Microfiber Pollution in our Oceans

Microfiber Pollution in our Oceans

Microfiber & other plastic debris threaten ocean wildlife. Photo by Tiago Fioreze, via Wikipedia. As a part-time fishing guide, water is an essential element of my life. What happens to and in the water has a direct impact on the quality of the experience for my clients. As a board member of the American Fly […]

Building Resilience into Forage Fish Stocks

Building Resilience into Forage Fish Stocks

Photo: Pro guide Chris Vertopoulos netted this 37-inch steelhead for client Dave Billheimer on the lower Wilson River on 2/23/2017 It hasn’t been all that long since anglers starting learning how abundant stocks of forage fish play a role in the success of our most pursued species of salmon, steelhead, albacore and other sport important […]

Bad Legislation Threatens Good Fisheries Management

Bad Legislation Threatens Good Fisheries Management

Top Photo: Striped Bass, by John McMurray Fisheries management is a complicated endeavor. Before issuing regulations that will prevent overfishing and maintain healthy fish populations, managers need to consider multiple factors. They must estimate the size of fish populations, and decide whether such populations must be rebuilt. They must determine how many fish are lost […]

Now at Bat: Anchovies

Now at Bat: Anchovies

Leaving Enough Baitfish in the Water Top Photo: Humpback Whale Often overlooked baitfish, specifically anchovies in this case, were the topic of discussion at a recent meeting in Astoria that I participated in. A couple of commercial seine boats made a big splash in the lower Columbia River last summer. There’s no hiding it; with […]

Strengthening Small-Scale Fisheries

Strengthening Small-Scale Fisheries

Top Photo: Kodiak Harbor Waterfront, Alaska In early February, Duke University and the Oak Foundation hosted an international workshop focused on supporting small-scale fisheries. I participated in a panel addressing the successes and challenges of small-scale fisheries. Workshop attendees included academics, representatives from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO), conservation and rural development […]