4 minute read
Conservation is Good Business
BY CAPTAIN WILL BENSON
The old saying goes, “You love what you know and you protect what you love.” That has been the passionate basis for conservation for many years and is true to this day. But there is also another often-overlooked basis for conservation. These days good conservation is good business, and should be evaluated as such. We hear about this different way of thinking from leaders like Dr. Duane De Freese, the Executive Director of the Indian River Lagoon Council and Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, who wrote, “Success will also require a paradigm shift in how we value clean water and ecosystem services. We need to rethink how we regulate, enforce, and incentivize responsible growth management. We also need to look beyond one-time costs to the long-term benefits of clean water, a vibrant coastal economy, enhanced coastal resilience, the value of ecosystem services and improved quality of life for Florida residents and visitors alike.”
This paradigm shift speaks to the business value of conservation, and the need to consider its economic relevance when developing policy. On a large scale, we see this logic pan out when we consider things like hotels and restaurants, and other general tourism businesses that are impacted by water quality events like red tide and other types of algae blooms, which negatively affect coastal economies throughout Florida.
For the fishing industry, the logic is even more clear-cut. We see more and more guides and anglers championing conservation through their social media and public support for organizations and initiatives focused on restoring and protecting valuable ecosystems. This is inspiring to see and a powerful force for change. There is, however, another dynamic layer that has yet to be articulated and adopted into the business of conservation.
As a fishing guide in the Florida Keys for 24 years, I have seen firsthand the power of conservation in my small business. I recognized years ago that a secret to retaining great clients was to take my guiding beyond the skill required to produce shots and catch fish by incorporating education and awareness about aspects of our fishing into a conversation about why conservation is important. I regularly talk with my clients about things like proper fish handling techniques, proper photography etiquette, and how following these guidelines ensures that the gamefish we love so much are interacted with respectfully and with care.
By passing on this knowledge to my clients, I have deepened their understanding of the fish, the environment, and their love for both.
The more they fell in love with the fish and the pursuit, the more they wanted to do it and the better my business became. As my clients’ engagement grew, I explained more; why I would take care to idle up to a flat, what the differences in habitat quality mean to the productivity of our fishing, and why the big-ticket issues of water quality, marine zoning, and sound regulations are important to our future success. The more informed I became, the more my clients understood, and the more invested they became in both our fishing and conservation.
Then something unexpected happened. The more engaged I became, the more I chose to give back, and to serve the interests of conservation publicly by attending meetings and committing my time and effort to advancing conservation through leadership. The more I dedicated myself to conservation, the more my profile grew.
The unintended and unexpected benefit was an increase to my overall bookings—it turned out great clients desired to fish with involved guides.
My support for clean water, healthy habitats, and effective fisheries management—and therefore better fishing—resulted in my business growing with committed anglers wanting more days.
As Chico Fernandez, a BTT founding member, said, “You can’t just be a fisherman anymore. We all have a duty to also be good stewards of the environment.” This is true. So, for guides who seek to become more engaged, I offer that doing so will not only have the benefit of ensuring sustainable, healthy fisheries, but also a real, positive benefit for your own business. I encourage any guide, looking to get better at his or her craft, to make an effort to engage and educate their clients, as well as commit to supporting conservation. Whether it be learning about specific conservation issues, joining an association, or choosing to give back with time and service, I promise you will discover, as I have, that conservation is good business.
