IGFA Billfish Research and Conservation Endowment
The Future of Billfish Depends on You
A Milestone Achieved, A Mission Continues
In a landmark achievement for billfish conservation, the IGFA has surpassed our ambitious $1 million fundraising goal, including both cash gifts and pledge commitments, for the IGFA Billfish Research and Conservation Endowment. Through the visionary leadership of IGFA Trustee Emeritus Tim Choate's dollar-for-dollar matching gift and an eventual planned gift of $1.3 million from IGFA Trustee Bob Kurz and IGFA Representative Sally Kurz, we have established an endowment that will ultimately exceed $3.3 million – guaranteeing continuous, never-ending funding for billfish conservation.
This milestone represents a new chapter in billfish conservation, but our work continues. The challenges facing billfish populations are complex and evolving, requiring sustained investment in research, advocacy, and protection measures. Every additional contribution to the endowment amplifies our ability to expand scientific understanding, implement effective conservation strategies, and ensure these magnificent fish thrive not just for the next generation, but for every generation to come.
Why Your Support Matters
The overwhelming response to our initial campaign demonstrates the passionate commitment of the recreational fishing community to protecting billfish. This early success shows just how many people share our vision of a future where billfish populations thrive.
Can you imagine living in a world where billfish populations have been so diminished that fishing for them is no longer worthwhile? Most billfish anglers cannot, and the International Game Fish Association shares this same sentiment.
Billfish represent some of the most iconic big game, offshore species. They are enjoyed by anglers around the world, and recreational fishing for billfish provides substantial economic benefits. However, there's a problem.
Many billfish stocks are in a depleted state and are understudied, so we cannot accurately determine whether they are healthy. Put simply, there has not been enough resources dedicated to studying and conserving billfish as there needs to be, especially when you consider how important they are to recreational anglers and the revenue these fisheries generate.
The IGFA's Proven Leadership
For decades, the IGFA has led global billfish conservation efforts through groundbreaking initiatives. Our achievements include establishing the world's largest billfish satellite tagging program through the IGFA Great Marlin Race and securing passage of the Billfish Conservation Act, which effectively closed U.S. mainland commercial markets to foreign-caught billfish.
These successes demonstrate what we can accomplish together, but they're just the beginning. With the establishment of this endowment and your continued support, we can support expanded research efforts, strengthen international protections, and advocate for new conservation strategies. Every breakthrough we've achieved has revealed new opportunities to understand and protect these magnificent fish. Your support enables us to seize these opportunities and take our conservation efforts to the next level.
Your Support Drives Our Impact
With your continued support, this dedicated billfish endowment powers critical initiatives including:
Tim Choate:
"Seeing this endowment reach its first $1 million fundraising milestone is an incredible testament to the passion and commitment of the global sport fishing community. This fund ensures billfish research and conservation remain enduring priorities that will forever shape the future of our oceans. I am honored to be part of this legacy and look forward to seeing the transformative impact it will have on the future of billfish conservation."
Bob and Sally Kurz:
"Our love for billfish and the sport of fishing has shaped so much of our lives, and we are thrilled to contribute to the endowment's mission of protecting these incredible species. The progress made so far is just the beginning—through sustained scientific research and advocacy, we are creating healthier oceans where billfish thrive. We are proud to support this initiative and encourage everyone who shares our vision to join us in supporting this endowment."
Join Our Legacy
While we celebrate this extraordinary milestone and the incredible community that made it possible, the opportunity to make a difference continues to grow. This achievement belongs to every person who shares our commitment to billfish conservation, and now you can be part of this success story. By making a gift today to the IGFA Billfish Research and Conservation Endowment, you can join our community of conservation leaders and help strengthen this permanent foundation for protecting billfish worldwide.
To join this historic effort or learn more about the endowment, contact Barbara E. Cini at [email protected] or (954) 498-7153.