IGFA Billfish Research and Conservation Endowment
The Future of Billfish Depends on You
The Need
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, if not the most, iconic big game, offshore species. They are enjoyed by anglers around the world, and recreational fishing for billfish also provides substantial economic benefits. However, there’s a problem.
Many billfish stocks are in a depleted state and are also 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.
But what if there was a dedicated source of funds whose sole purpose would be to study and conserve billfish, in perpetuity? That's exactly what the IGFA Billfish Research and Conservation Endowment will accomplish.
The Opportunity
Anchored by an estimated planned gift of approximately $1,300,000 and a generous matching gift pledge, the IGFA Billfish Research & Conservation Endowment aims to raise an additional $1,000,000 that will be matched dollar-for-dollar. The initial result of these efforts will be a $3.3mm endowment whose disbursements will be used exclusively to conserve billfish – FOREVER. These funds will grow in perpetuity and additional contributions will be added over time.
Mission Statement
The IGFA Billfish Research and Conservation Endowment is dedicated to funding initiatives that directly or indirectly benefit billfish stocks by enhancing our knowledge on their biology and ecology, obtaining management measures that improve their abundance on national, regional and international levels, and improving recreational fisheries for these species.
The IGFA’s Credibility
Since its inception in 1939, the IGFA has had strong ties with fisheries science and conservation. We were initially housed in the American Museum of Natural History, and throughout our history we have participated in research and advocacy efforts on a variety of species. However, the IGFA specializes in billfish research and conservation.
Whether it’s passage of federal laws that protect billfish, establishing the world’s largest billfish satellite tagging program or participating in other key billfish conservation and research efforts, one could argue that in the past 20 years, no other recreational fishing organization has done more to study and conserve these majestic fish.
What this Billfish Endowment will do
With your support, this dedicated billfish endowment will greatly increase the IGFA’s capacity to work with other scientists and organizations to conduct billfish research and participate in fisheries management and advocacy efforts. This will lead to better management of these species and will in turn benefit billfish anglers. Specific projects will include:
We can’t do this without your support
With a one-time gift, you can leave legacy that will protect billfish now and forever. When you do, your name will appear on the IGFA website and inside the IGFA’s World Record Game Fishes book amongst other Donor Society members.
From the Founders
Tim Choate:
“Please join me in creating this new endowment for billfish research and conservation. We need to leave behind a better future for billfish for the next generation of anglers. If you have a passion for billfish, it’s more than worth the investment and it is also tax deductible!”
Bob and Sally Kurz:
”If you love catching billfish, you can no longer just be a spectator and hope someone else will do the heavy lifting. A gift of any size is welcome, and for those who can step-up in a more meaningful way, we would ask that you please do so. The future of billfish depends on what we do today!”