Worldwide, loss of juvenile habitat is one of the greatest threats to tarpon populations as a whole. In fact, the loss and degradation of juvenile habitats is a major reason that a recent International Union for the Conservation of Nature scientific assessment classified the tarpon population as “vulnerable.” This is why Bonefish & Tarpon Trust launched the Juvenile Tarpon Habitat Initiative a few years ago.
Photo: Kevin Wessel
The most recent phase of BTT’s Juvenile Tarpon Habitat Initiative is our Juvenile Tarpon Habitat Mapping project, in which BTT is gathering confidential information from guides, anglers, scientists and landowners to help identify juvenile tarpon habitat to create maps and help us prioritize areas in need of protection or restoration.
Since BTT’s January launch of the Juvenile Tarpon Habitat Mapping project, over 40 guides, anglers and scientists have contacted us about where they see juveniles under 12″, and we currently have 135 juvenile tarpon locations as a result. This month we will begin mapping the location data on detailed habitat maps to compile an extensive list of what characteristics are essential for nurseries. This information will help us protect current sites, and better design habitat restoration plans at altered sites. Although this is a great start, we can always use more information.
Without healthy juvenile populations, the adult fishery suffers. If you know of any spots or know an angler that fishes for juvenile tarpon, please don’t hesitate to contact us by emailing jwilson@bonefishtarpontrust.org. As with all of our research, data is confidential. A special thanks to everyone that has already participated in the project.
