TBF AT MARLINS PARK!
On May 1, nearly 10,000 students from across South Florida learned about weather and billfish at the eighth annual CBS 4 Weather Day. This event took place prior to the Miami Marlins game at Marlins Park. Elementary and middle school students came from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties to the ballpark and took part in a fun-filled, science-focused educational field trip. A number of the local CBS 4 meteorologists and NOAA hurricane experts spoke during the pre-game program designed to teach kids some basic concepts of weather and how these topics relate to living in South Florida
SID JOHNSON MEMORIAL CONSERVATION TROPHY PRESENTED IN TOBAGO
The winner of TBF’s first Sid Johnson Memorial Conservation Trophy was won by team Vesper from Trinidad for releasing the most billfish during the 2012 Southern Caribbean Billfish Circuit. The Vesper team includes boat owner Jerome Mcquilkin, Captain Gerard “Frothy” de Silva; mate Nigel Garcia, three anglers Derick Tardeau, Ayoub Kabli and James Layton. TBF president Ellen Peel presented the trophy to Captain Frothy at the Marlin Madness tournament for the rest of the team was competing in the Bonnier World Championship in Costa Rica. The late Sid Johnson from Trinidad was an early advocate for catch and release
WELCOME BISBEE’S FISH & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FUND!
The Billfish Foundation would like to welcome Bisbee’s Fish & Wildlife Conservation Fund as a new Grand Slam Sponsor! We are excited to have them on board and working with them to lead TBF’s Tag & Release Program into the future. Bisbee’s Fish & Wildlife Conservation Fund (BFWCF) has partnered with The Billfish Foundation, top software developers, database experts, and environmental engineers to evaluate and redesign The Billfish Foundation’s Tag & Release program, software, and systems so that it may efficiently and effectively report a wide range of data to scientists around the world. With your help we will
LOCAL SOFLO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT & TEACHER WIN PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
TBF and Carey Chen inspired Shark Wall Mural done by South Broward High School StudentsEvery year, National Week of the Ocean, Inc. honors community leaders and marine educators. This year, two of the recipients Jessica Jessup (a senior) and Susan Ostheim from South Broward High School, will be recognized for their work on a mural they did with The Billfish Foundation (TBF) over the past year. TBF would congratulate them since they will be recognized as ‘Week of the Ocean Student of the Year and Teacher of the Year.’
CAM V. SIGLER, SR. MEMORIAL
Cam V. Sigler, Sr. age 71, passed away March 20, 2013 following a year- long battle with cancer. Cam was famously recognized as the man in the “Broad Brimmed Hat” and was known for his innovative outdoor products; particularly for the sport of saltwater fly fishing. Seasoned saltwater fly anglers are well acquainted with his acclaimed billfish flies, rods, reels and tackle. In 1968, Cam moved his family to the Pacific Northwest to accept a job with the Eddie Bauer Company. In 1986, he left Eddie Bauer to start his own business, The Cam Sigler Company, which is now
TBF IN TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
The beautiful Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) is a collection of small islands within the British West Indies is known for its white sand beaches, amazing coral reefs, and great fishing opportunities. TBF staff member, Michael Kelly traveled to these pristine islands earlier this month to meet with many local stakeholders, including local fishermen and business owners from the commercial fishing, sportfishing, and tourism sectors. Unfortunately, the great offshore fishing opportunities may not be available for long. This past March, the TCI government signed an agreement with the South Caicos seafood exporter, Caicos Pride and the south
YOUTH FISHING CLINIC WITH KEY BISCAYNE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Do you remember the first time you tied your first knot or caught your first fish? On April 7th 2013, young people and their parents did just that with the Key Biscayne Community Foundation (KBCF) Citizen Scientist Project at Bill Baggs State Park in Key Biscayne, Florida. Multiple stations were set up for the kids with the goal of creating ethical anglers by teaching the basics of sportfishing and by educating them on their local environment.
U.S. – Implementation Challenges for The Billfish Conservation Act
The Billfish Conservation Act (BCA) of 2012 was signed into law on October 5, 2012 creating a positive step for billfish conservation! The Billfish Conservation Act will prohibit the sale or the possession with the purposes of offering billfish (sailfish, marlin, and spearfish) for sale in the United States. Two exceptions in section 4(c) are present that allow domestic vessels in Hawaii and the Pacific Insular Area to harvest and sell billfish. Additionally, the exemptions allow foreign vessels to land billfish in Pacific Insular Areas for exports of billfish outside of the United States. The final step needed
TBF TALKS CONSERVATION AT SLACK TIDE GUIDE GATHERING
On a recent March afternoon along the beautiful intracoastal waterway in Jensen Beach, Florida, the first annual Slack Tide Guide Gathering was hosted byCosta, YETI, Simms, and Hell’s Bay Boat Works. With more than 100 charter captains from across Florida and as far as Washington and the Mid-Atlantic, there was much anticipation for a full day of events, great food, and the much anticipated ‘Guide Challenge’. In addition to new product highlights from each of these conservation minded companies, the event organized several different talks by industry professionals about the ways to expand and grow charter businesses. The talks
TBF ASSISTS WITH CARIBBEAN BILLFISH WORKSHOP IN FORT LAUDERDALE
Fort Lauderdale, FL – On March 19 and 20, stakeholders and experts from over 11 countries and 10 organizations descended upon south Florida and took part in a workshop to discuss and develop a billfish management and conservation plan for the nations and overseas territories under the jurisdiction of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC). The Billfish Foundation (TBF), the International Gamefish Association (IGFA), the World Bank, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) worked to together to host this workshop that is a steps in the right direction for billfish conservation in the region. Currently there is
