A horrible sea change for game fishermen

The sea has been exceedingly good to my family. Back in my grandfather’s day, the fish were bigger and the tales of catching them biggest of all. One of the largest problems for an angler after hooking an elusive marlin or sailfish was reeling it in before sharks robbed you of your prize ― a frenzied race against these tireless hunters of the deep.

These experiences, facing off against nature in the wide-open ocean, were a key inspiration for “Papa’s” Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “The Old Man and the Sea.” But the rise of industrial fishing techniques has fundamentally and forever altered this classic struggle.

For too long, the world has unsustainably fished its oceans. But in the United States, a bipartisan proposal recently introduced in Congress holds the promise of at least partial redemption. After decades of mismanagement of our oceans, the measure would close current loopholes in U.S. law governing the sale of marlin, sailfish and spearfish ― collectively known as billfish.

Billfish are some of the most majestic animals that the high seas hold today. Anglers prize these species the world over. They also are top predators, much like wolves on land, that play a critical role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems by keeping the populations of other species in check. Tragically, though, billfish are in serious trouble.

Decades of overfishing combined with the use of wasteful gear ― such as surface longlines, which capture and kill scores of unintended sea life worldwide ― have finally taken their toll. If you look at photos of what people reeled in during my grandfather’s day and compare them with what they are catching now, it’s heartbreaking. The fish are far smaller; only the boats are larger.

In fact, this summer the International Union for the Conservation of Nature ― a widely respected scientific organization ― listed blue, white, and striped marlin all as either threatened or nearly threatened with extinction. Those who care about the health of our oceans, both big game fishermen and conservationists alike, must urge Congress to enact stronger protection measures before it’s too late.

Most billfish are caught accidentally ― when they take bait intended for tuna or other species ― and are subsequently sold on the international market. It is currently illegal to commercially catch or import Atlantic-caught billfish into the United States. But current laws still allows trade of Pacific species. This is a serious problem.

With no way to verify a billfish’s origin, the enforcement of the current domestic sales ban suffers from a critical loophole. And this legal uncertainty has created a thriving black market for Atlantic billfish that not only undermines conservation efforts, but also hurts U.S. anglers on both coasts who have been playing by the rules.

The Billfish Conservation Act of 2011, however, could change that. Introduced earlier this year with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, the bill would prohibit the sale of all billfish in the United States while still allowing for traditional fisheries within Hawaii and the Pacific Insular Area. It’s a commonsense solution that will be good for anglers and struggling populations of threatened game species, too.

The quest for the elusive marlin may not be a sport of the masses, but anglers come from all walks of life. In fact, catch-and-release fisheries for these game species support much-needed local jobs and generate millions of dollars annually for the U.S. economy. When we overexploit our seas, we hurt entire coastal communities ― including the countless charter boats, shops, restaurants, and others that depend on a healthy marine ecosystem.

I remember fishing as far back as I can remember anything. Some of my fondest memories as a child are from those days trolling in the Florida Keys and beyond Bimini with my dad, reel in hand, just the two of us against the world. He loved billfishing as much as his father did before him.

Sadly, those days have long since passed, not only because I miss my dad who died in 2001, but also because the fish he and my grandfather both pursued are so diminished. Still, if we act now, we can ensure that billfish will be around for many years to come. A novel shouldn’t be the only place where a child can experience the excitement and wonder of a hooked marlin leaping from the deep blue waters of the Gulf Stream in that age-old struggle between man and the sea.

By John Hemingway

John Hemingway is a member of the International Game Fish Association, an organization founded by his grandfather author Ernest Hemingway. Readers may write to him at: c/o IGFA HQ, Dania Beach, Fla. 33004; email: hq@igfa.org. ― Ed.

(MCT Information Services)