Emerald Water Anglers Becomes World’s 1st Carbon Neutral Fly Shop

Posted on November 19, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

According to the Intergovernmental Panel in Climate Change (IPCC), the world would have to curb its carbon emissions by at least 49% of 2017 levels by the year 2030 and then achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in order to avoid catastrophic climate change effects. Anglers are already seeing these effects happening today – whether it be changes in migratory patterns of marine species as they search for cooler waters, or an increasing number of stream closures due to high stream temperatures, climate change is happening now. That’s why Seattle-based fly shop, Emerald Water Anglers decided to join the Fly Fishing Climate Alliance (FFCA) and is proud to announce that it is also the world’s 1st carbon neutral fly shop!

Sustainable business practices has always been an important part of Emerald Water Anglers (EWA) culture as is demonstrated by being a drop-off location for Recycled Waders and Fly Vines, and EWA no longer uses single-use plastic on any of its classes or trips by providing Yeti Ramblers for each guest and provide fresh water from Yeti jugs, all of which helps to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill and reduces their demand for harmful single-use plastics. Additionally, EWA had already taken steps to reduce its carbon footprint through energy efficiency measures, but has now taken the next step in its sustainability journey by going carbon neutral.

By going carbon neutral, we hope to demonstrate how a business our size can do it and still flourish economically, inspiring other businesses and individuals to do the same.  This is the future of business; we want to be not just ahead of the curve but driving it.”

Emerald Water Anglers Owner Dave McCoy
EWA worked with FFCA Chief Scientist, Mike Taptich, to calculate its carbon footprint, review reduction strategies and purchase carbon offsets with the rest. Emerald Water Anglers Owner, Dave McCoy, had this to say about going Carbon Neutral: “We as a staff felt going carbon neutral as a company made perfect sense considering what business we are in. As a company selling outdoor recreation equipment and guiding in our natural resources for our livelihood, we should be doing everything we can to protect and preserve them.  We are already heavily involved with local and regional conservation groups like Wild Steelhead Coalition and Native Fish Society, are members of 1% for the Planet and do everything we can to work with other member companies such as Loon, Miir and Patagonia.  By going carbon neutral, we hope to demonstrate how a business our size can do it and still flourish economically, inspiring other businesses and individuals to do the same.  This is the future of business; we want to be not just ahead of the curve but driving it.”
Fly Fishing Climate Alliance founder, Rick Crawford, said, “Right is right, even if nobody is doing it, and wrong is wrong, even if everybody is doing it, and thanks to Dave’s leadership, I believe that Emerald Water Anglers is the first of many fly shops that will choose to go carbon neutral to protect what they love. I am grateful that Dave and Emerald Water Anglers are Fly fishing Climate Alliance members!”
ABOUT EMERALD WATER ANGLERS
Emerald Water Anglers was founded in 1998 by Dave McCoy while he was living in Colorado.  In 2000 he moved to Seattle full time to guide steelhead and begin to establish the first and to this day only full service fly fishing store, guide service and travel consultant in the Seattle area.

ABOUT FLY FISHING CLIMATE ALLIANCE
The Fly Fishing Climate Alliance is an alliance of fishing guides, shops, lodges, brands & nonprofits committed to going carbon neutral by 2030 in order to save the planet and fish our businesses are dependent upon. If you would like to learn more, please visit: www.emergerstrategies.com, or if your business would like to join the Fly Fishing Climate Alliance, please email rcrawford@emergerstrategies.com