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Steward of the Week: Leah Elwell
By FishRecycler | December 8, 2011
She always had a fascination with the natural world and knew early on in life that she wanted to pursue a science degree in college.
Leah Elwell. This week’s Recycled Fish Steward of the Week.
She ended up with a bachelor’s degree in Aquatic Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in Ecology from Montana State, where she studied the effects of invasive species on river invertebrate communities. This inspired her future work, with such non-profit organizations as the Federation of Fly Fishers and now with the Invasive Species Action Network managing the Clean Angling Coalition program.
“I really like doing the academic research,” she says. “but I found that it is not enough to love the natural world and do research in a laboratory. You have to tell people about how fascinating it is so it is better protected and respected.”
Invasive aquatic species are gaining more and more headlines every day, the seriousness of the issues that arise from their introduction into our waters is not lost on the media, and more importantly, those who use our waters. Such species as the Northern Snakehead, the Rusty Crayfish, Asian Carp, and Zebra Mussels, to name a few making headlines in recent years, critically threaten our lakes and rivers.
So what can we do?
The Clean Angling Coalition is an organized group of businesses, agencies and organizations who are working together to promote clean angling practices. They work directly with angling businesses, such as rod and wader companies, guides and outfitters, fly and tackle shops and anyone who cares about protecting our fishing resources. They promote cleaning practices and behavior change that involves everyone.
“Inspect, Clean and Dry is the message we use to help us spread the word on cleaning,” she explains.
The Clean Angling Coalition started in 2010 and is actively gaining partners in their efforts. They’re using this momentum to gain more partners spreading the word on Clean Angling and inspect, clean and dry.
“The more anglers we have cleaning and talking about cleaning,” Leah clarifies. “we really will begin to see a difference in invasive species prevention.”
They have cleaning videos set to begin production in 2012 and are constantly on the lookout for new avenues to show anglers that cleaning is such a simple step, but an enormously important one in protecting our fisheries.
Leah stressed the seriousness of the issue and compared it to the way of thinking behind catch and release fishing.
“It is a way of thinking about how we act to protect the kind of fishing we want to continue to see. I would love to see everyone cleaning, not just anglers, but everyone that uses the water. Taking personal responsibility for our future and making sure that we have one with clean water, is something I think we all should be active in. If we don’t take action I think we will continue to see more negative impacts on our fisheries and water quality, but also more regulations and rules on us too.”
Sharing the importance of protecting our fisheries by reducing the introduction of invasive species is what Leah and her team at the Clean Angling Coalition is all about. Living on the Yellowstone River and being a mother of two young boys only increases her passion for protecting the waters we all currently enjoy.
I might add that Leah definitely falls into the category of a “cool mom”. When she’s not taking her boys floating down rivers or combing their banks, she’s turning over rocks and introducing them to wide world of bugs.
“I am a bug geek,” she admits. “I love bugs.”
Leah and the Clean Angling Coalition are doing wonderful things and this is only the beginning of their crucial efforts towards protecting what we have in our fisheries. There is great information about cleaning, tools for cleaning, and invasive species at www.cleanangling.org. She encourages everyone to visit and take the Clean Angling Pledge. This simple pledge just means that you are willing to commit to cleaning your gear to prevent the spread of invasive species.
“Sharing the inspect, clean and dry message with their friends and fellow fishing friends is a great next step that anglers can take.”
The impact that this simple action, cleaning, can make cannot be understated. The Clean Angling Coalition is taking this message and is the resource for anglers to use to further understand this impact and take what they can share and help in their efforts.
Josh Milczski
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