Welcome to the latest installment of the Wednesday Wake-Up Call, a roundup of the most pressing conservation issues important to anglers. Working with our friends at Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, The Everglades Foundation, Captains for Clean Water, VoteWater.org, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, and Conservation Hawks (among others), we’ll make sure you’ve got the information you need to understand the issues and form solid opinions.
1. A Major Victory on Abandoned-Mine Cleanup
Thanks to the bipartisan leadership of U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Jim Risch (R-ID), we are closer than we have ever been to fast-tracking work on the scourge that is America’s abandoned mines.
For the first time, after two decades of work, Good Samaritan mine cleanup legislation has cleared a full chamber of Congress and has momentum in the other. . . .
Now, thanks to the leadership of Senators Heinrich and Risch, a bill that would establish a seven-year pilot project to help Good Samaritans clean up 15 low-risk abandoned mines was “hotlined” through the U.S. Senate this week. Hotlining is a process for non-controversial bills that enjoy broad support. If a single member of the Senate objects to the bill, it is held up. If not, it passes.
2. What’s Next in the Battle for Bristol Bay?
Map by Trout Unlimited.
“Can I take the No Pebble Mine sticker off my car yet?”
In her role for Trout Unlimited’s Save Bristol Bay campaign, it’s a question Tica Drury gets asked a lot. Responding evokes a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand, it’s unfortunate to have to tell Alaskans that the hard work is not complete. Bristol Bay’s world-renowned salmon and trout are not yet safe. Our relentless advocacy against the proposed Pebble mine must continue. On the other hand, it exposes a silver lining. In a world where declining salmon runs are the rule, it’s good to be the exception. Bristol Bay sockeye salmon continue to return in record-breaking numbers. It’s no surprise Alaskans stand united by an unwavering will to fight to keep it that way.
So, what lies ahead in the battle to protect the most prolific salmon run on the planet?
Our strategy is twofold: defense and offense. Playing defense, it’s our job to protect the good work already done to ensure that the layers of protection that we worked so tirelessly to instate hold up against legal attacks from Pebble and their allies. On the offensive, we are working towards permanent, watershed-wide legislative safeguards.
Click here to read more in Fish Alaska magazine
Related Stories:
3. TRCP Welcomes a New President and CEO
The board of directors of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Joel Pedersen as President and CEO. Pedersen is a proven leader in conservation mission delivery, legislative strategy, and nonprofit governance with more than 30 years of experience; he will begin the role on September 1.
“Joel is a proven coalition builder and an inspiring leader who made a lasting impression on the board with his deep knowledge of conservation policy, passion for the American model of conservation, and well-earned respect within the conservation community,” said Alston Watt, chair of the TRCP Board of Directors. “On behalf of the board, I am thrilled to welcome Joel Pedersen as the next president and CEO of TRCP. Our partnership model is the driving force for conservation in America and we have no doubt he will continue advancing America’s legacy of conservation, habitat, and access.”
In his most recent role as president and CEO of the Mule Deer Foundation, Pedersen advanced the nonprofit’s legislative and administrative priorities, increased membership, and revenue, and expanded partnerships with state and federal agencies.
Click here for more at trcp.org
4. Why are Bonefish on Drugs? with Dr. Aaron Adams
A study conducted by the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and Florida International University showed that bonefish were testing positive for a wide range of pharmaceuticals. The research helped push the need for better waste-water management, just one of many issues facing bonefish, tarpon, snook and other species of gamefish in Florida. Dr. Aaron Adams is a longtime angler and outdoorsman who has made it his life’s work to improve coastal fisheries by conducting scientific research, applying those findings to conservation activities, and communicating the data to those who are using and benefiting from the resource.
In this episode of the Anglers Journal Podcast, we dive into a range of issues BTT is tackling to help future populations of bonefish, tarpon and other coastal fishes.
Listen below and click here for more of Angler’s Journal