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. . . . for the future of fishing |
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What? The FishSmart
Program is a proactive approach to solving a major challenge to recreational
fishing in the future: reducing the mortality of fish stocks while enhancing
the fishing experience. How? FishSmart utilizes two basic approaches: 1) developing
fishing techniques and management approaches that reduce the catch of
unwanted species or sizes, and; 2) improving the survival of released
fish. Who? Meeting this challenge will require the combined efforts
of the entire recreational fishing community, including anglers,
manufacturers, retailers, media, and the agencies responsible for managing
fishery resources. Why? FishSmart is the next step in the evolution
of growing the sport of fishing. The growing use of voluntary
catch-and-release and the explosion of management measures that require
anglers to release fish has resulted in post release mortality rates that
must be minimized. Nearly ½ billion
saltwater fish are caught each year with 59% of those being returned to the
water. In freshwater, promotion of
best practices in live release tournaments (bass and trout, for example) have
contributed to healthy fishery resources. Action: FishSmart is a
program driven by the angling community, not a top-down government
program. It will utilize several
approaches consisting of; 1) expanding our understanding of released fish
survival; 2) developing new equipment where necessary to enhance released
fish survival, 3) promoting the adoption of careful release techniques to
anglers, and; 4) developing communication in programs to help anglers
implement these best practices Impact: By encouraging careful fishing and release techniques we
can save millions of fish for the future.
In some heavily fished fisheries, increasing the survival of fish will
be the only way that we can allow participation and still have a healthy fish
population. Plain and simple, FishSmart
is the right thing to do. Our sport is being held to higher standards
and greater scrutiny in today’s world and it is vital that industry, government and anglers
cooperate in promoting responsible stewardship of fishery resources. FishSmart - it's up to you!
UNDER CONSTRUCTION Please Check Back Often! Contact: info@fishsmart.org |
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