The TRCP’s 4th Annual Saltwater Media Summit: Day Two

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This week, more than 50 journalists, policy makers, conservation experts, and business leaders will gather in Cape Coral, Florida, for the TRCP’s fourth annual Saltwater Media Summit. At this yearly meeting of the best and brightest in marine fisheries conservation and sportfishing, we will be focusing on habitat restoration in the Everglades, the recovery of Gulf of Mexico in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster and saltwater recreational fisheries policy, including the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Check in throughout the week for updates on the summit, background information on these key marine policy issues and plenty of fishing photos.

Thursday morning, Oct. 23

Well before dawn, more than three dozen attendees from the TRCP Saltwater Media Summit headed to the hotel’s Tarpon Point Marina for a morning of fishing. As the first threads of blue sky cracked the horizon, a fleet of small boats carried the fishermen to fishing spots near Pine Island and Sanibel Island and along the Caloosahatchee River. After four hours of fishing under blue skies, 78-degree weather and a brisk wind, the summit attendees returned. The morning’s haul included several snook over 24 inches, flounder, trout and snapper.

Geoff_snook_web — TRCP’s Geoff Mullins found this nice snook.

Geoff-Yamaha_web — TRCP’s Geoff Mullin takes a breather after catching a large snook.

Brian_snook_web — TRCP’s Brian Clow examines his snook with charter Captain John Conway. Clow snagged his fish a few hundred yards from the hotel.

Fishing-boat-2-0_web — Twenty minutes after the break of dawn, fishermen from TRCP’s Saltwater Media Summit already had their lines in the water.

Thursday afternoon, Oct. 23

Following a morning of fishing, TRCP Saltwater Media Summit attendees listened to panels devoted to the restoration of the Everglades and the funding of Florida’s fish and wildlife habitat management. Luncheon speaker Sen. Bill Nelson talked extensively about his love of the recreational opportunities that abound in Floridian waters.

“We’re blessed here with the abundance of nature,” Nelson said. “It keeps us alive and helps us enjoy a good quality of life. Theodore Roosevelt’s words come to life when you take your children fishing and they feel the excitement of the tug of a fish. That’s why we need to do a better job protecting our natural resources.” The senator called the TRCP “a prestigious organization” and urged journalists in the room to educate the public and politicians about important conversation issues impacting Florida’s economy.

Panel: Everglades Restoration Policy: State and Federal Perspectives

Nelson_web — Sen. Bill Nelson called the restoration of the Everglades “a multigenerational effort.”

Jo-Ellen_web — Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army – Civil Works: “It’s great to be here and look at the ongoing efforts at restoration. I’ve had the privilege of going to the ground-breaking ceremonies for several of the projects.”

Dodd_web — Col. Alan M. Dodd, Army Corps of Engineers: “How do we protect the water for 7 million people who depend on it for drinking?”

Doc_web — Doc Kokol, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: “Pythons are hard to manage even when you catch them. And a bounty system does not work.”

Eagle_web — Dane Eagle, Florida House of Representatives: “The No. 1 issue that I hear about from my constituency [southwest Florida] is water quality.”

Panel: Funding the Management and Conversation of Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Habitat

Terry-Gibson_web — Terry Gibson, Senior Editor, Fly & Light Tackle Angler: “We should be finding kids who like fishing in college and help them enter a career in politics.”

Ray_web — Ray Judah, Coordinator, Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition: “I’ve been shouting from the roof to try to educate the people of Florida about good stewardship. The cavalry is on the way but it’s not the Florida legislature.”

Thursday night, October 23, Bass Pro Shops, Islamorada Fish Co.

Bass-Pro-Shop_web — Matt Draper (left), GAFF Magazine, Katie McKalip, TRCP, and Matt Miller, The Nature Conservancy, pause for a photo opportunity before entering Bass Pro Shops for the Salt Water Summit’s second dinner. After a buffet dinner, Rae Waddell, Director of the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network spoke. She was followed by shark researcher Chris Fischer.

Fischer-Chris_web — Chris Fischer, OCEARCH Expedition Leader and Founding Chairman: “People are so unplugged when it comes to knowing what’s going on with the oceans. My mission is to plug them back in,” he affirmed. Fischer criticized the needless slaughter of sharks, which he pegged at 250,000 a day. “Sharks are the lions of the ocean,” he said. “They are the balance keepers.”

Learn more about our fourth annual Saltwater Media Summit here, catch the day one recap here, our photo gallery from our fishing outing here, and keep checking in for updates throughout the rest of the week.

by: Guest

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October 22, 2014

The TRCP’s 4th Annual Saltwater Media Summit: Day One

This week, more than 50 journalists, policy makers, conservation experts, and business leaders will gather in Cape Coral, Florida, for the TRCP’s fourth annual Saltwater Media Summit. At this yearly meeting of the best and brightest in marine fisheries conservation and sportfishing, we will be focusing on habitat restoration in the Everglades, the recovery of Gulf of Mexico in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster and saltwater recreational fisheries policy, including the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Check in throughout the week for updates on the summit, background information on these key marine policy issues and plenty of fishing photos.

Whit-welcome_web — Whit Fosburgh, TRCP president and CEO.

Whit Fosburgh, TRCP president and CEO, welcomed attendees and guests to the TRCP Saltwater Media Summit to Florida’s Gulf Coast following an opening reception that was held outdoors despite threatening skies.

“The goal of the TRCP Saltwater Media Summit is to mix recreation and education,” said Fosburgh. “We want you to leave our 2014 gathering with a better understanding of the complex issues impacting saltwater recreational experiences.”

Eric-Eikenberg_web — Eric Eikenberg, CEO, Evergrlades Foundation

The evening’s guest speaker was Eric Eikenberg, CEO of the Everglades Foundation, who discussed the current state of the Everglades and efforts to restore and improve the habitat throughout south Florida. “Water is the new oil,” he affirmed. “We have to ensure that we have a good, clean supply.” Eikenberg noted that the Everglades supplied water to 8 million Floridians, nearly half the state’s population. “It must be protected,” he said.

Eikenberg talked at length about excess phosphorous that plagues Lake Okeechobee and the impact of that phosphorous on the Everglades. He cited figures estimating that the cost of a lake cleanup could top $15 billion.

More photos from Day One:

Ft--Meyers-from-the-air_web — The Fort Myers area from the air.

Cocktail-Party_web — Despite overcast skies and the threat of rain, a lively cocktail party was held on an outdoor terrace at the Westin Cape Coral Resort Hotel before the TRCP Saltwater Media Summit’s opening night dinner.

Westin-Cape-Coral-Resort_web — The Westin Cape Coral Resort Hotel, where the TRCP summit was held, is flanked by water.

Learn more about our fourth annual Saltwater Media Summit here and keep checking in for updates throughout the rest of the week.

by: Brian Clow

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October 21, 2014

The TRCP’s 4th Annual Saltwater Media Summit: Resources

This week, more than 50 journalists, policy makers, conservation experts, and business leaders will gather in Cape Coral, Florida, for the TRCP’s fourth annual Saltwater Media Summit.

At this yearly meeting of the best and brightest in marine fisheries conservation and sportfishing, we will be focusing on habitat restoration in the Everglades, the recovery of Gulf of Mexico in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster and saltwater recreational fisheries policy, including the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Check in throughout the week for updates on the summit, background information on these key marine policy issues and plenty of fishing photos.

SMS_blog1_web — Image of the Everglades. Photo courtesy of Esther Lee.

Interested in learning more about the TRCP’s 2014 Saltwater Media Summit? We’ve compiled some resources on the summit’s focal topics.

Everglades Restoration Policy

Progress of comprehensive everglades restoration plan – National Academy of Sciences

Background on the Caloosahatchee River West Basin Storage Reservoir project – Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative

Background on the Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative, Amendment 1 – Ballotpedia.org

Amendment 1 would commit state money to conservation – WTSP 10 News

Gulf of Mexico Habitat Restoration and Recovery

TRCP report on Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries – TRCP

BP carries most blame for Gulf of Mexico oil spill, judge rules – Nola.com

Background on Phase III early restoration projects – NOAA

Project list and report for Phase III early restoration projects – NOAA

Magnuson-Stevens Act

A Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries – TRCP

Protecting recreational fishing in Louisiana – Nola.com

Getting fishing act together – Outdoor Channel

Recreational Fishing Policy

Share your opinion on National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries policy – NOAA

NOAA Fisheries commits to develop a national recreational fishing policy – Keep America Fishing

Learn more about our fourth annual Saltwater Media Summit here and keep checking in for updates throughout the rest of the week.

by: Brian Clow

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October 20, 2014

The TRCP’s 4th Annual Saltwater Media Summit: Preview

TMF_Buddies_SailFish_03403_RGB — Image courtesy of Take Me Fishing.

Since 2003, TRCP Media Summits have brought together journalists, writers and other communicators with policy makers, conservation experts, business leaders and other partners for one purpose: to educate America’s hunters and anglers on today’s most pressing conservation issues. Educating sportsmen is a critical component to effecting long-term policy changes. Though our summits may look far different today than the first one held around a fireplace in Craig, Montana, the spirit of camaraderie relationship-building, and passion for the resource continue as the common thread. This week, we continue that rich tradition as we return to Florida once again from Wednesday, Oct. 22 to Friday, Oct. 24 for our fourth annual Saltwater Media Summit.

We will convene in Cape Coral, Florida, a setting that is particularly fitting for our summit agenda. To the west lies the Gulf of Mexico, a fishery that is still recovering from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill almost five years ago. To the east lies the greater Everglades ecosystem, one of the most important wetland complexes in the world and a vital ecosystem for hunters, anglers, and residents of Florida alike.

SMS_web_banner — The Everglades. Photo courtesy of Esther Lee.

TRCP media summits topics are always informative and relevant – and we’ll be focusing on three main subject areas at the event: Everglades and Gulf of Mexico habitat and restoration, saltwater recreational fisheries policy, including the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. These issues can change forever our ability to fish and otherwise have quality saltwater recreation experiences in Florida and across the country.

This year’s attendees represent a diverse mix of leading news and outdoor publications including the Miami Herald, the Baton Rouge Advocate, Fly Fisherman magazine, the Orlando Sentinel, and the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. They will be joined by top policy makers such as U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy, Sylvia Pelizza of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Russ Dunn of the NOAA Fisheries. Conservation and policy experts from the Everglades Foundation, the Harte Research Institute, The Nature Conservancy, the American Sportfishing Association and Berkley Conservation Institute will be present to inform the discussion and provide their insights.

Of course, none of this would be possible without generous support of our corporate sponsors, especially our presenting sponsor the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and gold sponsors Bass Pro Shops and the Everglades Foundation. See the entire sponsor list here.

We’ll be covering our Saltwater Media Summit throughout the week. Check back here for daily updates, fishing photos, policy insights and much more. You also can follow us on Facebook and Twitter or use the hashtag #TRCPsummit to find more information.

Get some background on the policy issues that we’ll be covering here.

Check out a recap of Day One here.