The Tribal Blog:: The latest news in recreational fishing conservation

Check back often for the latest news on conservation relevant to recreational fishing.

Do you know of a good news story? Let us know.

Posted February 19

More habitat for fish, especially the juveniles, is a good thing.

This is a tough one. On the one hand, artificial reefs are known to concentrate fish, making them easier targets for anglers, and thus may contribute to overfishing. On the other hand, there is little natural hard-bottom habitat in the northern Gulf of Mexico, habitat which supports species like red snapper. But one has to wonder that if "fisheries management" is down to the point of arguing whether artificial reefs are essential to the fisheries, that a very bad line was crossed long ago, and the situation is well down the slippery slope of 'badness'. What we know is that the natural habitats supported a lot of fish just fine for the longest time, so things must be in pretty bad shape these days.

This is absolutely excellent news: IGFA Updates Rules to Encourage All-Release Tournaments Now the ball is in the anglers' court - to practice responsible catch and release methods to ensure the released fish survive.

Those damn dams. This article shows that once something is created, it's hard to take it back to the way it was, even if the way it was is, ultimately, the best way.

Posted February 14

Wow, things are all of a sudden looking not so great. Most of the newswire is calling for help, not reporting progress. Read on...

From the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (advocating for anglers and hunters in DC): Public ownership of and access to more than 70,000 acres of national forest land in southeast Alaska is being threatened by the proposed Sealaska legislation. These publicly accessible lands currently provide world-class opportunities for resident and nonresident sportsmen to pursue deer, black bear and wild salmon. They also support a $1 billion per year salmon fishing industry.

If the Sealaska bill is enacted, ownership of the land would be transferred to the Sealaska corporation. Access or use of these lands by the public for hunting and fishing would be uncertain, and industrial land management practices used by Sealaska could degrade habitat and harm fish and wildlife populations.

Stopping this legislation would serve the best interest of local residents, southeast Alaska's economy and sportsmen everywhere.

TAKE ACTION NOW: Ask your congressional delegation to oppose this legislation today

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I'd like to say that the new Obama budget is a realistic view on what he can actually get given the tough economic times, but I can't. I think his budget is already a compromise position, which will be weakened in negotiations (if anything actually happens with a budget at all this year). This means that the final budget will be quite a blow. The USFWS will take a hit. More on the long-term consequences here. Don't they realize they're messing with the future of all that is outdoors in the US?

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This brief story from Florida has so many bad news angles I'm not sure what teaser to use. So just read it.

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Seriously?!?! The new mission statement for the Alaska DNR scraps "conserve" and replaces it with "Responsibly develop"? Seriously?!?! Were drugs involved? Wow. The Save Bristol Bay (anti-Pebble Mine) folks' challenge just got a bit bigger.

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Marrying your second cousin is still legal in some states, but that doesn't make it right. Using hatchery fish to 'restore' wild salmon populations isn't right either.

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More bad news for Florida's anglers. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's own web site states that "Florida Forever is Florida’s premier conservation and recreation lands acquisition program, a blueprint for conserving natural resources and renewing Florida’s commitment to conserve the state’s natural and cultural heritage." This is a pretty amazing statement given that Florida Forever received no funds for this year and has received only $15 million the last three years, more than a 98% cut of its normal funding level!

The Legislature is now building the state’s budget for next year, and there is no money in it for Florida Forever. If you live in Florida, fish in Florida, visit Florida to fish or hunt or hike or kayak...you will be impacted by this. This budget cut is on top of the Governor's call to sell of state lands, including parks and conservation lands, for pennies on the dollar. Help ensure that Florida continues to buy the critical environmental and outdoor recreation lands that provide our clean water and support the tourism-based economy.

February 15 is Florida Forever Day
Call or email your state senator and representative on February 15 and ask them to
fund Florida Forever for at least the $15 million requested by Governor Scott. Ask your
family and friends to call also; post it on Facebook. Show the Legislature that citizens believe
Florida Forever is essential to Florida’s future.
Find your Legislator: http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find.

Or contact the Governor directly.

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If you've fished the northern Gulf of Mexico coast, you know that the fishing is good. And you know that it's good because the habitat is abundant. It looks like some folks who don't fish are trying to push through new regulations that will allow more oil drilling in what is at present untouched fish habitat.

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Oops, some good news today

- another example of removing dams to help fish habitat.

- anglers contributing to conservation. I like it.

 

Posted February 13

The Everglades Foundation is asking for your help in getting funding restored for the Everglades. The Florida Senate recently proposed a budget that ELIMINATES funding for critical Everglades Restoration projects. This will negatively impact recreational fishing and fish
habitats in the Everglades, Florida Bay, the Florida Keys, and even the east and west coasts of Florida the receive effluent from Lake Okeechobee. Plus, the lack of restoration funds will impact the safety of the drinking water supply for South Florida. Everglades Foundation has set up a web site that makes it easy for you to help: www.fundtheeverglades.com And after you visit their web site, send a letter, email, or call Tallahassee and tell them to restore the funding.

Yes, even sharks should benefit from good handling for catch and release fishing, especially when they are caught and released in a place like Florida, where they are protected.

The salt marshes of the Mississippi River Delta may be the most endangered habitats in the United States. They are disappearing at an alarming rate due to erosion (a natural process), augmented by the channelization of the Mississippi River which was once the source of new sediment to build the marshes. And now they're subjected to the insults of oil spills and other threats. But there are ways you can help.

Posted February 12

Good news for tarpon - hopeful for a juvenile habitat restoration project in Florida.

Not so great news for wild salmon. And covered in a second publication.

The debate over the connection between responsible fishing and sustainable fisheries continues, even in the old country.

I'm sure we'll be hearing more about how the designation of American sturgeon as an endangered species will impact numerous coastal activities. These 'unintended consequences' can largely be avoided if we can become more proactive in our resource and fisheries management. There's already talk along these lines.

Shipping vs fisheries: the Asian carp battles in the Great Lakes continue. Many of the Great Lakes are already a soup of invasive species, and unless the regulators get their act together, there's not going to be much left to fish for.

Anglers in Maine seem to be getting it - stop stocking, put effort into habitat restoration instead.

 

Posted February 5

We were able to get permission to post the text from the Plenary Speech by Dr. Aaron Adams at the Florida Outdoor Writers Association Annual Meeting in 2011. The speach was a call to action for outdoor writers to do a better job of educating anglers, hunters, and others about the need for conservation. The speech was given at the Annual Meeting dinner on August 24, 2011.

Posted February 4

As if we needed a reminder that habitat degradation has been a problem for a long time, a piece in the Buffalo News.

A call to action from Patagonia to add your voice to the call to remove obsolete dams on America's rivers as a restoration tool.

Posted February 3

Letting natural processes help make habitat restoration possible - this time with beavers.

The effort to designate redfish, spotted seatrout, and striped bass gamefish in North Carolina continues.

just because their seem to be more redfish in northern Florida, one has to question the recent increase in allowable catch of 2 per person per day. If the history of fisheries management has taught us anything, it's that trying to maximize the harvest deosn't work, leaves no cushion for error, and typically has led to population declines. Plus, maximizing harvest (referred to in fisheries management as Maximum Sustainable Yield) is about quantity of harvest, not quality of the fishery.

 

Posted February 1

Seriously? As if the assaults on fishing weren't bad enough already. Now there's a bill in the Florida Legislature (HB 1103/SB 1362) that will reduce access to and the fishability of Florida's fresh water rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams. Currently, the law is that private ownership stops at the high water mark, which means that an angler can reasonably fish. This new bill would extend private ownership to the low water mark, making many freshwater areas no-access for anglers. If you live in Florida and fish in freshwater, contact your representative.

A couple of articles about the National Marine Fisheries Service's new effort to gather better data on recreational fishing. An improvement is definitely needed, so it's good to see the effort. Time will tell if this will do the trick. Article 1. Article 1.

Puget Sound - the state working toward habitat conservation.

Posted January 31

A presentation by Dr. Aaron Adams on Juvenile Tarpon Habitat Restoration will be held at Boca Grande, FL on February 2 at 2pm.

Speaking of Boca Grande, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust is having a fundraising auction Friday, February 3. You should be there.

Belize did a great thing by passing legislation to make bonefish, tarpon, and permit catch and release only to protect the fisheries and the significant economy they support. But they are having serious problems with poaching and lack of enforcement. Read the article, and read the comment below the article to learn how you can help stop this.

Via Moldychum:

A good article on humanity's apparent lack of concern for species going extinct on a good web site - YaleEnvironment360.

Poorly planned development (wait, did I just say that?) is impinging on Colorado water more than it should. The water wars are ramping up, which sucks for fishing and everything else, for that matter.

Via Midcurrent:

Yet another perspective on why we need to support public lands and the funds that support them.

Another article on fracking. At least this one reports that someone is starting to get it. Prediction (and not a bold one) - within a couple decades the large scale, true negative impacts of fracking are going to be so clear, people are going to say "why did they let them do that?" as they fight to find enough safe drinking water.

Posted January 30

Good news for Pacific Northwest Salmon - a conservation group purchased stream-side land to restore habitat for juvenile salmon. This type of activity is going to have to become more common if we are to save our fisheries. Too often, government agencies are either underfunded or given different marching orders, and the habitats (and thus the fish and fisheries) suffer. And to think there are politicians who are actively seeking to force the sale of all public lands to the private sector...a real recipe for disaster for fishing and hunting.

A nice editorial about why fishing and hunting licenses are a good thing.

Battles over water - quality and quality - for fisheries will become more frequent, more widespread. If not already affecting your fisheries, this issue soon will. Don't let it happen to you, and if it does - fight back.

The ironic thing about this story of funding for fish and wildlife habitat vs levee construction is that if they hadn't screwed things up in the first place, there would be no need for funding for habitat protection and restoration. Just like preventative medicine is more effective and cheaper than emergency room care, not screwing up the habitats in the first place makes economic sense. Yet over and over again the short-sighted just don't get it.

Help Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and get a chance to win cool gear and a top-end fishing trip.
BTT Gear Giveaway graphic

 

Posted January 23

Restoration that helps mangroves help fish. Gotta like this story. From the Fort Myers News-Press in Florida. Or watch a video news story.

Individuals can make a difference.

A familiar story: habitat vs water use.

Whether or not you agree with the bigger picture views in this story, it is worth noting that recreational fishing tourism has huge economic impact in poorer regions. For example, anglers traveling to the Bahamas to fish for bonefish generate $141 million annualy for the archipelago nation. Just conserve the habitats and have a sustainable economy.

There can never be too much habitat conservation. Here's another one.

Fly fishing + youth education + conservation = good stuff.

There has to be a better way of farming fish for human consumption. Current methods don't cut it.

One of these days we'll learn to try our damndest to keep invasive species out in the first place, before the damage is done. Carp strike again.

 

Posted January 16

More activity from the National Fishing in Schools Program, this from a recent email blast:

The NAtional Fishing in Schools Program is excited to cooperate with Ryan Combs, Instructor of Biology at Neosho High School and Crowder College, to bring a 2 Day NFSP Teacher Training to southwestern Missouri, February 14th & 15th.  If your school, organization or institution is interested in participating and/or supporting “Fishing in Schools”, or you simply want to learn more about the "Cast A Fly, Catch A Student" curriculum of NFSP, please join us.  There is no obligation to commit to the program before, or after, your training.

This session is for the purpose of conducting NFSP Level 2 Teacher Trainer Certification, NFSP Level 1 Teacher Certification and NFSP Mentor Certification

To register, please visit our website, NFSP Training Registration.  The cost is $50 per day.  This training fee is credited back to your school/organization when a Curriculum Kit is purchases.  If you have questions, please give me a call.

Katie M. Cole, Program Manager
National Fishing in Schools Program
3601 Calvert Street
Suite 26
Lincoln, NE 68506
970-708-9373
katiemcole@flyfishinginschools.org
www.flyfishinginschools.org

The National Fishing in Schools Program continues to expand.  We’d like to provide this unique educational opportunity to students in your area.  Please contact us with any questions you may have about the program and how to bring NFSP to your region/state/school district/school.

See one of the Program's videos

Posted January 15

A fantastic program to get more kids involved in fly fishing, and teach them about responsible fishing, conservation, and more - Fly Fishing In Schools

Another land purchase to protect fish habitat. This one in Florida, as reported in the Fort Myers News-Press.

Which fish to eat? A new movie provides some clues.

Posted January 11, 2012

More than $20 million in grants to conserve coastal wetlands
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced yesterday $20.5 million in grants to support 24 projects in 13 states to conserve and restore coastal wetlands and their fish and wildlife habitat. The grants, awarded under the 2012 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, will be matched by nearly $21 million in partner contributions from state and local governments, private landowners and conservation groups.

“Coastal wetlands serve as some of nature's most productive fish and wildlife habitat while providing storm protection, improved water quality, and abundant recreational opportunities for local communities,” Salazar said. “I am pleased that with these grants we are able to help our state partners implement some of their high-priority projects that support both conservation and recreation along their coasts.”

The grants will be used to acquire, restore, or enhance coastal wetlands and adjacent uplands to provide long-term conservation benefits to fish, wildlife and their habitat. States receiving funds include Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and funded under provisions of the 1990 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act. Funding is provided by Sport Fish Restoration Act revenue-money generated from an excise tax on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels.

The grants support President Obama's America's Great Outdoors initiative for conservation, recreation and reconnecting people to the outdoors. A recent 50-State Report lists more than 100 of the country's most promising projects-a result of 50 meetings with governors and stakeholders held by Salazar and other senior Interior officials to solicit ideas on how to best implement AGO in their states-including two projects that will be supported by yesterday's grants. These two projects are:

Bird Island Cove Estuarine Habitat Restoration Project: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was awarded a $1 million grant to protect and restore coastal and estuarine barrier island habitats in West Galveston Bay along the north shoreline of Galveston Island, Texas. The project will restore approximately 70 acres of estuarine marsh complex, which will provide additional protection to the existing intertidal marsh that has been degraded by the effects of relative sea level rise.

Thousand Acre Marsh Wetland Protection Project: The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife and Delaware's Open Space Program will acquire the 194-acre Yardley-Dale property, part of the Thousand Acre Marsh along the Delaware River in New Castle County. The Thousand Acre Marsh is a haven for breeding and wintering waterfowl, waterbirds, muskrat, and fish. The marsh also provides critical wintering habitat for bald eagles.

Coastal areas comprise less than 10 percent of the nation's land area yet support a significant number of wildlife species, including 75 percent of migratory birds, nearly 80 percent of fish and shellfish and about half of all threatened and endangered species.

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Posted January 11, 2012

Delaware awarded nearly $1 million to protect critical coastal wetlands
Read the full story in the Newark Post