Lifestyle

3 Myths About Deep Sea Catch-And-Release Fishing

Published

4 years ago

March 13, 2021

When divers resurface too quickly from deep water, the intense change in pressure can make gasses dissolved in their blood bubble up. This problem can lead to nausea, fatigue, joint pain, and paralysis. In the worst cases, it can be fatal.

This is known as barotrauma, and it doesn’t only affect us. Dolphins, fish, and sea turtles can suffer severe injuries from sudden pressure changes.

When anglers pull fish from water 30 feet deep and more, their catch is susceptible to barotrauma. Coming rapidly to the surface can make the swim bladder in fish inflate or rupture. This can lead to the death of the fish.

If you’re deep-sea fishing and want to release a fish instead of eating it, you should know some myths about barotrauma:

#1: If The Fish Isn’t Bloated, There Is No Barotrauma

Bloating is indeed the most common sign in a fish you’ve caught. However, some fish – including sharks and cobia – lack swim bladders. They might not show bulging eyes or float on the surface after you release them, but they still could suffer from gasses in their tissues, just like people.

#2: A Fish That Swims Away Is Fine

Some anglers believe if a deepwater fish swims away with no apparent injuries that it doesn’t have barotrauma. Not necessarily.

Research indicates that barotrauma can have effects later that we don’t always see when we release the fish. A fish might swim away but still be injured. Then, it could get eaten by a predator as it swims back to the reef.

A barotrauma study on red snapper found that at least 15% of fish taken from deepwater died almost immediately. About 13% of fish were able to swim away but died within three days. So, nearly one out of three fish in the study did not survive catch and release.

Reef fish, particularly the oldest and biggest females that produce the most eggs per year, are too valuable to the ecosystem to be lost at that rate. It’s essential for anglers who catch and release to use release methods that provide fisher with a better chance of living another day. Even a small improvement in survival rates for these fish can mean millions more fish are saved every year.

#3: Venting Is The Only Way To Treat Barotrauma

Venting means puncturing the side of a fish’s body with a metal tool. When it is done right, venting can release the built-up gasses so they can escape from the bladder. This improves its ability to go back down deep and hopefully survive.

But venting comes with problems. First, it can be hard to vent the fish correctly. You need to have a decent knowledge of fish anatomy. If you poke it a few inches the wrong way, you could damage the fish’s internal organs. Also, you should not vent a fish when the stomach is sticking from the mouth or when the intestines come out of the anus. This can kill the fish.

Even if you vent the fish correctly, it still can suffer from the procedure, including a damaged swim bladder or infections.

Venting does improve the chance the fish will survive, but there are other options.

Try A Descending Device

A descending device returns the fish to deep water, where it can usually recover from barotrauma. You can use a descending device on any fish species, and you don’t even need to know fish anatomy! The more anglers that use descending devices, the more likely deepsea fish will thrive. And that is good for our planet.

Lifestyle

Powerful Corporate Gifting Strategies to Build and Strengthen Business Partnerships

Published

17 hours ago

April 15, 2025

Michelle Langton

If you want to build and strengthen business partnerships with your clients and top investors, there are a few key steps you must take. One essential strategy is corporate gifting. This simple act goes beyond building a partnership. It will also increase your customer retention rate and promote your business even beyond the shore of your country.

But before you consider gifting any item, there are some strategies to put in place. This will ensure your gift makes a lasting impression and resonates well with your clients. Below are powerful corporate gifting strategies to build and strengthen business partnerships with your clients and top investors.

Choose a Personalized Item

Rather than choosing an ordinary gift for your clients and investors, opt for a personalized item. Customised corporate gifts such as T-shirts, coffee mugs, and bags create a stronger emotional connection than generic gifts. They also leave a more lasting impression than most other gift types.

Imagine how investors and your clients will feel when you beautifully inscribe their image or favorite quotes on a T-shirt. Of course, they will feel valued, appreciated, and ready to invest more in your business.

Consider Their Culture and Background

As an entrepreneur, it’s essential to be culturally competent and sensitive. Your gifts should resonate with your clients’ and investors’ cultural backgrounds. Otherwise, they may be quickly discarded or overlooked. If your investors and audience are predominantly of Black heritage, consider giving them a custom T-shirt featuring a map of Africa or inspirational quotes from iconic Black leaders.

Their religious beliefs are also important. Specific religions may find some images or symbols inappropriate. For instance, if you’re giving a gift to a Muslim investor, avoid designs that include images like pigs, as they are considered offensive in Islamic culture.

Consider a Functional Gift

You should also consider the gift’s functionality. A gift that can be used every day will be more valuable than an impractical one. Even if the gift is expensive but doesn’t have any functional purpose, it won’t serve the purpose it was intended for.

Instead of purely sentimental keepsakes or abstract gifts, consider practical items like pens, notebooks, backpacks, coffee mugs, umbrellas, or water bottles. Just make sure the gift is well-designed and features your brand logo and identity. This not only increases brand visibility but also helps strengthen the connection between you and your investors.

Tie it to a story

Tie your gifts to a story to make them more memorable and emotionally meaningful. For example, if during your business’s early days, your employees always worked tirelessly day and night, you could opt for a custom hourglass. Clients and investors who receive such a gift will appreciate your business’s journey of patience and perseverance.

Offer Quality Gifts

Gifts given to investors or clients who have significantly contributed to your business growth should reflect their value. They shouldn’t be cheap or low-grade items. The gift doesn’t have to be trendy or widely popular, but it should come from a reputable and high-end brand. This will give your gift more credibility. Besides, the recipients will feel comfortable to use the gift among their colleagues.