From Costa:
Costa Sunglasses announced it has signed on as one of The Billfish Foundation’s (TBF) Tag and Release Program partners. Established in 1990, The Billfish Foundation’s Tag and Release Program is the largest private billfish tagging database in the world, and is the cornerstone of TBF’s conservation and advocacy efforts.
With more than 200,000 tag and release reports, TBF receives over 15,000 tag and release records annually from across the globe, which provides vital information for billfish conservation. Tag data is studied to further understand billfish species growth rates, migratory patterns, habitat utilization, and post-release survival rates.
According to TBF, tag and release data also provides valuable information for stock assessments that are instrumental in a time when industrial longlines represent the largest source of marlin mortality. This data provides the groundwork for conservation minded policy, scientific advancement and gives insight into the demographics and socio-economic benefits generated from billfishing.
Costa’s support of TBF’s tag and release program allows the advocacy organization to continue its tagging education and outreach efforts within the angling community. Each tag costs approximately $3. TBF sells the tags close to cost to maximize distribution. Billfish tags and tagging equipment can be purchased at www.billfish.org.
“Costa has been a longstanding partner of The Billfish Foundation,” said Al Perkinson, vice president of marketing for Costa Sunglasses. “Support of tag and release programs, like TBF’s and others, allows for more fish species data collection, so we make more informed decisions in regards to sustainable sportfishing practices and policy.”
“We’re proud to have Costa on board with our Tag and Release program because of their strong commitment to fish and ocean conservation, in addition to building the best performing sunglasses on the market,” said Ellen Peel, president of The Billfish Foundation.
Anglers can learn the proper tag and release technique on The Billfish Foundation’s website at http://www.billfish.org/research/tag-and-release/ as well as on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/FishTBF. Instructions are available in English and Spanish.
About The Billfish Foundation
The Billfish Foundation (TBF) works worldwide to advance the conservation of billfish and associated species to improve the health of the species, the oceans and related economies. TBF was founded in 1986 with a mission of conserving billfish worldwide by the late Winthrop P. Rockefeller, along with a group of fifty founding members. TBF’s keystone program, the traditional tagging program, was begun in 1990. Today, it has grown to be the largest international billfish tagging program in the world.
TBF’s initial focus was on research and educational programs. In 1990, TBF’s focus was expanded to include advocacy for responsible fisheries management, recognizing that influencing decision makers with sound science was a crucial step in successful billfish conservation. The Billfish Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization and is recognized globally and has continued to distinguish itself as the top billfish conservation organization because of its sustained emphasis on synthesizing science and policy into effective, yet reasonable, fishery management solutions that are good for the fish but not punitive to recreational anglers. To learn more, visit www.billfish.org.
About Costa™
As the leading manufacturer of the world’s clearest polarized performance sunglasses, Costa offers superior lens technology and unparalleled fit and durability. Still handcrafted today in Florida, Costa has created the highest quality, best performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983. It’s currently the fourth-largest brand in the performance sunglasses market.
For Costa, conservation is all about sustainable fishing. Many fisheries that should be vibrant and healthy are all but devoid of native fish because they have fallen victim to poor fishing practices, unregulated development, lack of watershed protection or all of the above. Costa works with partners around the world to help increase awareness and influence policy so that both the fish and fishermen of tomorrow will have healthy waters to enjoy. Costa encourages others to help in any way they can.
For more information, contact 1-800-447-3700 or visit the company’s web site at www.costadelmar.com. Join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/costasunglasses or on Twitter @CostaSunglasses.
