President’s Message

There’s an old saying, “The world is run by people who show up.” When it comes to conservation efforts, truer words were rarely ever spoken. Still, it can be hard to find the time and attention to get involved, even when dealing with issues that directly affect us.

The burdens of work, family, life and the escape of our hobbies leave little time and limited mental energy to focus on other things. The news cycle is often depressing. For many of us, a call to action on a conservation issue can represent one more thing to worry about.

Believe me, I get it. I just want to go fishing, too. After all, fly fishing represents an outlet away from the stresses of everyday life.

But there are times when we have to show up. If we don’t, the very core of things we care about can begin to slip away. On the battle lines of conservation issues that directly affect fly fishing opportunities and healthy fisheries, we have an obligation to stand together in solidarity and make a difference.

Fly Fishers International has been showing up to take action on important conservation issues since the 1960s. But FFI’s ability to move the needle is limited by the response to a call to action, the capacity of partner organizations to coalesce towards a common goal, and the resources FFI has available for our conservation work.

To see a bellwether on the need to show up, look no further than the tragic decline of wild steelhead and salmon in the Pacific northwest. The number of returning fish has declined so precipitously in some river systems, it is not hyperbole to view the trend as a harbinger of potential extinction.

At the Bonneville dam in the Columbia River Gorge, returning numbers of steelhead are on track to be the lowest since 1984. Overfishing, along with the significant impacts of dams throughout the Columbia River watershed, have increasingly disrupted the natural systems that sustain anadromous fish such as salmon and steelhead. And with the escalating impacts of climate change, the thermal pollution caused by impoundments will only get worse. By mid-September, only around 50,000 steelhead made it past the dam, representing less than one third of the historic 10 year average.

The FFI Conservation Committee collaborated with an impressive number of conservation partners to weigh in on the tragedy unfolding with northwest salmon and steelhead stocks. Media sources for fly fishing showed up too. If you missed it, make sure you check out “Darkest Hour for Columbia River Wild Steelhead Returns” on FLYLORDS, or go to YouTube and search for “Salmon are Dying.”

I realize it may be challenging to contemplate spending time digesting such a depressing state of affairs, especially if you don’t live and recreate in the Pacific Northwest, but the reality is we must. The value to our natural history, indigenous cultures and recreational opportunities are beyond measure. If you care about wild fish in wild places and the legacy of fly fishing, I don’t see any other choice.

Following FFI’s mission to preserve the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters, FFI also focused attention on other critical conservation issues, including the Everglades in Florida. Representing a diverse, interconnected ecosystem of wetlands, fresh and saltwater fisheries, and complex interconnected habitats, the Everglades have diminished to half of its original four million acres. Development and agriculture have eaten away at one of the most incredible natural treasures in the world. Already, 39 species within the Everglades ecosystem are listed as threatened or endangered.

Again, FFI showed up and supported increased funding for Everglades restoration and protection. FFI has taken similar positions on Bristol Bay in Alaska, the Boundary Waters in the Upper Midwest and saltwater fishing regulations in the Gulf of Mexico.

These may not feel like your conservation issues, but what happens when a threat arises on your river, lake, or coastline? Wouldn’t we want our broader community to show up in solidarity to help move the needle on things that matter to us?

But what does it mean to show up? Frankly, it can mean a lot of things. It can mean taking action when there’s a call for conservation advocacy, encouraging your elected officials to vote for conservation initiatives, supporting policies and regulations that protect fish and habitat, contacting your state and federal agencies to protect our resources, joining conservation organizations that align with your values and donating to FFI’s conservation programs. Showing up might also mean participating in a river clean-up day, attending public hearings or mentoring someone on the nexus between fly fishing opportunities and conservation.

We know how much FFI members value our conservation focus. That’s why we launched a dynamic new website that includes detailed information on high profile conservation initiatives and actions taken by FFI. We provide regular conservation updates through the new FFInsider communication piece. We share important information and updates on FFI’s social media feeds. And we hope to do even more.

How can you help FFI continue on our trajectory doing this important conservation work? Stay informed, maintain your FFI membership, donate to FFI’s grants and scholarship, programs, join and get active in your local FFI Club or Council, volunteer at local and Council levels, or organize a local conservation project. It often matters less what you do than the fact that you’re doing something.

If you think you’re powerless when it comes to the fate of important conservation issues, think again. Consider Margaret Mead’s wise words: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Photo:Matteo Moretti

Patrick Berry

Patrick H. Berry is FFI President and CEO. Berry brings over 27 years of experience within the environmental conservation field, having come to FFI from the Vermont Community Foundation where he served as vice president of philanthropy. A former commissioner of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Berry is recognized as a visionary conservationist and is widely respected by his peers.