Help protect and restore the quality of exotic sportfisheries by supporting the - INTERNATIONAL SPORTFISH FUND

A Message to Anglers:

With each passing day in regions outside of North America, the quality of fishing is declining as a result of activities that lie beyond your sphere of influence.

Political boundaries rarely limit angler access to sportfishing opportunities. Yet political boundaries often limit the angler's ability to influence the stewardship of some of the world's most spectacular sportfisheries.

Fisheries scientist from many different countries are working to improve these fisheries. International relationships have been developed among institutions to promote research, education, and management.

These cooperative international efforts require funding. Funding for North American scientists working on international projects is generally unavailable from government sources.

• Who will collect the data that can leverage conservation efforts to protect sportfisheries?
• Who will work to see that your international sportfishing interests are protected?
• Who will work to see that quality sportfishing opportunities exist for the future?
• The International Sportfish Fund (ISF) was created to respond to these concerns as expressed by anglers and fisheries scientists.

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Objective of the International Sportfish Fund

• To promote responsible stewardship of sportfisheries of international interest.
• To support scientific research that aids management of sportfisheries.
• To support management practices that enhance the quality of international relationships between anglers and the international sportfishing tourism industry.
• To strengthen international relationships among fisheries scientists and natural resource managers.
• To promote conservation of critical habitats supporting important international sportfisheries.
• To provide decision makers with critical information on the social and economic benefits of sportfisheries



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Long-Term Strategy of ISF



• Contributions are sought from concerned anglers and enterprises to establish an endowment in support of fisheries research, management, and education outside of North America, especially in developing countries.
• By targeting key areas for research, International Sportfish Fund makes possible the rapid acquisition of scientific data to educate both the public and decision makers. Reliable scientific data are needed to support fisheries management.
• Through its support of multinational teams of researchers, educators and anglers, ISF promotes international cooperation among anglers, sportfishing businesses, natural resource agencies, and institutions of higher learning in the interest of conserving fishes and their habitats for all to enjoy.
• By disseminating fisheries information from developing countries, ISF can publicize management success stories where sportfisheries are thriving, as well as regional sportfisheries in need of attention.



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Short-Term Needs of ISF

For short term, fisheries research projects have been targeted for three regions, each supporting vigorous international sportfisheries:

• Peacock bass in Venezuela

Peacock bass are one of the world's most spectacular freshwater gamefishes. In their native habitats, these colorful tropical fishes (actually members of the tropical family Cichlidae and not related to North American bass) can attain weights of over 25 pounds. Even small peacocks can test any angler's strength and stress even the sturdiest freshwater tackle to its limits. Venezuela has supported the world's largest sportfishery for peacock bass for many years. With increased development of tourism infrastructure, the number of international anglers enjoying this unique sportfishing experience has steadily increased. Yet limited fisheries data and recent accounts from experienced anglers indicate the abundance and size of peacocks has declined in recent years. Basic fisheries data for peacock bass are virtually nonexistent.

A fisheries research project on the ecology and current status of peacock bass has been proposed by The University of the Western Llanos in Venezuela and Texas A&M University. This important project will be the first to gather detailed fisheries and ecological data for peacock basses in their native habitats. The Llanos River Foundation of Venezuela has pledged support for this research, and ISF seeks to provide matching funds that will enable researchers from Texas A&M to play a large role in data acquisition, analysis, and assessments. Anglers will be encouraged to participate in this research effort.

• Snook in Costa Rica

Famous for their strength, endurance, and spectacular leaps, snook and tarpon are without a doubt the premier gamefishes of tropical coastal waters. The two fishes provide the foundation for a thriving international sportfishery along Costa Rica's Caribbean shore. The high natural densities of snook and tarpon in Costa Rica even attract the attention of hundreds of Florida anglers each year. World records for snook have been recorded from Costa Rica's eastern shore for many years, and new world records are now coming from Costa Rica's Pacific coast as well. Unfortunately, biologists know little about the complex life histories, habitat requirements, and ecological interactions of these important fishes. Moving frequently through inlets between coastal freshwater and marine habitats, snook are extremely vulnerable to the gillnets of commercial fishermen. Unlike the thriving Costa Rican populations, Mexican and Nicaraguan snook populations today are only a sad remnant of what they were only three decades ago.

Researchers at Texas A&M University and the University of Texas have proposed research that investigates reproduction, population structure, movements and seasonal dynamics of snook populations along Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. This research also will involve the National University of Costa Rica and the Costa Rican National Park Service. Local fishing lodges and anglers will be encouraged to participate in the field aspects of this research.

• Billfish

Marlin and sailfish are the undisputed kings of sport fishing in offshore waters. These magnificant and valuable fishes have uncertain futures, however. The world's billfish populations continue to be threatened by increasing commercial fishing pressure and management policies guided more by international politics than by conservation practices. Previous work on the social and economic benefits associated with this recreational fishery in the U.S. was undertaken in support of the decision to prevent directed and by-catch impacts by commercial fisheries in U.S. waters. This work was funded by the Billfish Foundation in Miami, Florida. Now, the research team seeks to expand this research to other regions in support of additional management and research efforts.

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Administration of ISF

• ISF was created to promote conservation through scientific research, management, and education. ISF is administered by Texas A&M University with formal agreements with the University of Texas and other universities for specific research projects.
• ISF task force is assembling a sportfishing committee o anglers with experience in international sportfisheries. Members of the sportfishing committee are selected from contributors who have indicated their willingness and ability to serve on the advisory board of ISF. Members of the sportfishing committee will join with a committee of distinguished fisheries scientists with expertise in overseas freshwater and marine systems. Together these teams will comprise the first advisory board for ISF.
• The advisory board will solicit and review proposals for funds in support of research, management, and education associated with important international sportfisheries. The board will join with other members of ISF, scientists, and government agencies to forge new strategies for promotion and conservation of international sportfisheries.

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You Can Help Make International Sportfish Fund a Force in Resource Protection and Restoration

• Get involved! Write to ISF Task Force and offer your insights, share your experience, and make recommendations for ISF activities. Find out how you can participate in field investigations of peacock bass in Venezuela or snook in Costa Rica, for example.
• Talk to other international anglers! Inquire about the current status of their favorite international sportfisheries. Ask them if research and management efforts for the protection and restoration of these fisheries are underway or planned for the future. Tell other anglers about the International Sportfish Fund.
• Pledge your support to International Sportfish Fund! Contributions to ISF are tax deductible. Members of ISF receive our quarterly newsletter with progress reports on ISF activities, essays, and status reports on important international fisheries. Members also receive invitations to participate in scientific field investigations and educational workshops.

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International Sportfish Fund, Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2258 Telephone (409) 8624020 Fax (409) 845-3786

Members of the Task Force for International Sportfish Fund:

Dr. Kirk 0. Winemiller, Assistant Professor of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University
Dr. Robert B. Ditton, Professor of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University
Dr. Clark Hubbs, Professor of Zoology Emeritus, The University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Donald C. Taphorn, Professor and Director of the Natural Resources Program, The University of the Western Llanos, Venezuela
Dr. John D. Lyons, Fisheries Research Biologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources