The Center for Coastal Conservation has elected Jim Martin, Director of the Berkley Conservation Institute, to its board of directors.
BCI was created by Berkley Fishing, a part of Pure Fishing and the Jarden Corporation. The BCI mission is to promote conservation and leverage Berkley’s science and technology resources to ensure the health and well-being of worldwide fish populations. BCI supports anglers and the passion for fishing that has been central to Berkley since the company was founded 70 years ago. Martin helped create BCI and has led the Institute since its formation in 2004.
The Center for Coastal Conservation (CCC) is a coalition of the leading advocates for marine recreational fishing and boating. It is dedicated to promoting sound conservation and use of ocean resources. The CCC is a non-partisan group that focuses on advancing marine resource policy initiatives in the national political arena, principally with Congress and federal regulatory agencies. The Center’s objectives are to inform and educate decision makers, marine conservation organizations, corporations and the general public.
Under Martin’s leadership, BCI works closely with fishing groups, conservation organizations, government agencies, customers and industry partners to protect our fishable waters and collaborate on conservation policy development. BCI also works to introduce the next generation to the fun of fishing and the importance of conservation. Priority issues for the immediate future include fisheries management, climate change, water quantity and quality, and angler recruitment and retention.
BCI runs the Berkley monofilament line-recycling program with millions of miles of fishing line recycled thus far through collection stations across the country. BCI leads the industry in many conservation issues including several initiatives to aid in fisheries conservation. Projects benefitting from BCI involvement have included enhanced trout management in the California Sierra Nevada Mountains, aid in Pacific salmon recovery, creation of Fish Habitat structure from recycled monofilament fishing line and advocacy for congressional decision making in fishery issues.
Jim and the BCI partner with the American Sportfishing Association, The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) and the National Fisheries Network to advance sound conservation policy advocacy. Martin serves as the chairman of the TRCP, is an active member of the ASA Saltwater Government Affairs committee, science and policy advisor to the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association and to the Northwest Guides and Anglers Assn. Martin is also a former Board Member for the National Wildlife Federation and former Chief of Fisheries for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Martin travels extensively addressing conservation groups, political policy makers and the public.
“Jim Martin and the Berkley Conservation Institute have proven to be strong leaders in conserving and enhancing America’s marine fishing resources,” said Jeff Angers, president of the Center for Coastal Conservation. “Jim’s passion for fishing is unmatched and BCI’s commitment to anglers is second to none. Future generations will benefit from their work. They embody the very mission of our organization and its members.”
The CCC worked in 2007 to secure an Executive Order signed by President George W. Bush protecting redfish and striped bass as federal gamefish. Its leadership also worked to achieve a 2008 Executive Order protecting recreational fishing on all federal lands and waters. Currently, the Center for Coastal Conservation is working with the White House on its National Ocean Policy toward responsible uses of ocean resources, rather than protectionism.
“I am proud to be joining the other conservation leaders on the CCC board of directors,” said Martin. “In our democracy, you don’t get the resource you deserve… you get the resource you fight for. Our sport and the resource we love is worth fighting for and I am joining a bunch of excellent advocates.”
About Pure Fishing, Inc.
Pure Fishing, Inc. is a leading global provider of fishing tackle, lures, rods and reels with a portfolio of brands that includes Abu Garcia, All Star, Berkley, Fenwick, Gulp!, Mitchell, Penn, Pflueger, SevenStrand, Shakespeare, SpiderWire, Stren, Trilene and Ugly Stik. With operations in 19 countries and a dedicated workforce conversant in 28 languages, Pure Fishing, Inc. is part of Jarden Outdoor Solutions, a leader in developing outdoor and active lifestyle products and a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation. Additional information can be found at the purefishing website.
About Jarden Corporation
Jarden Corporation is a leading provider of niche consumer products. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia, Berkley, Campingaz, Coleman, Fenwick, Gulp!, K2, Marker, Marmot, Mitchell, Penn, Rawlings, Shakespeare, Stearns, Stren, Trilene, V?lkl, and Zoot; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire, Crock-Pot, FoodSaver, Health o meter, Holmes, Mr. Coffee, Oster, Patton, Rival, Seal-a-Meal, Sunbeam, VillaWare and White Mountain; and Branded Consumables: Ball, Bee, Bicycle, Billy Boy, Crawford, Diamond, Dicon, Fiona, First Alert, First Essentials, Forster, Hoyle, Kerr, Lehigh, Leslie-Locke, Lillo, Loew Cornell, Mapa, NUK, Pine Mountain, Spontex and Tigex. Headquartered in Rye, N.Y., Jarden has over 25,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit the jarden website.
By: Kevin Jarnagin, Blue Heron Communications
