30 x 30

Preface

Fin + Forage is founded in the idea that all people should have the opportunity to access public lands and waters and enjoy the natural bounty they provide. Our primary goal is to provide the knowledge and tools to do so in a safe manner and in the most sustainable ways possible the hopes that the resources stay healthy and available to future generations. In order to keep our lands open and accessible, we also want to make sure that every person that participates in collecting and consuming these foods is fluent in the scientific and legal issues surrounding them. It is critical to stay engaged in the ongoing studies, action plans, and proposed statutes and regulations, as these can have a massive and sudden impact on our community. It is our belief that these key principles--knowledge, practice, and community action--will be the keys to preserving both the environment and the future of our sport. 

As this is Fin + Forage’s first push into political advocacy, we feel it is important to let everyone know where we stand and how we plan to move forward. Frequently, topics like the one we being discussed today are approached differently by different entities with their own distinct, but often overlapping, priorities. The team at Fin + Forage feels that it is our duty to you and to the environment that all views promoted and all positions taken in our content will be based in both scientific research and community feedback. We are committed not only to providing this community a voice in the larger scientific and conservation circles, but also to creating a resource that allows the community to build a full and complete understanding to inform that voice. We have no interest in being drawn into political squabbles, fear mongering, or self-centered agendas. We will focus all efforts towards preserving the environment and the Fin + Forage way of life so that we and everyone after us can get back to the outdoors that we all take part in and love.

30 x 30

Around the globe, 30 x 30 initiatives have promised large steps towards conservation and equality of access for all people. These initiatives take many forms, but broadly seek to conserve 30% of the world’s land and water by 2030 for the benefit of people and the environment. In late 2020 and early 2021, Governor Newsom and President Biden each signed executive orders committing California and the United States, respectively, to 30 x 30 goals. The theory behind these promises is a hopeful one for many people. However, the lack of concrete details had understandably fueled concern among hunting and fishing communities, many of whom have felt excluded from past conversations that closed or severely limited their access. Hunters and fishers are among the original conservationists and take great pride in acting as stewards of the lands and waters they frequent. Fin + Forage therefore believes that conservation decisions must be founded in science and must draw on the expertise of those communities most affected by these decisions.  

Both the California and federal executive orders provide that any management decisions will incorporate feedback from native Tribes, local stakeholders, and conservation groups. It is therefore imperative that conservation groups, especially those that represent the hunting and fishing communities, remain proactive participants in the 30 x 30 process.. Over the last year, Fin + Forage has been collaborating with some of the largest groups representing hunting, fishing and wildlife conservation in the United States. Although we are still growing, we are working hard to make sure that our community has a voice at these and future discussions. Our reaction to 30 x 30 is to make a promise, to them and to you, that Fin + Forage will do our part to promote a balanced, well-researched view on upcoming legislative measures and conservation issues. In doing so, we hope to help this community earn the respect it deserves and ensure it always has a seat at the table. 

We also are asking you to join us in the effort to make sure that future legislation and conservation methods are well thought out and are designed with the hunting and fishing communities in mind. Let us show them that we are actively watching, researching, and participating in these discussions; that only fact-based legislation will be accepted; and that we speak with a large, united voice for conservation and for the right to hunt and fish..

Informational Resources

• California Executive Order

  • EXECUTIVE ORDER N-82-20 WHEREAS the well-being of our communities and California's economic sustainability are interconnected

• Federal Executive Order EO 14008

  • Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad

• The Letter and Statement Back Country Hunters and Anglers + Others have signed.

  • Fishing and Hunting statement on 30x30 process 03.09.2021.pdf

• Hunt Fish 360 Statement

  • https://www.huntfish3030.com/hunting--fishing-community-statement.html 

• Outdoor Life Article

  • President Biden's Order to Protect 30 Percent of the Nation's Land Could Be a Massive Win for Fish and Wildlife—If Hunters, Anglers, Farmers, Tribes Have a Say

• Multiple Links and OP ed Pieces based on 30 x 30

  • 30x30 — NEWS — Campaign for Nature