Conservation

The Billfish Foundation (TBF) was founded in 1986 with a mission of conserving billfish worldwide by the late Winthrop P. Rockefeller along with Dr. Eric Prince and a group of fifty founding members. TBF’s keystone program, the traditional tagging program, was begun in 1990. Today, it has grown to be the largest international billfish tagging program in the world. TBF’s...

LADSON, S.C. — As a gift to commemorate the now extra than 50 years Shimano has experienced a presence in the United States — and the 40-12 months anniversary of Shimano-branded deal with currently being offered by fishing dealers nationwide— the business is generating big economical contributions to support the advocacy initiatives of leisure fishing teams in places in which...

NOVA Southeastern University Scientist and assistant professor, David W. Kerstetter, who received a federal Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) in 2017 to conduct longline research in Florida’s east coast closed zone, has submitted an application for a new EFP, but this time without including the university. In 2017, Dr. George L. Hanbury, NSU’s president, halted Kerstetter’s project when advised by TBF...

Alexandria, VA – December 6, 2018 – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), which represents the sportfishing industry, highlighted what the industry is doing to increase recreational fishing participation during the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s (RBFF) annual State Marketing Workshop held December 5 and 6, in Atlanta, Ga. ASA staff focused on what the industry can do to support...

NC Oyster Shell Recycling Aimed at Restoration It’s the time of year when North Carolinians feast on that culinary delicacy, the humble oyster. But dining on oysters needn’t, and shouldn’t, be the end of the story. After the oyster’s gone, there’s the oyster shell, and advocates say it should be returned to the water where it can provide a safe...

The Gulf Council Launches Redesigned Coral Portal Website to Enhance Understanding of Corals, Habitats, and Related Species The Gulf of Mexico Fishery has reinvented its Coral Portal website. The newly designed site features improved visuals with the following resources: Interactive maps displaying locations of corals, habitats, and fishery management areas in the Gulf of Mexico Tools used to support fisheries...

Grouper Closures Start January 1 in Gulf and Atlantic Gag grouper will close to recreational harvest in Gulf state and federal waters Jan. 1, 2020. The same day, several species of grouper will also close to recreational and commercial harvest in Florida state waters of the Atlantic and all state waters off Monroe County. This Atlantic seasonal closure includes gag,...

Alexandria, Va. – Following vocal support from recreational fishermen, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed a bipartisan bill improving menhaden management in the Atlantic.?? The legislation transfers management authority of Atlantic menhaden—a small oily baitfish that feeds sportfish like striped bass—to the Virginia Marine Resources?Commission, which?oversees?every other saltwater fishery in the Commonwealth.?? Now that the bill has been signed into law, the...

During their summer meeting in August, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) approved Addendum VI to Amendment 6 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass. This action was taken in response to the findings of the 2018 benchmark stock assessment for striped bass which found the stock to be overfished and overfishing occurring. Such designations...