The Billfish Foundation is in communication with BlueWater Magazine’s Tim Simpson (a TBF Board Member) in Australia who made it clear that the devastating fires continue impacting humans, including those in the sportfishing community, property, and wildlife at levels never before seen.
Travel to the New South Wales Coast and to the coast of the northeastern Victoria area, just over the border, are not possible or recommended as the fires continue to fill the sky with thick smoke and ash. BlueWater Magazine will include features on the fires in its upcoming issues and has commissioned custom lures to help raise relief funds, which are anticipated to be available in early February and available on BlueWater’s website.
Simpson stressed “many of the impacted coastal communities are in prime gamefishing regions for the months of February to June (striped marlin, swordfish and tuna), which rely on tourism for their livelihood. If tourists do not return to fish these next few months, the sportfishing community will face a second catastrophe; business is needed to rebuild and survive.” What available support services will be available in towns is uncertain, but before changing plans, check directly with your charter operator.
Or email Tim Simpson who has offered to help identify an available charter.
BlueWater Magazine’s raised funds will support gamefishing clubs and charter operators and funds from lure sales will be split between organizations.
* 75% to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service: a volunteer firefighting organization that has put in an astounding effort over several months, during which it has lost several lives and a large amount of equipment, which needs replacing.
* 25% to the WIRES organization: primarily a volunteer organization working to save wildlife, has also put forth a huge effort and continues to save the lives of countless wildlife. They too need a huge injection of funds to replenish the equipment and supplies they’ve already donated to the effort.
Immediate donations would be very timely and needed.
