About Tribal Bonefish
Tribal Bonefish is the name we've given to a concept, a philosophy of responsible conservation of our coastal resources. It’s about being a responsible participant, not a bystander or someone who damages the resource.
The 'Tribal' name and logo designs were inspired by Hawaiian petroglyphs. We believe that it's possible to cherry-pick good things from societies, past and present, and weave them into a better vision of responsible conservation. Some past Pacific island cultures, for example, seemed to have an understanding that their natural resources (especially fisheries) were limited, and used taboos and other social constructs as an aid in managing these resources. (We'll ignore the tradition of human sacrifices that also seemed to be a common practice back then.)
And we chose 'Bonefish' because that is one of our favorite fish, bonefish, a speedster that has lived in coastal shallows around the globe for millions of years. The bonefish symbolizes all species of game fish and reminds anglers of the boundless potential for our fisheries if we act on that awareness.
Rather than just talk about it, we believe that we can use Tribal Bonefish gear to spread the philosophy of responsible fishing.
In today's world we've rid ourselves of the practice of human sacrifices, but we also seem to have lost our way when it comes to being stewards of our natural resources. We’ve lost the long-term perspective required for effective conservation. This is not stewardship in the sense of conservation just for the sake of conservation, but is more pragmatic - if we want to continue to receive the benefits our coastal resources can provide (including quality fisheries), we need to get serious about conservation NOW. Gone are the days when we could go fishing and go home. Fishermen have to become strong stewards of the coastal habitats their fisheries depend upon, or the fisheries will melt away. The first step in this is responsible fishing.
But before we can affect change that will protect our fisheries, we have to instill a culture of responsible fishing. We can't continue to talk about rights if we don't first act responsibly. Tribal Bonefish is about responsible fishing and responsible conervation. Wear your Tribal Bonefish gear and show you are a responsible fisherman.
Tribal Bonefish Goals
- Use the brand to raise awareness of the need for anglers to become involved in conservation of our coastal resources
- Promote a responsible fishing philosophy
- Highlight groups and anglers contributing to conservation
- Promote and follow a proactive approach, not the typical reactionary approach we now follow
- Raise funds to support research and science-based conservation of coastal fisheries, and angler education
- Tribal Bonefish will donate 10% of profits to groups that do good things
Why Tribal Bonefish
Many saltwater recreational fisheries are in crisis or heading quickly in that direction. Even fisheries that look in good shape might have trouble brewing behind the scenes. It used to be that we could go fishing, have fun, go home, and not think about it until the next trip. That is no longer true. Recreational anglers must become involved in conservation to ensure a good outlook for the future of our fisheries. Recreational anglers are the primary users of coastal habitats, and also major beneficiaries. Consider your involvement an investment in the future of the fisheries.
Tribal Bonefish Gear: show your conservation credentials