Stewardship: A commitment to conservation and responsible use; the responsibility to manage lands and waters wisely in order to leave a rich legacy for future generations.
AS ANGLERS we play a vital role in conserving and restoring fisheries and the habitats on which they depend. Our license fees and the excise taxes paid on our fishing gear provide foundational support to our state fish and wildlife departments. As members of conservation organizations, anglers have been at the forefront of creating the conservation successes that we enjoy today. As responsible anglers we know the importance of buying a license, keeping fish wet, leaving no trace. But given the growth of fly fishing, the increased levels of outdoor recreation overall, and the mounting challenges facing our aquatic resources, we need to step up our game to another level of engagement.
PROTECT THE RESOURCE is a commitment to step up our game for abundant and healthy fisheries by:
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Know the regulations and understand the privilege of access.
Respect the resource. Keep Fish Wet.
Leave the land for the better. Leave No Trace.
Be considerate to fellow users. Outside Kind.
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Volunteer and support organizations working to protect our fish, wildlife. and waters. Get your feet wet and your wallet out for organizations of your choice.
Want to learn about organizations in your area? Go to Patagonia’s Action Works.
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Engage locally, state-wide, and nationally. The economy and natural resource stewardship are two sides of the same coin.
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Recruit others to the cause, adding their voice and energy to yours.
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Keep on doing it!
This is a personal commitment and one where we constantly work to elevate our game. To do more on behalf of the resource and work to make fisheries conservation and stewardship infectious.
Speaking to the challenges faced by fish and wildlife conservation advocates, the late Jack Ward Thomas, former chief of the U.S. Forest Service, concluded:
“These are indeed interesting times, a time of testing. It is useless to look back for the good old days — they are gone. It is pointless to look around for others to lead — they aren’t there. For better or worse, we’re it. Whether we recognize it or not, we are agents of change in how natural resources are treated, considered, and used. If we succeed there will be accolades from historians. If we fail historians will, doubtless, take little notice—but history will be much different.”