World Oceans Day is held annually on June 8th, celebrating our oceans, their habitat, and the creatures that call them home. Whether you’re fishing your local salt marsh or traveling across the world to far-off flats, healthy oceans are critical to supporting saltwater fly fishing. In honor of World Oceans Day, we wanted to highlight some incredible science and major wins from the organizations fighting for our oceans and the fish we cherish.
American Saltwater Guide Association
The American Saltwater Guide Association, or ASGA, was founded in 2018 out of necessity. Anglers needed a unified voice for science and conservation, and at the time, there was none. Since its inception, ASGA has relied on three core principles: sound science, educating the community, and advocacy through the highest levels of government. Eight years later, their work is paying off with notable wins for striped bass, false albacore, jack crevalles, redfish, and bluefish.
An update from ASGA on false albacore:
“The American Saltwater Guide Association’s approach of science, education and advocacy is paying off. In particular for albies and bonito. As a result of our recently completed tagging study of + 200 false albacore; fisheries managers now recognize it’s a coast-wide migratory species. Both Massachusetts and North Carolina have added “guardrail regulations “ so we can all better understand this important gamefish. Similar regulatory efforts are ongoing in other northeast states”. (Peter Jenkins, Owner Saltwater Edge) Chairman American Saltwater Guide Association.”
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) is at the forefront of conserving and restoring bonefish, tarpon, and permit habitat throughout the tropics. While they originally started in 1997 with a goal to reverse declining bonefish populations in the Florida Keys, they’ve expanded their scope to include projects throughout South Florida, the Bahamas, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean. Pioneering cutting-edge science and habitat restoration have resulted in better-managed fisheries and habitats everywhere bonefish and tarpon swim.
Updates from BTT:
Florida FWC Votes to Protect Bonefish Pre-Spawning Aggregation Site Discovered by BTT. “Protecting this site during peak spawning season is critical to the continued recovery of Florida’s bonefish population,” said BTT President and CEO Jim McDuffie. “We thank FWC Commissioners for their leadership and commitment as well as the guides, anglers, partner organizations, and fishing industry leaders for raising their voices in support of this science-based conservation measure.”
BTT Completes First Tidal Creek Restoration on Grand Bahama. “This is bigger than just a construction project,” said Rashema Ingraham, BTT Caribbean Program Director. “We are reopening tidal flow at places like West Gap Creek and now moving on to our next project at August Creek, because restoring the natural connection between the flats, mangroves, and the ocean has a significant impact on the environment and provides great value to our coastal communities.”
The Billfish Foundation
The Billfish Foundation (TBF) is the oldest conservation organization we’re highlighting this World Oceans Day. Founded in 1986, their mission is to conserve billfish populations worldwide. In doing so, they’ve led the charge into billfish research, tagging over 280,000 fish as part of their Tag & Release Program. Their most recent project takes this one step further with advanced satellite tags.
An update from TBF:
“Our launch of Project Gulf marks TBF’s fifth Groundswell Project, connecting billfish hotspots through community-powered science. To celebrate our 40th Anniversary, we’re advancing 40 satellite tags already revealing surprising migrations and the power of connected communities driving connected fisheries.”
Captains For Clean Water
Captains For Clean Water (CFCW) is another organization started out of necessity. In 2016, record red tides hit Florida’s Gulf Coast, stemming from harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee. Chris Wittman and Daniel Andrews, two local guides, knew something needed to change and created the organization to give guides and their fisheries a voice. Since then, they’ve taken the fight to Big Sugar, advocating for clean water and pivotal projects like the EAA Reservoir in South Florida.
An update from CFCW on stopping Big Sugar’s Muzzle Clause:
During the 2026 Legislative Session, a provision buried in Florida’s Farm Bill threatened to increase the financial risk for citizens, journalists, and advocates who spoke out about industrial agricultural practices affecting water quality and public health. Captains For Clean Water called it Big Sugar’s “Muzzle Clause” because it could have discouraged public accountability and chilled free speech.
Captains quickly launched a public campaign, reaching more than 1.2 million people, generating over 4.2 million video views, and helping drive nearly 10,000 emails and almost 2,000 phone calls to lawmakers. Supporters also showed up in Tallahassee to testify. The public pressure worked, and both the House and Senate removed the provision before final passage.
