Conservation

Fly Fishers International is dedicated to the protection and conservation of fisheries and their habitats. FFI’s Conservation Committee, along with our members, clubs, and councils, take actions at national, state and local levels that have a direct impact on important issues. We often partner with other conservation organizations to create a stronger voice.  FFI is also involved in programs that encourage safe (wet) release of fish, and fishing programs that aid in identifying species to habitats (BassCatch, CutCatch, and our own Suncatch Challenge).

To fulfill our conservation mission at the regional level, the Conservation Director of each council is tasked with staying abreast and evaluating environmental and fisheries issues within their geographic boundaries. The Conservation Director also sits on the FFI Conservation Committee, representing their council.

Conservation Actions

Many times the work to protect resources comes in the form of scientific opinions regarding policies and decisions by public agencies whose responsibility is to oversee fisheries and their habitats. We base our decision about issues on a review of the existing policies or laws governing the agency’s action and sound science-based facts.

Over the years, the Gulf Coast Council has taken several conservation actions. These include:

  • Support for a seasonal closure for flounder in Alabama and Louisiana due to poor recruitment (environmental causes)
  • Support for reduction of limits to speckled trout in Alabama and Louisiana to meet the 20% spawning stock biomass recruitment standard
  • Support for new crappie regulations on certain Mississippi lakes to improve catch rates and average size
  • Support for changes in Louisiana redfish limits that would recover from overfishing, including no-kill of redfish over 27″ (spawners)
  • Support for a reduction in menhaden bycatch in Louisiana
  • Opposition to USACE sludge dredging of Mobile Bay
  • Opposition to the USACE “One Lake” Pearl River project
  • and more

We encourage members to alert the Conservation Director – or other board member – about potential conservation issues they are aware of. While we do receive frequent communications from wildlife agencies in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida, as well as notifications from other conservation organizations, some issues can fly under the radar.  This is where member involvement helps.

Conservation Scholarships

Each year, FFI provides grants to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in fisheries or closely related fields. The awards help ensure the development of future leaders in fisheries conservation. The following outlines the process for applying for the awards.  Applicants are determined upon recommendation of the student’s sponsoring Council.   Recipients are selected by the Conservation Committee, with final approval of the FFI Board of Directors.

See the FFI website at www.flyfishersinternational.org for more information on FFI Conservation Grants. Please note that there is a strict cap on the number and amount of grants per year.

Gulf Coast Council (GCC) Conservation Grants

These are independent of the FFI grants. FFI clubs or any other qualifying 501(c)3 conservation organizations may apply. The total maximum funding for all grants at this time is $1,000 per calendar year, with a maximum individual grant amount of $500.

Here are the details:

  • The club or organization must fill out the GCC Grant Application Form (see below). Supporting documentation is strongly encouraged.
  • There must be a Project Manager.   This person will be the point of contact and responsible for all feedback.
  • Describe the objectives, completion dates, and indicate how results will be measured or quantified.
  • Detailed budget information
  • Names of other organizations/agencies providing funding and amount they are providing.  The project must have matching funds from another source.
  • How the project will be communicated to the media and public.
  • GCC grant requests will be reviewed by the Conservation Director of the Gulf Coast Council for content and qualifications. The Director may suggest changes to the request to better assure grant approval.
  • The GCC Board will vote on final approval of the grant. If approved, a check will be sent to the application address.
  • In some cases, the Council may pledge only some of the requested funding to the project.

GCC Conservation grants are given on a competitive basis. Proposed projects will be judged on the merits of the project, if it has a well-defined objective, and is more likely to be approved if it has a near-term fulfillment.

Click on this link to download the GCC Grant Application Form.

As the Gulf Coast Council seeks to find a reliable source of long-term annual funding, the amount for GCC conservation grants may eventually be increased.