Abstract

Although recreational angling for bonefish, tarpon, and permit on the flats constitutes an economically important sport fishery (over $1 billion annually in Florida alone), our lack of information regarding many important biological characteristics is severely compromising our ability to manage these species effectively. For example, the lack of such basic information as when and where these fish spawn, where juveniles rear, sources of mortality, how populations of these species differ genetically, what controls individual size, etc. prevents us from assessing how human activities such as development and fishing impact the long-term health of our flats fish populations.Anglers have recognized the need for information and its dissemination for a long time, and in 1998, Bonefish & Tarpon Unlimited was formed to organize their efforts to do what was needed to help conserve the flats ecosystems. Likewise, fisheries scientists have also been concerned for some time now that the scientific information generated from research studies was not finding its way into the decision-making process guiding future aquatic resource conservation. In 2003, scientists within the American Fisheries Society joined together with concerned anglers to form the Fisheries Conservation Foundation. On August 9-10, 2005, members of BTU and members of FCF met with additional fisheries scientists at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, Bahamas to form an Alliance between these two organizations. Within this newly formed Flats Fishing Alliance, BTU organizes and oversees research activities, whereas FCF organizes and oversees education and outreach efforts. The recently developed Action Agenda for Research and Education/Outreach, guides the BTU research funding process and develops education outreach projects within the FCF

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