Billfish Management
Billfish are managed through a combination of domestic and international frameworks due to their highly migratory nature. In the US, billfish management falls under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and is primarily overseen by NOAA Fisheries. US management focuses on sustainable harvest limits, gear restrictions, time/area closures, and recreational reporting. Wild Oceans was a leader in banning the commercial sale of billfish in the US.
Internationally, billfish are managed through Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). These bodies set quotas, monitor stock status, and enforce conservation measures across national jurisdictions. Key provisions include catch limits, observer programs, and minimum size limits to promote healthy stocks. Since the 1970s Wild Oceans has been a strong advocate through board members, presidents, and staff representing the US. in the RMFO arenas.
A Voice for Billfish
Wild Oceans supports billfish conservation with strategic advocacy campaigns. A key piece of these campaigns are comment and sign-on letters, which are timely written public statements on specific regulations, agenda items, and initiatives that a fishery regulation organization is actively considering. These letters are where we make the case to managers for keeping the oceans wild. See our billfish comment letters below!
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