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
Australia – Still A Chance for Anglers Opposing Marine Protected Areas
While many environmental groups are praising Australia and claiming victory, all is not said and done for the establishment of Australia’s National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA) and there is still hope for anglers down under. The proposed system of reserves will shut out anglers from large areas of ocean including more than half a million square kilometers in the Coral Sea region. All bring done despite the lack of sound scientific justification for doing so. If the management plans for the proposed reserves are passed then it could mean billions in losses for important industries including
FISHERIES ECONOMICS OF THE UNITED STATES REPORT RELEASED
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released the annual edition of Fisheries Economics of the United States for 2011, highlighting the economic impact of both recreational and commercial fishing. In 2011, 11 million recreational anglers took 70 million saltwater fishing trips and generated $70 billion in sales impacts, $32 billion in value added impacts, and supported over 455,000 jobs nationally. Taking a further look at the expenditures of U.S. anglers in 2011, a total of $4.5 billion in angler expenditures were related specifically to fishing trips with $2 billion of this for private boat-based fishing trips
The Billfish Foundation’s Mission
The Billfish Foundation believes in conservation through sportfishing by using Research, Education, and Advocacy. Support TBF and ensure that fishing opportunities are available for future
TBF’S TAG AND RELEASE AWARD CEREMONY
On February 13, 2015 The Billfish Foundation will honor conservation achievements at the 2015 Tag and Release Ceremony held at Miami’s Jungle Island Treetop Ballroom. The Tag and Release Ceremony sponsored by Bisbee’s Black and Blue recognized the 42 winners of the 2012 Tag and Release Competition and award winners received beautiful trophies sponsored by King Sailfish Mounts. All award winners in attendance received sunglasses courtesy of Costa and overall winners each received a lure from Bonze Lures. TBF’s Overall Tagging Angler Winner for all species (any combination of blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, white marlin, sailfish and/or spearfish) included Juan
‘A Night in Atlantis’
Don’t miss The Billfish
WHITE MARLIN AS THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES NOT WARRANTED BY NMFS
On January 30, 2013 the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released the 90-day finding on the two petitions received from Mr. James Chambers and the Center For Biological Diversity (CBD) to list white marlin (Kajikia albidus) as an endangered or threatened species. NMFS concluded “these petitions do not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating the petition action may be warranted.” Previously petitioned by the same parties in 2001, NMFS determined that white marlin did not warrant listing according to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The possibility of white marlin listed as threatened or endangered also occurred in 2006
