Rick Crawford
If you’ve read any of the interviews I have done for The Sustainable Angler, then you know that there are three main threats our fisheries face today, and they are: Population, Policy and Pollution. I call these threats the “3 P’s” and last month’s interview with Jim Klug, founder of Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, we primarily focused on plastic pollution, but he made mention of the overfishing threat to fisheries around the world. The reason I mention this is because this month’s interviewee,Jess McGlothlin, used to work for Yellow Dog as a photographer, blogger and handled their social media. She has worked with other companies in the fly fishing industry such as Orvis and the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA), and is also a published author and photographer. You may have read, or seen some of her work in The Drake, American Angler or The New York Times among others.
These days Jess is running her media company, Jess McGlothlin Media. Through her work, Jess has been all over the world both as an angler and on assignment and has seen the impact that such things as overpopulation and overfishing are having around the world. I was fortunate to get a few minutes with Jess to discuss overfishing, and would like to thank Jess for her time.
What effects of overfishing are most concerning to you?
I’m not terribly qualified to talk about commercial overfishing; from a sport-fishing perspective I think it becomes more of a fish management angle. As anglers, we have a responsibility to help ensure these fish will be around for future generations. I’ve recently started to partner with Keepemwet Fishing to help spread the message of proper fish handling — there are so many little things we can do to help protect and conserve the waters we love to fish. And we need to start doing them right now.
As anglers, we have a responsibility to help ensure these fish will be around for future generations.
Have you personally seen the negative impacts of overfishing on fisheries?
Yes; I worked with the IndiFly Foundation several years ago to document a remote fishery in the South Pacific. The locals live largely off of coconut products and bonefish; they are so dependent on the bonefish as sustenance that they’re literally eating too many fish. The islanders are seeing far reduced numbers and it’s causing concern. Without delving into too much detail, it was astounding to see in a very visceral way the impacts of an unmanaged fishery on a society that depends on that very fishery for sustenance.
I’ve also seen firsthand Amazon region locals who depend largely on the fish they can dredge from the river as a food source. Regional (often illegal) gold mining has introduced toxic levels of mercury into the river system, poisoning the fish and — consequently — the locals. We think poor fisheries management resonates when we are sport fishing, but the game changes when lives depend on a resource that suddenly isn’t there.
Regional (often illegal) gold mining has introduced toxic levels of mercury into the river system, poisoning the fish and — consequently — the locals.
What are some of your favorite brands doing to address conservation concerns?
It’s been fun to partner with Keepemwet Fishing to help spread the message of proper fish management. In photography workshops and talks I’ve long talked about why it’s more aesthetically appealing to shoot a fish either in the water or dripping wet — now, looking at the science, it makes even more sense.
There are so many brands in the fly-fishing space that are doing good things for our fisheries. Patagonia, it seems, is consistently leading the charge. The Conservation Alliance, 1% For the Planet… there’s a lot of history there.
What is something you wish more anglers knew about proper fish handling?
The easiest thing to do? Keep fish wet! We’ve all seen the classic “hero shot” — it’s been perpetuated by fishing magazines for a long time. Dude holding his fish out at arm’s length, grinning madly as he looks at his catch with pride and love. It doesn’t take that much modification to keep the fish partly submerged for these shots. If you have to, let the photographer get positioned and ready while keeping the fish in the water, then count down and lift the fish up for the shot. It’s simple… and so, so much easier on the fish.
Why is creating more education and awareness about conservation threats important to you?
We all like to fish, right? It’s our escape. And so our reasons for preserving that escape are pretty simple: we want these resources, these fisheries, to be around for the rest of our lifetimes. And for the generations after. So let’s get on it, folks.
…we want these resources, these fisheries, to be around for the rest of our lifetimes. And for the generations after. So let’s get on it, folks.
Take Action
While there isn’t much we can do about overpopulation, we can all certainly do what we can to conserve valuable resources such as our fisheries. I completely agree with Jess that as anglers “we have a responsibility to help ensure these fish will be around for future generations.” What are some things you can do to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy the sport of fly fishing?
When handling fish, keep them wet! Here are 10 tips from KeepEmWet Fishing:
- Reduce angling duration.
- Follow local regulations.
- Hold fish over water.
- Fish barbless hooks.
- Fish with nets.
- Only use rubber nets.
- Carry hook removal devices.
- Photograph wet fish.
- Grip fish carefully.
- Carefully revive fish.
For more detailed instructions on how to properly handle fish, please visit: www.keepemwet.org. Thank you very much to Jess McGlothlin for sharing some insights into overfishing and how to handle fish!
As always, thanks for reading and stay tuned for next month’s “The Sustainable Angler!”