One of the highlights of the 23rd annual IGFA Auction & Banquet at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A., was the presentation of numerous conservation awards.
The Gil Keech Heavy Tackle Award established in 1998, by the Ocean City (Md.) Light Tackle Club was presented to Captain Peter B. Wright.
The Bob Herder Light Tackle Award started in 2005 also by the OCLTC and the IGFA, was presented to Michael Levitt.
The AFTCO Tag/Flag Conservation Awards were presented to tournament angler winners and captains for tagging the most fish of each category. The anglers included Sam Jennings (blue marlin), Bob DeGabreille (white marlin), Jules Boudreau (tuna) and Susan Royal (swordfish). DeGabreille was named Angler of the Year. The top captains included Mike Lemon (blue marlin), Bubba Carter (white marlin), Ray Rosher (sailfish), Gary Cannell (tuna) and Burt Moss (swordfish). Carter was awarded Captain of the Year.
Additional IGFA Conservation Awards were presented to honor those who have made significant and outstanding contributions to the cause of conservation in the freshwater, saltwater and fly fishing communities.
They included the Coastal Conservation Association for significant multi-tier work in such areas as establishing net bans and the recovery of numerous species of fish; to Dr. John Graves, Virginia Institute of Marine Science for his research on tuna and billfish issues, and to Esteban Graupera Monar, IGFA Representative in Palma de Mallorca, Spain for bringing about the First Mediterranean Congress of Salt Water Recreational Angling, in 2006.
By: Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications
