The Belize River Lodge BTT Tagging Challenge is an annual event where anglers and scientists work together, fishing for bonefish, permit, and Atlantic tarpon to collect important biological information while enjoying some of The Caribbean’s best fishing at Belize River Lodge. Combining fishing and conservation, participants collect genetic samples from the fish they catch, as […]
Last month, news outlets across Florida reported a 300 yard, potentially toxic, algae bloom had been discovered in canals near Indian River and St. Lucie Estuaries. Now, Mark Perry, of Florida Oceanographic Society, indicates the potentially toxic bloom has almost doubled in size. In 2013, a toxic bloom in our estuaries led to beach closures, […]
Last March, Justin Lewis, BTT’s Bahamas Initiative Coordinator, gave a presentation about BTT’s bonefish conservation efforts in the Bahamas at the Rand Nature Center, the Grand Bahama Island headquarters of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT). BTT has been collaborating with BNT, The Fisheries Conservation Foundation, and the Cape Eleuthera Institute on bonefish conservation since 2009. […]
A satellite tagged permit swims away. Thanks to the diligent efforts of a group of 10 anglers from the Washington, DC area, we just sent a 21 pound permit swimming away carrying a small satellite tag. This was the first permit satellite tagged in Belize, and the first permit satellite tagged by a recreational angler. […]
Photo: Justin Lewis / BTT The Bahamas is world-renown as an excellent bonefish fishery. In fact, the fishery is so popular for traveling anglers that the annual economic impact of the fishery exceeds $141 million. Yet the fishery will remain healthy only if the habitats remain healthy. As part of the Bahamas Initiative, BTT has […]
BTT relies on members to fund and spread the word about the important issues that we are tackling around bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries. New for 2015, BTT has rolled out new membership benefit items for a number of our membership levels. Coming soon, we will have a limited-time only $25 special for first-time members […]
By Monte Burke Originally published on Forbes.com An encounter on the Florida Keys flats. Photo by Tom Rosenbauer On a recent evening in Manhattan, supporters of the conservation group, the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT), gathered together at an Upper East Side club that preferred to remain unnamed. Much of the talk at the fundraiser […]
Original source: Hatch Magazine Bonefish are on the decline in the Florida Keys. So are the fish that eat them. Barracuda, once a traditional target of winter flats fishing, are now scarce. “I just started guiding in 2000, which is not long in the whole scheme of things,” Key West guide John O’ Hearn said. […]
Education and outreach are essential components of a successful conservation program. Much of our outreach effort is aimed at fishing guides and anglers, but educating the next generation is key to the future of the bonefish fishery. This past March, Justin Lewis, BTT’s Bahamas Initiative Coordinator, took advantage of an invitation from Joanna Wilkinson, a […]
The Conservation Captain for April 2015 is Abaco, Bahamas guide Capt. Buddy Pinder. Buddy, along with his wife Cindy, has been instrumental in helping BTT tag bonefish on Abaco. They have also graciously hosted BTT scientists and volunteers at their home, donated their time and boat, and they have been active in getting other guides […]
