2022 Barry M. Fitzpatrick Conservation Award – Todd Staley

Todd Staley has been working with Costa Rican fishermen for 30 years and employed over 1,000 in the charter fishing business, often turning commercial fishermen into successful sport fishing captains. Todd has written many editorials informing the public in Costa Rica of the capture of dolphins in the tuna industry and other bycatch as well as illegal fishing practices of longline fishermen. Todd has also published editorials in Sport Fishing and Marlin Magazine about issues in Costa Rica and donated the proceeds to the IGFA youth education programs. 

Todd also has a knack of bringing people together in a world that often competes for funding and does not share information. Todd brought together MarViva, the Latin America Sea Turtle Foundation and Federacion Costarricense De Pesca (FECOP) and co-authored a 51-page report about the long line industry in Costa Rica believing more success will be achieved with conserving our natural resources if we work together.