Sportfishing Conservation

Sportfishing Conservation

For many years, many decades really, anglers wanted their trophies; a photo of themselves with their fish, and a sign giving the weight of the vanquished. Then came the realization that the fish didn't need to be killed and the conservation movement encouraged a "catch-and-release" program, returning to the water whatever wasn't to be eaten. In recent years, however, the world's sportfishing factions have been battling Mexico's powerful commercial union because the Mexican government enacted a law that would enable Mexico's many commercial long-liners, as well as gillnet and seiner boats, to fish very close to Mexico's coast, practices that would quickly decimate the fragile fish stocks off Mexico's west coast and into the Sea of Cortez. For more information, go to www.seawatch.org. The Billfish Foundation is leading the fight against the newest Mexican shark regulation, which would allow the boats to within 24 km (15 mi) of the Sea of Cortez and 32 km (20 mi) of Baja's west coast, and does not restrict by-catch. More info at www.billfish.org.