While reading a chapter in “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer this morning, I came across the chapter entitled, “The Honorable Harvest.” Kimmerer, an American scientist, acclaimed author and Native American member of the Potawatomi Nation, speaks about the tenets which guided the way her people historically interacted with the natural world. It made me think about how we as fishermen treat fish and the natural world that sustains them and us. Their values included never taking more than was needed, harvesting in a way that minimizes harm, being grateful for the gifts of the earth and sustaining the resource for future generations.
We live in a very different world today where most people buy their fish from refrigerated cases or frozen, wrapped in plastic and sitting in grocery store freezers. As fishermen, we still harvest our catch from the natural world much as the first Americans did.
Can we also honor our harvest, and how might we do that? We can easily take only what we need to feed ourselves and our family, minimize harm by the way we handle the fish we release, and be grateful for the gifts of the sea.
We can work to sustain the resource today and for future generations in these ways and by joining with others who appreciate and value of the natural world. A few of the most active and effective local organizations include Suncoast Waterkeeper, Oyster River Ecology, Sarasota Bay Watch and Suncoast Aqua Ventures. Suncoast Waterkeeper’s mission is to defend our coastline through advocacy, water quality, community engagement and legal action. In addition to an active water quality monitoring program and habitat protection efforts, in the summer of 2024, SCWK instituted an initiative to protect and preserve our local bays through the “Love Your Bays Consciously” campaign.
This campaign is a year-long effort to recruit, manage and train volunteers to proactively and reactively tackle ever-growing threats to clean water in our local bays. Their stated aim is, “Together, we can create a future where clean water and thriving ecosystems are the norm, not the exception.”
Oyster River Ecology’s mission is to improve water quality, restore oyster habitats and increase the public’s understanding of natural systems. One way they accomplish this is by engaging the public, including youth, through hands-on experiential learning projects. A good example is the creation of Oyster Rag Pots that are made by volunteers and installed in areas where ORE has attained permits to restore large areas of oyster reef, the largest being a 10-acre site in the Manatee River east of I-75.
Sarasota Bay Watch is dedicated to restoring coastal ecosystems through citizen participation. You can become an active participant by joining as a member and volunteering in Sarasota Bay Watch’s ongoing effort to protect and restore this valuable natural resource. Their goal is to initiate innovative and effective action grounded in selfless and comprehensive planning to assure the sustainability of Sarasota Bay, its stakeholders and all its inhabitants. They aim to establish collaborative relationships with other environmental organizations, scientists and NGOs. They strive to forge partnerships that allow Sarasota Bay Watch to accomplish its goals while enhancing the effectiveness of every person and group that benefits from the natural assets of the bay system.
Suncoast Aqua Ventures is focused entirely on cleanup events. They work to keep our coastal and underwater ecosystems free from human trash and debris. They initiate and participate in several cleanups throughout the year to promote this cause.
Through these and other efforts, including letter writing, attending governmental meetings and advocation for the environment, it’s possible to honor the harvest today and into the future for the benefit of the fish and the natural marine world that sustains our passion.
