The Bahamas to Receive Support from the IGFA’s Worldwide Anglers Relief Fund

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA)  announced the initial grant from its Worldwide Anglers Relief Fund (WARF) to aid the recreational angling community in The Bahamas. Working with our partners at IDEA Relief and the Yellow Dog Community & Conservation Foundation (YDCCF) the IGFA has recently arranged the transfer of $44,000 from the WARF to aid in the ongoing recovery efforts of the recreational angling community in the northern Abacos following Hurricane Dorian.

“The purpose of the WARF is to help members of the recreational angling community, such as captains and guides, get back on the water after a natural disaster,” said IGFA President Jason Schratwieser. “Both IDEA Relief and the YDCCF are focused specifically on helping the recreational angling community of The Bahamas rebuild after Hurricane Dorian. This aligns perfectly with the goals of the WARF and we are excited to help our angling family in The Bahamas.”

IDEA Relief was founded in the wake of Hurricane Dorian and coordinated with major NGOs to provide marine evacuations, logistical and medical support, and supply chain logistics to the northern Abacos. Now focusing their attention on the long term health of the region and its inhabitants, IDEA Relief has launched a new initiative that will employ members of the recreational angling community and provide free therapy and mental wellness assessments to residents on mainland Abaco and the Cays including Green Turtle, Cay, Guana Cay, Man O War and Elbow Cay. The IDEA Relief Foundation will fund two, four-hour fishing charters a day, providing work for two local captains daily as well as support for eight different residents. All fish caught aboard the charter will be returned the following day after cleaning and individual packaging for consumption.

“We are extremely grateful for the WARF’s support of IDEA Relief and the people of Abaco,” said IDEA Relief President Will Tomlinson. “The recreational angling community is a core part of these islands, and this will go a long way to support their recovery and long-term stability.”

YDCCF has been raising funds since Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas in the first week of September 2019. In the immediate days after the storm, the Foundation disbursed funds to several Bahamian fly fishing lodges’ staff, guides and families. The goal of YDCCF is to help the Bahamian angling community rebuild after the devastating natural disaster.

“We realize that rebuilding Grand Bahama and Abaco is a long road that will take many years,” said Director of YDCCF Dillion Gruber. “With that in mind, we intend to disburse the funds to community and conservation projects that benefit the recreational angling community.”

The IGFA and its partner Costa created the WARF in September 2017. In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, Costa once again donated to the WARF through the money raised from their #OneCoast program. “The mission of #OneCoast is to bring relief to our coastal family and friends affected by natural disasters,” said Costa Marketing Manager of Core Markets, Amanda Sabin. “The Bahamas are our family. We are proud to be part of the rebuilding process with the IGFA and IDEA Relief, and helping get people back on the water.”

With this recent distribution of $44,000 to IDEA Relief and YDCCF, the WARF has disbursed a total of $100,000 to recreational angling associations in the Florida Keys, Texas, Puerto Rico, the Florida Panhandle and The Bahamas, to help local captains and guides recover from Hurricanes Irma, Harvey, Maria, Michael and Dorian, respectively.

To make a direct, tax deductible contribution to the WARF, consumers can go to https://igfa.org/warf, or purchase a Costa t-shirt in support of recovery efforts at onecoast.net. The IGFA is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.