The TRCP’s 4th Annual Saltwater Media Summit: Day Three
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.
Friday morning, October 24
Panel: Gulf of Mexico Habitat Restoration and Recovery
This panel examined the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and how it impacted the region and its fisheries. It also looked at the current state of Gulf fisheries and how the RESTORE council and others are working to repair Gulf ecosystems and access for anglers.
Jerome Zeringue, Chair, Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority: “Louisiana lost 1883 square miles of coastline since the 1930s.”
Stephen E. Davis, Ph.D., Wetlands Ecologist, Everglades Foundation: “We have too much water coming down the Caloosahatchee River.”
Christine Shepard, Ph.D., Director of Science — Gulf of Mexico Program, The Nature Conservancy: “Another side benefit of restoration is jobs creation.”
Chris Macaluso, Director, TRCO Center for Marine Fisheries: “Louisiana is ahead of the curve getting restoration projects off the ground.”
Panel: A Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries
This panel discussed the saltwater recreational fishing community’s priorities and opportunities for change.
Mike Nussman, President and CEO, American Sportfishing Association: “The more striped bass in water the more people fish. That’s why we support the management of our salt water species.”
Jim Martin, Conservation Director, Berkley Conservation Institute: Many recreational fisherman spend time being upset about change…our message is this: We can do so much better than the way we’re managing our marine fisheries.”
Larry McKinney, Ph.D., Executive Director, Harte Research Institute: “This is the most critical time for recreational fishing. There is a lot at stake.”
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 the day two recap here.
The TRCP’s 4th Annual Saltwater Media Summit: Fishing Report
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.
Photo recap of Day Two fishing:
Morning on the water at the TRCP Saltwater Media Summit.
TRCP’s Geoff Mullins found this nice snook.
Powered by Yamaha.
Giving it one last go before heading in.
Moha Bensofia of FishBrain with his morning catch.
Beautiful morning on the water near Cape Coral, Florida.
Howard Polskin lands a redfish.
Ben Holtzclaw of Fishtrack getting down to business.
Chris Fischer with OCEARCH (left), Sue Cocking with the Miami Herald and Capt. Gary heading to the honey hole.
Learn more about our fourth annual Saltwater Media Summit here, catch the day one recap here, and keep checking in for updates throughout the rest of the week.
The TRCP’s 4th Annual Saltwater Media Summit: Day Two
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.
TRCP’s Geoff Mullins found this nice snook.
TRCP’s Geoff Mullin takes a breather after catching a large snook.
TRCP’s Brian Clow examines his snook with charter Captain John Conway. Clow snagged his fish a few hundred yards from the hotel.
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
Sen. Bill Nelson called the restoration of the Everglades “a multigenerational effort.”
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.”
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 Kokol, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: “Pythons are hard to manage even when you catch them. And a bounty system does not work.”
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, 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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, 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:
The Fort Myers area from the air.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Learn more about our fourth annual Saltwater Media Summit here and keep checking in for updates throughout the rest of the week.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
CHEERS TO CONSERVATION
Theodore Roosevelt’s experiences hunting and fishing certainly fueled his passion for conservation, but it seems that a passion for coffee may have powered his mornings. In fact, Roosevelt’s son once said that his father’s coffee cup was “more in the nature of a bathtub.” TRCP has partnered with Afuera Coffee Co. to bring together his two loves: a strong morning brew and a dedication to conservation. With your purchase, you’ll not only enjoy waking up to the rich aroma of this bolder roast—you’ll be supporting the important work of preserving hunting and fishing opportunities for all.
