NOAA Fisheries Announces Mistakes From Past Recreational Fishing Effort Survey
NOAA announced a large-scale follow-up study after results from its recreational fishing effort survey suggested the order of the questions in the survey may lead to an overestimation of fishing effort. Published in August 2023, “Evaluating Measurement Error in the MRIP Fishing Effort Survey” was one of several studies NOAA Fisheries conducted to evaluate sources […]
TBF Membership Benefits Changes
TBF has made some adjustments to the membership benefits! Not only have we upgraded our membership t-shirts, but we’ve added a high-performance long-sleeve shirt to the mix. Starting in 2024, all those with a Swordfish level TBF membership or above ($100+) will now be the recipients of a new softer, higher quality t-shirt! For all […]
Bluefin Tuna Closure for Angling Category
Based on the best available landings information from NOAA Fisheries, the 2.3-mt sub-quota of the Southern Area Trophy Fishery has been reached and exceeded. Effective as of February 9th, 2024, the closure will remain throughout the rest of the year, officially ending on December 31st, 2024. The area in question is defined as south of […]
TBF’s Annual Tag & Release Ceremony!
It’s almost here!! Time to celebrate and recognize the best in the billfishing world! If you haven’t already, there’s still time to snag some last minute tickets for The Billfish Foundation’s Annual Tag & Release Ceremony this Friday, February 16th, 2024. This is TBF’s chance to honor those anglers, captains, and mates who volunteer their […]
Closure of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category (Commercial) Fishery
The general category of Bluefin tuna will be closed from January 26th, 2024, to March 31st, 2024 based on the most recent landings information. The available data projected the 58.2-mt quota would be reached and exceeded during this time period. All Atlantic Tunas General category permitted vessels, as well as highly migratory species charter and […]
New Member Shirts!
TBF listened to your feedback and we heard your requests. We agreed, it was time for an upgrade in the shirt department. After multiple conversations with our designer and a few back-and-forths with the TBF team based on styles, materials, and colors, we think we nailed it! This new “retro” design also comes on an […]
TBF’s Annual Award Ceremony!
It’s time once again to recognize the best of the billfishing world. Get your tickets today for The Billfish Foundation’s Annual Tag & Release Ceremony, which honors those anglers, captains, and mates who volunteer their time, effort, and expertise to support billfish conservation around the world. Held on Friday, February 16, 2024 in the Treetop […]
2024 Artist of the Year: Eddie Forbes
From catching an octopus with my brother under the dock at Elliott Key, to seeing a humuhumunukunukuapua’a (painted triggerfish) while snorkeling at the City of Refuge on The Big Island, to catching my first monster striper in the surf in Nags Head, the sea has always run through my veins.Looking back on my childhood, I consider […]
NOAA Announces $82 Million in Funding for North Atlantic Right Whale
NOAA earmarked a $82 million fund dedicated to the conservation and recovery of the North Atlantic right whales. With this announcement, we again want to champion an innovative idea. NOAA’s antiquated approach (and proposed measure) of imposing ineffective, widespread speed restrictions across vast regions hasn’t worked. Such measures not only lack high compliance rates but […]
TBF’s Official Comments in NMFS Amendment 15
The Billfish Foundation (TBF) made official comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on Draft Amendment 15 to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan. We are extremely disappointed in the overly complex, technical, and lengthy presentation of the amendment, feeling as though the reader would need a Ph.D. in modeling fish […]
