southern California, where the fishery will be a limited entry to approximately 300 commercial vessels. Once…
Illustration courtesy of DRNEC of Delaware Chub mackerel, which are important prey species for billfish and other apex predators and to the healthy functioning of the ecosystem, are being considered…
Very late in the year and not anticipated, landing limits for Atlantic marlin were raised in the international arena. It was the overfished status of  Atlantic billfish that became the…
The table below provides preliminary 2018 (January 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018) landings in numbers of fish for Atlantic blue and white marlin, roundscale spearfish, and western Atlantic sailfish. …
TBF was very pleased when the National Marine Fisheries Service staff announced the 2018 amended Billfish Conservation Act (BCA) must comply with the agency’s official Guidelines. The amended BCA prohibits…
California Governor Signs Historic Law Governor Jerry Brown of California signed into law an act passed by his legislator to begin the phase out use of mile long commercial drift…
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is not issuing an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) that would open the east coast Florida closed zone to pelagic longline vessels for the stated…
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration just released their preliminary 2018 (January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2018) landings in numbers of fish for Atlantic blue and white marlin, roundscale…
The amended Billfish Conservation Act (BCA) passed Congress and was signed into law this month, August 2018.  The amended BCA prohibits Pacific billfish landed in Hawaii and in the U.S. Pacific…
NOAA Fisheries will close the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) Angling category fishery for large medium and giant “trophy” BFT (measuring 73” or greater) in the northern area effective 11:30 p.m. local time on…
To keep you up to date and for your convenience, we have summarized some of the latest policies that effect billfish and our community. The Council recommended actions on: Keep up…
Over the past several years, the bluefin tuna (BFT) incidental bite in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) has picked up. Through the efforts of TBF, GOM anglers have an allocation…
The practice of allowing the U.S. west coast fishery to still use large mesh drift gillnets is insane. The fact that this method of fishing is still allowed shows how much influence the commercial fishing industry has with the federal…
The Billfish Foundation recently submitted comments against NOAA’s proposed Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) opening of the Cashes Ledge and Western Gulf of Maine (WGOM) closed areas to commercial fishing. Currently,…
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recently issued a plan (Scoping Document, March 2018) to reinvigorate the longline fishery rather than proposing stricter conservation measures. If actions to reinvigorate the…

Media Submission

Do You Have Billfish Photos?

If you’d like to see your photos spotlighted in one of TBF’s publications or online via social media, then send them our way! We are always looking for high resolution photos of billfish in the water or jumping. Click below for more information on how to submit your pictures. 

TBF Events

Ways to Get Involved

Get involved in ocean advocacy through The Billfish Foundation’s Galas, Tournaments, and Ceremonies. As we continue our mission, we welcome donors and sponsors to join us, offering opportunities for recognition and impact.

Tournaments

TBF travels to dozens of sportfishing tournaments each year to support partners, fundraise on behalf of TBF, and educate anglers on the benefits of billfish tag and release.

Galas

TBF uses our annual gala to fundraise, to celebrate another successful year of billfish conservation, and to praise the efforts our incredible community.

Ceremonies

TBF’s Annual Tag and Release Award Ceremony is held annually in February to celebrate and recognize the captains, anglers, and mates who led the way in billfish conservation that year.

Interested in learning more?

TBF collects and utilizes data for advancing responsible fisheries management and billfish conservation, highlighting the importance of the recreational fishing community.
Our billfish successes today are only possible with partner support. Click here to see who they are and how you can help support them!
TBF fosters strong billfish conservation ethics, helping anglers of all generations understand the importance of the recreational sportfishing industry and billfish