Stewardship. The word pros at Merriam-Webster tell us it means:
“the conducting, supervising, or managing of something, especially the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.”
Suffice to say, most who’ve grown to love the nation’s rivers, streams, lakes and oceans feel a sense of responsibility for their health and longevity. Encouragingly, that sentiment is found in many of the brands that equip us to pursue our fishing passion.
With many companies earning their profits from goods that help anglers enjoy the nation’s natural resources, it stands to reason that those very resources are vital to such profitable pursuits. Remove the natural resources and no one needs those products.
It’s the essence of supply and demand. But well beyond such irrefutable business principles, several manufacturers have made environmental stewardship foundational to their corporate culture.
Such priorities yield products and processes reflecting awareness of potential manufacturing impacts, as well as the desire to fulfill consumer needs, while treating the nation’s natural resources respectfully. As B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Gene Gilliland notes, this deepens the bond between company and customer.
“Several soft bait companies recycle the PVC material from the plastic (bait) making process,” Gilliland said. “Mercury (Brunswick) and Yamaha have global sustainability initiatives to help recycle materials in the manufacture of boats and motors.
“This is all more environmentally friendly. With less waste going to landfills and less demand for raw materials, these companies experience greater consumer confidence and brand loyalty.”
Thoughts To Action
One of Bassmaster’s longtime sponsors, American Fishing Tackle Company (AFTCO), exemplifies the principles of environmental stewardship by contributing at least 10% of company profits to organizations and causes working to conserve oceans, waterways, and fish populations, while protecting angler rights and public access.
AFTCO Chairman and CEO Bill Shedd has led the way by donating over 15,000 hours to conservation projects and advocacy across the country. AFTCO employees follow suit with hundreds of hours donated to conservation and environmental stewardship work.
Further, AFTCO’s convictions are apparent in its product lineup. For example, the Ocean Bound Hooded Performance Shirt and the Ocean Bound Sun Protection Hoodie are made with REPREVE Our Ocean — a recycled polyester made from plastic bottles that may have ended up in the ocean. Instead, they were gathered and recycled into spun polyester fabric.
AFTCO calls it “Sustainability you can wear.”
Other examples of environmentally conscious companies are many. Here’s a sampling.
Z-Man: This innovative bait company’s best known for its incredibly resilient soft bait material — ElaZtech. By reducing the number of soft baits that anglers use, Z-Man’s tear-resistant material minimizes the volume of discarded baits, which could be ingested by fish and wildlife.
Additionally, ElaZtech is a non-toxic material, free of harmful chemicals like phthalates. Further, this material is buoyant, which means discarded baits float to the surface for easier collection and disposal. (Z-Man also works with a third party to recycle ElaZtech waste material to make shoe soles.)
HUK: The Breakwater collection features a fabric technology called Filium, which promotes efficiency and sustainability. In Huk’s explanation, Filium contrasts traditional fabric treatments by providing highly efficient and durable performance with low application amounts. This maintains the fabric’s breathability, feel and overall appearance — but with fewer chemicals.
Lowrance: The electronics company has transitioned to 100% recyclable packaging such as cardboard and paper. Lowrance has also replacedStyrofoam with a compostable material called Mushroom Packaging, while plastic bags will be replaced by Aquapak’s Hydropol bags (made from water soluble polymers).
Hobie: Quality sunglasses are a serious asset for kayak anglers, but Hobie has found a way to keep it all in the family. Along with using a bio-based material for its sunglass lenses, Hobie upcycles cast-off material from its kayak manufacturing to make sunglass frames.
Bajio: Committed to minimizing its environmental impact, this Florida-based eyewear company stresses energy efficiency and non-toxic manufacturing processes, as well as waste reduction. Bajio frames are made from a sustainable, bio-based, high-performance nylon, while the sunglasses are packed in cases made from recycled leather scraps and fully sustainable cotton covers.
Mustad: The company’s AlphaPoint hook packaging minimize single-use plastic waste by over 65%.
TUF-Line: Made from a plant-based, 100% biodegradable polymer, TUF-Line’s Biodegradable Monofilament retains all of its strength for a full year after spooling, but biodegrades within approximately seven years.
Expect Accountability
Chances are your favorite brands have some level of sustainability and environmental stewardship built into their business operations. If you’re not aware, asking does two things: First, it helps you decide which brands to support. Second, inquiries from consumers might prompt the adoption of decisions benefitting natural resources.
When you see companies making environmentally responsible decisions, leverage your social media platforms to praise their efforts. Spreading the word helps motivate others to do the same. In some cases, companies that have not yet established official sustainability and environmental stewardship positions may decide it’s time to do so.
It’s neither fair nor accurate to suggest that the lack of sustainability and environmental stewardship practices precludes the production of quality products. A nice shirt is still a nice shirt and a sharp hook is still a sharp hook, with or without concern for the environment.
However, everyone can do something. Whether it’s a straightforward recycling program or a complex effort to source renewable natural materials, respecting the natural resources through a fishing-related company derives its business is a reasonable expectation.
Take Action
Anyone that enjoys fishing, boating, or water-based recreation owns a piece of the environmental stewardship responsibility.
Discard the Unwanted: Old fishing line, used plastic baits and any discarded materials belong in official waste or recycling containers. Really no excuses here, as a plastic trash bag tucked in your tackle box or boat locker simplifies the collection process.
From there, most boat ramps and public parks offer trash receptacles, while launch facilities often have designated fishing line collection sites. In my home state, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) provides an interactive map with searchable fishing line collection sites. (https://mrrp.myfwc.com/bin-locations/)
Pick It Up: Most responsible folks know better than to toss their trash, but accidents happen. Intentional or not, cups, cans, plastic bags, etc. have no place in natural settings, so if you care about the resources, take a few minutes and collect a few recyclable or trash items. (Disposable Nitrile kitchen gloves keep your hands clean.)
At crowded boat ramps or other public recreation areas, leading by example typically motivates others quicker than “trash shaming.” See someone about to toss their trash? Offering to take it to the receptacle for them provides a key moment to politely stress the importance of maintaining the natural resource we all enjoy.
Pass It On: Same as knot tying, casting and fish cleaning skills, environmental stewardship is a concept worthy of generational conveyance. Exclude such lessons when hosting kids and other beginners and you’ve missed a vital opportunity to ensure future resource protection.
On the other hand, when a kid catches a fish, follow the high-fives with a few words on how we can all make a positive environmental impact. You might even make it a contest — who finds the most trash in a day, or maybe, catch a fish and take a break to collect trash.
For over a decade, my home church, Idlewild Baptist, has hosted a kids”Fishing Faith and Fun” recreational program that blends gospel messaging with classroom instruction and fishing activity. About 5 years ago, during my time as an instructor, I created the “Trash Trade-In” program that allows students the opportunity to pick up trash around our lakes/ponds and then trade it in for a free plastic bait.
Whether it’s private or public property, follow this rule of thumb for outdoor recreation: “Leave it better than you found it.”
