Happy Earth Day! Here at Flylords, we like to highlight some of the biggest stories in conservation AND share tips on how to be a more sustainable angler today AND and everyday. It’s no secret that the planet is changing–rapidly–and humans play a major role in that. That’s why now, more than ever, it is so important to restore and protect those threatened rivers, conserve vulnerable species, do little things to reduce waste and pollution, and responsibly interact with our wild fisheries.
- Damned the Single Use Plastics: this one is a no-brainer, but plastic is pretty terrible for our planet and far too prevalent in our waterways. Scientific research has estimated the amount of plastic pollution in our oceans is in the millions of tons, enters the food chain, and makes its way into fish species. It’s great to see many brands in the fly fishing industry adopt more sustainable packaging and product materials. But, without being too pessimistic, the fly fishing industry is not going to solve this global problem. More work is needed in developing parts of the world. However, you can still make a difference by reducing your own single-use plastic use, recycling as much as possible, and picking up trash on your local streams and rivers. Costa’s KICK PLASTIC campaign and Airflo’s up-cycling programs are great examples of companies making a difference.
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- Rivers are often compared to a human’s veins and arteries, as these waterways provide so much life for the planet. Yet, development, pollution, and climate change are stressing rivers around the globe. Fortunately, here in the United States, river restoration efforts have never been stronger. The world’s largest dam removal project is making incredible progress on the Klamath, and Snake River restoration is gaining momentum. Continue supporting groups like Trout Unlimited (check out the new layer on the OnWater App to learn about when/where local TU events are happening) to advance cold-water conservation and check out Patagonia’s Cracked, for more on the global state of rivers and the threats they still face.
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- South Florida Water Crises and Everglades Restoration: The human impact on our wild places is everywhere, but what you’re seeing in Florida’s ecosystems is on a different scale. Whether it’s coral reef bleaching, inexplainable fish spinning, or the high volume damaging discharges super-charging red tide events and starving the everglades and Florida Bay of freshwater, Florida has its host of problems. Thankfully groups like Captains for Clean Water and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust are doing great work to correct and improve the understanding of Florida’s ecosystems.
- Climate Change: Well, it’s happening, and human impact is the leading factor contributing to record high temperatures, more frequent super storms, and changing climates–and it threatens just about all of our fisheries and wild ecosystems. So many of our fisheries depend on clean, cold water and access to diverse habitats. I’m not here to tell you to go get a Prius or put solar panels on your roof or share a silver-bullet to reverse climate change, but mankind has had a huge impact on our planet and understanding that is critical.
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- Aquaculture is one of those tricky, misunderstood subjects. We need sources of protein to sustain the ever-growing 8 billion person population, but some forms of aquaculture are just flat-out not good for the planet. In particular, open ocean net-pen aquaculture has a troubled, destructive past filled with huge inputs of wild forage fish, disgusting amounts of pollution, and harmful impacts on wild stocks. Can wild fisheries sustain an 8 billion person population? Likely not, but the current protocols of net-pen aquaculture are inherently bad for our marine ecosystems. I don’t have the answers here, but I am confident enough to recommend you consume wild-caught US seafood, which is largely the most sustainable option out there. I mean, prices can be a factor here, but there is literally zero comparison with a farmed Atlantic salmon and a wild caught Bristol Bay sockeye…
We have an incredible planet and so many amazing fisheries and wild places. We just need to take better care of her. In today’s consumer market, it’s easy to just look online for the cheapest options. However, there is inherent value in making purchasing decisions on which brand does the most for your fisheries, habitats, and our planet. Look for 1% For The Planet certifications, brands that talk about conservation, and support them to continue making a difference! As an example, Orvis is donating 10% of all its profits on Earth Day to support Captains for Clean Waters’ fight to restore the Everglades. Happy Earth day everyone.
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