Bonefish & Tarpon Trust will honor conservation leaders Jeff Harkavy, Tim Borski, and Chris and Wendi Peterson at the organization’s 8th International Science Symposium, November 7-8, 2025, at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
BTT founding member Jeff Harkavy will receive the Lefty Kreh Award for Lifetime Achievement in Conservation in recognition of his service to BTT and other leading conservation organizations. A tireless and vocal champion for fisheries conservation for decades, Harkavy played a pivotal role in the founding and development of BTT. In the years since, he has also helped establish many of its programs, including BTT’s Science Symposium, a triennial gathering of stakeholders which he chaired on six occasions. Respected throughout the angling community, Harkavy also serves on the International Game Fish Association’s North America Council and Conservation Committee as well as on the Board of Directors of the Guy Harvey Foundation.
A renowned artist, Tim Borksi will receive the Curt Gowdy Memorial Media Award, presented annually to those who inspire saltwater conservation through media and the arts. A devoted angler since his Wisconsin childhood, Borski moved to South Florida in the early 1980s, drawn by stories of the region’s bonefish. He settled in the Keys where he worked at Captain Randy Towe’s World Class Outfitters fly shop and learned to tie flies. He continued to paint, soon becoming known for his distinctive, impressionistic style that captured the beauty of flats fish. A BTT founding member, Borski has donated his work to support conservation, and his innovative fly patterns are fished by anglers around the globe.
Chris and Wendi Peterson, the owners of Hell’s Bay Boatworks, will receive the Flats Stewardship Award in recognition of their efforts to safeguard our fisheries. As a leading boatmaker, Hell’s Bay has long been an ardent supporter of marine conservation, generously donating to BTT, Captains for Clean Water, and the Coastal Conservation Association. Through their work with these organizations, the Petersons have become deeply involved in water policymaking. Chris served for more than a decade on the BTT Board of Directors, and Wendi is a Board Member for Captains for Clean Water. In 2020, Chris was appointed to the St. Johns River Water Management District board, helping to develop water policies that affect more than five million people living in 18 counties. He has also advocated for healthy waterways before the Florida Legislature and the U.S. Congress.
“Jeff, Tim, Chris and Wendi are remarkable leaders in the conservation of our flats fisheries,” said BTT President and CEO Jim McDuffie. “The impact of their many contributions, individually and collectively, is evident in our progress to improve water quality, conserve coastal habitats, and ensure effective fishery management, while their unwavering commitment to the cause has inspired countless other anglers and outdoor enthusiasts to become involved in our mission.”
As BTT award recipients, Harkavy, Borski, and the Petersons will be enshrined on the BTT Circle of Honor, which recognizes legendary anglers, fishing guides, and conservation leaders who have made significant contributions to the conservation of the flats fishery. The Circle of Honor is housed in the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center, located in Islamorada, Florida, and features an annually rotating exhibit about those honored as well as educational content about the significance of the flats fishery.
To register for BTT’s 8th International Science Symposium, visit: www.BTT.org/symposium.
