You have a part to play in saving billfish 
The United States is the world’s largest importer of marlin, sailfish, and spearfish – endangering stocks that are already severely depleted. The Billfish Conservation Act of 2010 (H.R. 5804) seeks to end commercial harvest, importation and sale of these species in the U.S., and the IGFA is urging those who care about healthy fisheries to click here to voice your support today. It only takes a few seconds to enter your name and ZIP code to tell your local Representative about the importance of conserving billfish populations for years to come.
Many recreational anglers are conservationists first and foremost, and the growing popularity of circle hooks and catch-and-release tournaments attests to widespread awareness of the need to protect target species. Unfortunately, commercial demand for billfish has far outweighed the conservation efforts of recreational anglers. A niche seafood market exists in which billfish are marketed to high-end restaurants. These fish are among the ocean’s top predators, and without your help, they face a very real possibility of permanent collapse.
Now is the time to Take Marlin off the Menu
Concerned about the health of billfish fisheries, the IGFA and the National Coalition for Marine Conservation joined forces in 2008 to create the Take Marlin off the Menu campaign. In just two short years, the campaign gained the support of such luminaries as Wolfgang Puck and the Wegmans Supermarket chain – as well as the attention of U.S. policymakers. Their support hinged largely on an Economic Analysis of International Billfish Markets which shows that the economic value of the U.S. billfish trade is almost nil in relation to the rest of the U.S. commercial fishing industry.
Your support of the Billfish Conservation Act would close the U.S. to commercial billfish harvest, importation and sale. It would have a negligible impact on the commercial industry in the U.S. while helping increase the abundance of these important apex predators and also the value of the recreational fishery, which brings in billions of dollars annually but has a minimal impact on billfish populations.
Take action today to make sure that no billfish will end up in grocery store shelves or on restaurant menus again. Click here to do your part in Taking Marlin off the Menu!
