“we are part of nature and as we destroy nature we destroy ourselves.  It’s a selfish thing to want to protect nature.”

We need more people who think like Yvon Chouinard does.

Watch.

“…in light of the serious compliance problems that have plagued the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean fishery and the fact that the 2010 quota level adopted by ICCAT is not as low as we believe is needed, the United States continues to have serious concerns about the long-term viability of either the fish or the fishery,” said Strickland.

Here is the DOI News Release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States will continue its support for a proposal to ban all international commercial trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna at this month’s meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Doha, Qatar, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland announced today.

Strickland, who will head the U.S. delegation to the 15th Conference of Parties (CoP15) of the 175-nation treaty, initially announced support for the proposal last October, but left open the possibility that the United States could modify its position if the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) adopted significantly strengthened management and compliance measures during its November 2009 meeting.

“Under the leadership of NOAA, the United States entered the meeting seeking the strongest possible agreement for the conservation of eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna.  We recognize that the parties to ICCAT took some unprecedented steps,” said Strickland.  “However, in light of the serious compliance problems that have plagued the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean fishery and the fact that the 2010 quota level adopted by ICCAT is not as low as we believe is needed, the United States continues to have serious concerns about the long-term viability of either the fish or the fishery.”

The Atlantic bluefin tuna is highly prized, especially for sashimi, and a single fish can be sold for tens of thousands of dollars. The Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stock is threatened by overharvesting, which includes illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing.

Current population information for the species shows it meets the biological criteria for listing in Appendix I.  In the Atlantic Ocean, bluefin tuna are managed as two separate stocks, an Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, and a Western. The Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stock of the Atlantic bluefin tuna has declined steeply during the last 10 years.  Based on estimated catches, scientists estimated the spawning stock biomass in 2007 to be 78,724 metric tons.  This contrasts with the biomass peak of 1955, at 305,136 metric tons.  The decline over the 50-year historical period ranging from 1955 to 2007 is estimated at 74.2 percent, the bulk of which (60.9 percent) took place during the last 10 years.

The Western Atlantic spawning stock has declined by 82.4 percent from 49,482 metric tons in 1970 to 8,693 metric tons in 2007.  During the past decade, the Western stock has stabilized at a very low population level.  Many experts correlate this stabilization to adoption of rigorous science-based catch quotas and other management measures together with effective monitoring and enforcement. Such measures ensured strict compliance with ICCAT’s ruled by the U.S. fleet.

Strickland noted that the parties to ICCAT took positive steps at the November meeting.  These steps included a commitment to set future catch levels in line with scientific advice, to shorten the fishing season, reduce fishing capacity, and close the fishery if the stocks continue to decline.  However, in light of the serious compliance problems that have plagued the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean fishery and the fact that the 2010 quota level adopted by ICCAT is not as low as needed, the United States will support the proposal to list Atlantic bluefin tuna in Appendix I at CoP15 and will work actively with Monaco and other CITES and ICCAT Parties in order to achieve positive results for bluefin tuna at CoP15 and at the 2010 ICCAT annual meeting.

If the bluefin tuna is listed under Appendix I, commercial fishermen in the United States could continue to sell western Atlantic bluefin tuna caught in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) domestically.  Fishing in the EEZ is tightly regulated in the United States to ensure that it meets the ICCAT science-based quota. The United States is both a consumer and a net importer of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Strickland indicated that the United States will explore measures to assist fishermen if international trade is restricted.

“We understand the frustration of our U.S. fishermen who have followed the scientific recommendations and regulatory provisions of ICCAT for many years while their counterparts in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean have often overfished and engaged in ineffective management,” Strickland said.  “The U.S. government is committed to working with our many international partners to continue to rebuild Atlantic bluefin tuna and ensure sustained conservation and management of the species into the future.”

A CITES-regulated species may be included in one of three appendices to the convention:

• Appendix I includes species for which it is determined that any commercial trade is detrimental to the survival of the species. Therefore, no commercial trade is allowed in Appendix-I species. Non-commercial trade in such species is allowed if it does not jeopardize the species’ survival in the wild. Permits are required for the exportation and importation of Appendix-I species.
• Appendix II includes species for which it has been determined that commercial trade may be detrimental to the survival of the species if that trade is not strictly controlled. Trade in these species is regulated through the use of export permits.
• Appendix III includes species listed by a range country that requires the assistance of other parties to ensure that exports of their native species are legal. Permits are used to control and monitor trade in native species. Any CITES party may place a native species in Appendix III.

Any listing of a species in either Appendix I or II requires approval by two-thirds of the CITES party countries that vote on the proposal.
The Conference of the Parties will be held March 13-25, 2010, in Doha, Qatar.

The code of the west, derived from the book, Cowboy Ethics: What Wall Street Can Learn from the Code of the West, by James P. Owen, will be the official state code of Wyoming effective July 1, 2010.

The code:

(i) Live each day with courage;

(ii) Take pride in your work;

(iii) Always finish what you start;

(iv) Do what has to be done;

(v) Be tough, but fair;

(vi) When you make a promise, keep it;

(vii) Ride for the brand;

(viii) Talk less, say more;

(ix) Remember that some things are not for sale;

(x) Know where to draw the line.

For more information about the Jim Owen, the Ten Principals and the Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership click here

“Since Randi came on board January 1, we’ve been very impressed with his work habits, ethics and communication ability.  We are confident that Randi will meet the new responsibilities which accompany the President’s position with the same level of enthusiasm and professionalism that he has exhibited since coming to work for AFFTA,” said Alan Gnann, AFFTA’s Chairman

“For the past two months, I received on-the-job training from AFFTA Office Manager Mischa Jones and former President, and now part-time Business Manager Gary Berlin,” said Swisher.  “Although I still have a lot to learn, I feel comfortable in my new role and I look forward to serving as the President of AFFTA for many years to come.”

Randi Swisher can be contacted at his home office at 303 690-6504 or by e-mail at randi@affta.com.

“We support healthy fisheries and good fishery management. It’s good for anglers, our business and our economy. We’ve developed common-sense administrative and appropriations proposals that address the need for timely, accurate data while preserving efforts to rebuild our marine fisheries. We see these as a starting point for actions that must be implemented to address the short and long term problems,” said Mike Nussman, ASA’s President and CEO.

“Unfortunately, what we are seeing now is crisis management rather than fisheries management and this must stop before more jobs are lost and more of the nation’s recreational anglers are unnecessarily shut out.”

The letter offered specific recommendations to address the increasing problems with implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the chronic problems with the federal marine fisheries management system.

• Take decisive, immediate action to improve recreational fisheries data by redirecting existing funds and personnel to focus on real-time management data.
• Collect socio-economic data on recreational fishing in the communities most likely to be impacted by near-term or expected fisheries closures.
• Provide federal level direction to the fishery management councils to use common-sense in their management approaches while the administration collects the requisite data to make sound management decisions.
• Develop a recreational fishing program and staff within NMFS commensurate with the national economic contribution of recreational saltwater fishing.

According to CCA “Current efforts to revise the Magnuson-Stevens Act, including the so-called “flexibility” legislation (H.R.1584 and S.1171) do not address the shortcomings of NMFS that are negatively impacting anglers and, in fact, jeopardize a number of the true conservation gains in the Act.”

“H.R.1584 and S.1171 do not provide for better data-gathering or prevent the imposition of in-season closures when NMFS believes there is a danger of overfishing, nor do they improve recreational data and the way it is used. It just delays rebuilding,” said Chester Brewer, chairman of CCA’s National Government Relations Committee. “That is not where the problem lies.”

Read the news release here.

Read the letter to Dr. Lubchenco at www.asafishing.org/government/documents/NOAAMSALetterFINAL.pdf

The coalition was made up of the American Sportfishing Association, Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society, Berkley Conservation Institute, Center for Coastal Conservation, Coastal Conservation Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, International Game Fish Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Shimano Sport Fisheries Initiative, and The Billfish Foundation.

The groups took the opportunity to again reiterate the important economic contribution made by recreational fishing and boating. They noted that saltwater recreational fishing contributes over $82.2 billion in sales and $24 billion in income to the economy, and provides over 533,000 jobs. And in 2008, recreational boating directly and indirectly impacted 337,758 jobs with a labor income of $10.4 billion. In addition, there are nearly 12,000 marinas in the United States which serve as gateways to both salt and freshwater resources and the Great Lakes.

The coalition supports increasing coordination among federal and state agencies that manage or regulate our oceans and coasts. They noted that improving coordination is a commendable goal and efforts should be made to achieve it. They went on to urge that such an effort not occur at the expense of established management regimes.

Copies of the coalition’s recommendations are available on the Coastal Conservation Association’s Web site.

Here is the message from Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, regarding Eric’s appointment:

“It gives me great pleasure to Eric Schwaab as the new assistant administrator for fisheries. We are excited to have someone with Eric’s experience and proven leadership to bring a fresh perspective to the management of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service. Eric will lead NOAA’s efforts to rebuild our fisheries and the jobs and livelihoods that depend on them. His immediate priorities include improving outreach and relationships with recreational and commercial fishermen, better aligning federal and regional fisheries priorities, restoring confidence in fisheries law enforcement, and promoting management approaches that will achieve both sustainable fisheries and vibrant coastal communities.

Eric brings more than 25 years of experience in local, state and federal natural resource management. He has spent the majority of his career at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, where he began as a natural resources police law enforcement officer in 1983. He eventually served as director of the Maryland Forest Service; director of the Maryland Forest, Wildlife and Heritage Service; and director of the Maryland Fisheries Service.

In 2003, Eric left the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to serve as resource director for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies until 2007. He then returned to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as the deputy secretary. Eric has also served as a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee.

Eric is a creative and proven manager, consensus builder and leader. He has developed and implemented solutions to address challenges in regional habitat restoration, including Chesapeake Bay restoration issues, fish and wildlife conservation, public lands management, natural resources law enforcement, public agency administration, strategic planning and leadership development.

I am excited to welcome Eric to the NOAA family. He will work with NOAA leadership, the fisheries service, his fellow assistant administrators and our many constituents to further our efforts to protect and manage the nation’s fisheries, our other trust resources including marine mammals and sea turtles, and the ecosystems upon which they depend. Welcome Eric!

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to Dr. Jim Balsiger, the acting assistant administrator, for his superb and sustained leadership. Jim has led the fisheries service for over two years in this capacity, far from his home in Alaska, and done so with distinction. He was especially instrumental in engaging the fishery management councils in the process of developing the draft catch shares policy.

Dr. Balsiger will soon return to his position as NOAA Fisheries’ regional administrator for Alaska, but before doing so will assist Eric with his transition into the fisheries service and NOAA. I’d also like to thank the entire team at NOAA Fisheries who have done an excellent job during this period.”

The series, scheduled to start Dec. 27, follows the exploits of seven world-class anglers as they chase bonefish in the Bahamas. The trailer is on YouTube.

The show features some entertaining fishing buddies, including Lefty Kreh, Tom Brokaw, Michael Keaton, Tom McGuane and Yvon Chouinard. What makes this series significant is the conservation message that is a key element of each show.

“We are all in this together,” Brokaw said.

Working as a consultant for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership on their Marine Fisheries Initiative, I see the series as an excellent way to show how connected recreational fisherman are to the resource.

There are also some very interesting behind the scenes looks at the series.

Go online to the Tin Shed section of Patagonia’s Web site, Patagonia.com, and click on the fly box on the bench to the left. It will take you to images shot on location by noted photographer Val Atkinson and Patagonia’s Bill Klyn. Klyn offers an excellent behind the scenes narrative as well.

Atkinson, the on-site photographer for the series, has his own terrific slide show as well at Valatkinson.com.

Of course, the best part of any fishing trip is the time spent with friends. Doesn’t matter the weather or how good the fishing is, if you are horsing around with your pals it is always a good time.

To see how much fun these guys had, go to Garden and Gun magazine for a great video of bloopers and outtakes. You can find it online at Gardenandgun.com. They also published a great article “The Bonefish Boys” by Monte Burke with photos by Atkinson and Klyn.

As you dig into this entertaining and informative look at marine recreational fishing and conservation you meet Dr. Aaron Adams. Adams runs the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust. They “support research to help understand, nurture, and enhance healthy bonefish, tarpon, and permit populations.”

What impresses me about Adams is his view of the recreational angler’s responsibility to the resource.

On his blog Adams writes, “A key to marine and fish conservation that seems to be missed by many is that a true conservationist is as adamant about responsibility as he/she is about rights. Unfortunately, such a balanced approach has never been common, and is becoming increasingly rare.”

Adams continues, “Lately I’ve been hearing a lot about fishermen’s rights, and not so much about fishermen’s responsibilities. For example, in my area I’m seeing more and more bad behavior – boats running way too close to anglers poling on flats boats, boats running so shallow they dig scars in seagrass beds – while at the same time clamors of ‘I can go where I want’ are increasing. We can be our own worst enemies at times.”

These days anglers can’t afford to get a bad reputation. Too many people are working hard to be sure the resource is around for folks to have a place to fish.

Adams, Brokaw and McGuane are all correct. It is time for all of us to take our responsibility for the resource seriously.

Merry Christmas and happy Holidays. Wishing you many happy days afield in the year to come.

You can read more of my columns at the News Virginian.com.

The AFFTA board and staff had a lot of careful and thoughtful deliberations as we considered a new show among our options.  We looked at every option – including partnering with ASA, OR, Chuck, and other show producers that approached us in the past two weeks. The process took time, but it was worth it to be sure we had solid information for a final decision.

In the end the board firmly believes that an independent show is in the best interests of the fly-fishing industry. That decision is validated by the overwhelmingly positive response so far.

The hiring of an industry veteran like Randi Swisher makes the success we expect achievable. The proceeds from the International Fly Tackle Dealer show will be put to work for the industry. Retailers will now be directly involved in our decision making process on show decisions like dates, format, features and other elements.

Those of us with a passion for fly-fishing deserve our own show and our own association. Now is the time for folks to get involved and help make this show a success and AFFTA stronger.

Vote for TRCP Co-founder and Former Chairman Jim Range as 2010 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year.

Jim Range, one of the country’s greatest champions for sportsmen-conservationists, has been honored with a posthumous nomination as a finalist for the Budweiser Conservationist of the Year award. This annual program recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to perpetuating the American outdoor way of life. Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will donate $50,000 to the 2010 winner’s conservation organization of choice, with the money to fund the group’s conservation efforts. The three runners-ups will receive $5,000 grants for the conservation organization of their choosing. Jim’s family has designated the TRCP to receive the proceeds from this honor.

Since losing Jim so suddenly 10 months ago, we at the TRCP, along with the  thousands who loved Jim and worked with him for better conservation of our natural resources, have sought out ways to honor his legacy and leadership. Budweiser and NFWF have given us all an opportunity to say “thank you” again to Jim for everything he did to help guarantee us all quality places to hunt and fish.

Jim spent his entire professional life conserving and enhancing Americans’ hunting and fishing opportunities. His cumulative efforts stand as a very high benchmark to those of us who care about our outdoor sporting heritage – and the lands and waters on which we pursue these traditions. His ability to inspire passion in others through his words and actions rallied countless supporters around his conservation vision.

In addition to his critical role in establishing and chairing the TRCP, Jim served on the boards of directors for Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, the Wetlands America Trust, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, the American Sportfishing Association, the American Bird Conservancy,  the Pacific Forest Trust, the Yellowstone Park Foundation and the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, among others. He also was an original NFWF board member and worked directly with many other hunting, fishing and conservation groups to advance conservation and sportsmen’s interests in Washington and around the country. During his 11 years on Capitol Hill working for Sen. Howard Baker, Jim fought tirelessly to conserve our natural resources with a bipartisan approach that became his trademark. He played a critical role in the passage of several landmark laws, including the Clean Water Act. In 2003, Jim received the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Great Blue Heron Award, the highest honor given by the department to an individual at the national level.

The deadline for voting is December 15^th – vote today.

To vote, go to www.budweiser.com – after logging in, click on the “vote” link on the home page and select Jim from the four finalists.

Votes also can be submitted via mail. On a 3-inch by 5-inch card, print your name, address, age and name of candidate (“Jim Range”). Mail the card to 2010 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year, P.O. Box 750026, El Paso, TX 88575-0026.

Voters must be aged 21 or older, and voting is limited to one vote per person. The 2010 award will be presented at an event during the SHOT Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 21.

Since Anheuser-Busch was founded in 1852, the company has been committed to conserving natural resources. Budweiser, its partners and consumers have raised $8.7 million over the past 10 years to conserve vital habitat and wildlife across the country. Visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

A nonprofit established by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation sustains, restores and enhances the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Since its establishment, NFWF has awarded more than 10,000 grants to more than 3,500 organizations, and its work has resulted in more than $1.5 billion invested in conservation. Visit www.nfwf.org.

Learn more about Jim Range, his efforts on behalf of America’s sportsmen-conservationists and the fund established in his memory.

Vote for Jim Range as the Budweiser Conservationist of the Year!“

Full Disclosure: I am a consultant to the TRCP. TRCP provided this material. I received no compensation for posting it. Any one who knows me knows Jim was one of my closest friends for nearly 20 years. Here is a link to the tribute i wrote when he died earlier this year.