| Dedicated To The Preservation Of Our Marine Resources |
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| Milt and Shamu — AFTCO Chairman Milt Shedd gets affectionate greeting from Shamu at Sea World® |
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Aftco
is unique in its marine resource involvement, which is centered around Chairman
Milt Shedd’s long time interest in, concern for, and love of the sea.
He was co-founder of Sea World, Inc., was founder of the Hubbs-Sea World
Research Institute, helped create the UCLA Marine Science Center, and is
involved in numerous marine resource projects. Among those is the Hubbs
White Seabass Hatchery in Carlsbad, CA, in which Milt played an important
role helping to create. Sportfishing is Milt’s real passion, as evidenced
by the 3,000-plus days he has spent at sea. He has committed and encouraged
Aftco Staff members to work to help ensure healthy sportfish populations
for the future. |
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Carlsbad
Hatchery — Hatchery Program Director Don Kent (center) with
Aftco Chairman Milt Shedd (right), who provided the initial vision
and funding in the late 1970’s for the white seabass hatchery
program. Aftco President Bill Shedd (left) developed the concept for
a series of coastal seabass grow-out facilities. Milt and Bill were
also instrumental in securing $4.8 million from Southern California
Edison to build the Carlsbad hatchery.
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Seabass In Hand — Three months after hatching, this 2 1/2” long white seabass is ready to leave the hatchery for the grow-out facility. |
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| Gill Nets — Hundreds of thousands of marine creatures (like the leatherback turtle below) have been needlessly killed by gill nets. Aftco has worked to stop this, recently teaming up with the Asa and The Ocean Wildlife Campaign to expose to millions of TV viewers this by-kill and waste. |
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| Offshore Oil Rigs — Aftco is working with Uasc, Asa, marine scientists, and universities to develop a Rigs-To-Reefs program in California. If successful, the program will convert portions of decommissioned offshore oil rigs into artificial reefs, and it could generate hundreds of millions of dollars to benefit marine resource enhancement efforts. |
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| Tag-And-Release
— Strongly endorsing the concept of tag-and-release, Aftco has
further increased the awareness of and participation in such practices
with the Aftco Tag/Flag Tournament, a yearlong, annual event open
to all offshore anglers and covering both Atlantic and Pacific waters. |
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| Longlines
— The work of Aftco’s Greg Stotesbury, Bill Shedd, and attorney
Mike Duffy in the early 1990’s lead Uasc’s successful removal
of the California shark longline fishery — and to preventing
swordfish, tuna, and shark longline fisheries from entering within
200 miles of California’s shores, saving hundreds of thousands
of sharks like the Mako shown below. |
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