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!

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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

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Advocacy News

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Charter and private recreational fishing captains primarily are conscientious in practicing conservation-smart measures for their business depends on the availability of fish. Most billfishing captains practice catch and release, some…
NOAA Fisheries announced landings updates for Atlantic swordfish, billfish, and tunas, which includes recreational billfish and bluefin tuna landings from January 1st through June 30, 2020. But swordfish and non-bluefin…
A recent Presidential Proclamation opened waters, closed in 2016, to commercial fishing inside the 5,000 square miles of the designated Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, located 130 miles…
All non-longline swordfish fisheries are required to use handgear – handline, harpoon, commercial rod and reel, green-stick and bandit gear. Handgear takes far less bycatch than does pelagic longline gear,…
Representatives from The Billfish Foundation attended a recent meeting with NOAA in which a swordfish retention expansion was discussed in the Caribbean. This proposed expansion applies to vessels in USVI…
NOAA Fisheries is doubling the number of swordfish allowed to be harvested by commercial fisheries. These expanded retention limits apply to vessels issued a Swordfish General Commercial permit or an…
For years, members of the sportfishing community have felt that scientists and fisheries managers should consult those on the water and in the industry when making decisions. Our community is…
The Northern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Trophy Fishery will officially close as of 11:30pm on May 21, 2020. It will remain closed for the remainder of 2020. This closure…
NOAA Fisheries announced landings updates for Atlantic swordfish, billfish, and tunas, including bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack, and albacore. This update include all landings between January 1st and March 31st of…
On February 7th, the National Marine Fisheries Service published a final ruling on the implementation of hard caps for drift gillnet fisheries (DGN) in the Pacific. These fisheries target thresher…
NOAA has announced big changes in daily retention limits for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean. These changes increase retention for those operating with an HMS Angling permit or an…
The National Marine Fisheries Service’s recently issued its final decision on Gear Restricted Areas (GRA) and Weak Hook use by pelagic longline vessels. These decisions ARE NOT related to the…
The Angling Category for trophy Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Southern Area (the area south of Great Egg Inlet, New Jersey, 39°18’N lat) has already reached its 1.8 mt subquota,…
The 2011 required year-round use of weak hooks (15/0 carbon vs 16/0 steel for regularly used hook) by pelagic longline vessels fishing in the Gulf of Mexico was for 12…
The Gear Restricted Area (GRA) off Cape Hatteras implemented to reduce bluefin tuna bycatch by pelagic longline vessels now is open to the gear. The waters had been closed December…
Pelagic longline “research” decisions not yet issued that could authorize the gear to fish inside waters closed for 19 and 20 years off of Florida’s east coast, Charleston and in…
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is an international regional fishery management organization for highly migratory species (HMS) in the Atlantic, including billfish, tunas, and some…
While no action was taken by the federal Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) at its November meeting to advance further consideration of its recently proposed measure to consider authorizing a…
The Pacific Fishery Management Counsel is proposing to authorize the use of shallow-set longline gear to fish for swordfish off the West Coast of the United States. Below are the…
NOAA is considering an amendment to the current Fishery Management Plan for Coral and Coral Reef Resources in Gulf of Mexico. The amendment establishes new and modifies existing habitat areas…
In July, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) drafted a proposal to create a recreational limit for blackfin tuna in Florida and the surrounding federal waters. In it’s…
The Billfish Foundation is encouraged by the comments made by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) regarding the proposed actions of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NFMS). As…
As promised, below are TBF’s final comments for the NMFS initiative that will potentially decimate billfish populations and harm the recreational fishing community. As a reminder, the new NMFS proposal…

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