CDFW Program Hopes To Attract Latinos Into Fishing

The following press release is courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Latinos are California’s largest ethnic population, with almost 15 million people of Hispanic heritage. Yet only a fraction of California’s nearly 1.8 million anglers are Hispanic, and according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service study, Hispanic participation in fishing and angling activities has remained stagnant even as overall participation has increased nationwide. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) are looking for new ways to educate and engage Hispanic communities in the sport of fishing, and this year, grants will be made available for programs, classes and activities that support this cause.

Grant funding will be made available through the George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund, which supports the RBFF’s Hispanic initiative, Vamos A Pescar. The Education Fund allows state agencies to provide sub-grants to local 501(c)(3) organizations with project ideas that support efforts to keep future generations educated about the joys of fishing and boating and the importance of conservation. With the help of donations from companies and organizations, the Education Fund has continued to grow and expand nationally.

To be eligible for funding, proposals must:

• Encourage family participation (both genders and multiple generations)
• Appeal to participants who live in metropolitan communities
• Be ethnically-inclusive (open to families of all races and ethnicities)

Proposals should also promote ethical angling practices and good stewardship toward California’s aquatic resources.

Interested 501 (c)(3) organizations should review the grant guidelines and complete the grant application form. Applications should be sent via email to clark.blanchard@wildlife.ca.gov no later than 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2016.

Proposals will be reviewed by CDFW staff and the RBFF advisory board. Grant recipients will be announced on Dec. 31, 2016.