Third International Bonefish and Tarpon Symposium
November 14-16, 2008
Dania Beach , Florida
and Key Largo , Florida

The theme for the 3 rd International Bonefish and Tarpon Symposium is Research and Conservation for the Future . This theme will provide a venue for taking what has been learned since the last symposium, and formulating a strong strategy for moving forward with research, conservation, and management.

The symposium will feature two days (November 14 – 15) of scientific presentations at International Game Fish Association headquarters in Dania Beach , Florida , and one day (November 16) of fishermen-oriented talks in Islamorada.

Registration is now open. Please go to the Registration Page to register.

Accommodations :

The Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel.
1825 Griffin Road
Dania , Florida 33004
Phone: (954) 920-3500

The block rate has expired, but you can call and ask for the "Summer Gas Promotion" for a good deal if it is still available, or ask them to find the best rate they have. The Sheraton is a short drive or a healthy walk (approx 1 mile) from the IGFA symposium location.

Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port
400 Gulf Stream Way
Dania Beach , Florida 33004
Phone: (954) 342-8333
Rate $159/night

This hotel is adjacent to the IGFA. The block rate is sold out for this hotel, but the above mentioned rate is available to individuals.

Click here to download the pdf version of the agenda.

 

Third International Bonefish and Tarpon Symposium
November 14-16, 2008
Agenda (minor changes possible)
* = presenter

Friday, November 14

9:00 – 9:15                  Welcoming Remarks
                                   Russ Fisher*

9:15 – 9:30                  Keynote Address (TBA)

General Papers

9:30 – 9:50                  A model for a proactive non-profit organization: research-based conservation and education
                                  Authors: Aaron Adams*, Tom Davidson, Russ Fisher

9:50 – 10:20                Socio-economic estimates for the Belize recreational bonefish, tarpon, and permit fisheries
                                  Author: Tony Fedler*

10:20 – 10:40              BREAK


Session I: Bonefish

10:40 – 11:00              Overview of the status of knowledge of bonefish in the Caribbean
                                   Author: Aaron Adams*

11:00 – 11:20              Hawaii's bonefish: past, present, and future
                                  Authors: Bruce Anderson*, Richard Gushman, Kimberlee Harding, and Alan Friedlander

11:20 – 11:40              Identification of a novel member in the family Albulidae (Bonefishes)
                                  Authors: Elizabeth M. Wallace* and Michael D. Tringali£

11:40 – 12:00              Evolutionary Relationships of Bonefishes ( Albula spp) from Venezuela ( South Caribbean ), Based on                                   Cytochrome b Sequence Analyses.
                                  Authors: Denise Debrot*, Luis M. Márquez and Juan M. Posada

12:00 – 1:00                LUNCH

1:00 – 1:20                  Quantifying the timing and location of spawning activity for bonefish in Eleuthera, The Bahamas
                                   Authors: Andy J. Danylchuk*, A. Adams, S.J. Cooke, C.D. Suski1, K. J. Murchie, T.L. Goldberg, S.E.                                    Danylchuk1, J. Koppelman, A. Shultz, A. Oronti, and D.P. Philipp.

1:20 – 1:40                  Bonefish larvae in the Mexican Caribbean (southern Yucatan ).
                                   Authors: Monica R. Lara*, Lourdes Vásquez-Yeomans, Martha Váldez-Moreno, Carolina Quintal

1:40 – 2:00                  Improving our understanding of catch-and-release angling practices on bonefish
                                  Authors: C. D. Suski*, A. J. Danylchuk, A. Adams, S.J. Cooke, K. J. Murchie, T.L. Goldberg, S.E.                                   Danylchuk, J. Koppelman, and D.P. Philipp

2:00 – 2:20                  The thermal biology of bonefish
                                  Authors: Karen J. Murchie*, S.J. Cooke, A.J. Danylchuk, S.E. Danylchuk, T.L. Goldberg, J. Koppelman,                                   C.D. Suski, and D.P. Philipp.

2:20 – 2:40                  BREAK

2:40 – 3:00                  Assessment of Florida's Bonefish Fishery
                                  Authors: Michael F. Larkin*, Jerald S. Ault, Jiangang Luo, Natalia Zurcher

3:00 – 3:20                  Florida Keys Bonefish Population Census: 2003-2008
                                  Authors: Jerald S. Ault*, Sandy Moret, Michael F. Larkin and Natalia Zurcher, Jiangang Luo, Steven G.                                   Smith

3:20 – 3:40                  Promoting a sustainable bonefish recreational fishery based on the collaboration of recreational fishing                                   guides
                                  Authors: Jose F. Gonzalez*, Denise Debrot, Michael F. Larkin, Juan M. Posada, Jerald S. Ault.

3:40 – 5:00                  Management Needs Discussion
                                   Lead = Aaron Adams

5:00 – 6:00                  Poster Display and Reception

6:00                             Dinner
                                    Keynote Speaker – TBA


Posters
Title: Preliminary experiences, about the behavior of the Bonefishing in the Ciénaga de Zapata National Park on Cuba 's south coast.
Authors: Ing. Lázaro Viñola Valdés

Title: Environmental Education Program for the Ciénaga de Zapata National Park to implement a more stronger action to support the bonefishing in areas of its patrimony
Authors: Ing. Lázaro Cotayo Cedeño

Title: Differentiation between two Hawaiian bonefishes, Albula glossodonta and Albula virgata through life history characteristics
Authors: Kimberlee Harding, Alan Friedlander, and Tom Ogawa

Title: The energetics of bonefish in tropical tidal flats systems - insights from proximate body composition and health indices
Authors: Karen J. Murchie, S.J. Cooke, and A.J. Danylchuk

Saturday

Session II: Tarpon

9:00 – 9:20                  Population dynamics, resource ecology, and fishery management of Atlantic tarpon
                                  Author: Jerald S. Ault

9:20 – 9:40                  Occurrence of newly hatched tarpon larvae in the Gulf Stream
                                  Authors: Jonathon M. Shenker*, Wyatt Hoover, Amy C. Hirons, and Alexander Soloviev

9:40 – 10:00                Decline in larval and juvenile tarpon critical habitat: ignorance or complacency?
                                  Authors: R. Grant Gilmore*, Jr., Daniel A. Davis

10:00 – 10:20              Otolith microchemistry and otolith morphometrics of juvenile tarpon ( Megalops atlanticus ) collected from                                   sites in Florida and Grand Cayman
                                  Authors: John O'Connell*, Jonathan Shenker, Aaron Adams, Junda Lin, John Trefry

10:20 – 10:40              BREAK 

10:40 – 11:00              The diet of age-0 tarpon ( Megalops atlanticus ) in Indian River Lagoon ( Florida ) mosquito control                                   impoundments: examining dietary composition in relation to size and habitat.
                                  Authors: Zack Jud*, Jon Shenker

11:00 – 11:20              A History of Harvest and Possession Permits for Florida 's Recreational Tarpon Fishery
                                   Authors: Kathryn Guindon* and David Westmark

11:20 – 11:40              The Stress Effects of Body-Size and Catch-and-Release Angling in Tarpon ( Megalops atlanticus )
                                   Authors: Kathryn Guindon*, David Westmark, and Jessica Carroll

11:40 – 12:00              Using satellite PAT tags to study migratory patterns, spawning areas, and habitat preferences of Atlantic                                   tarpon
                                   Authors: Jerald S. Ault*, Jiangang Luo, Scott Holt, Michael F. Larkin, Bruce A. Ungar, Scott Alford, and                                 Angel Reqeujo

12:00 –                        Lunchtime and continuing Management Needs Discussion
                                   Lead = Jerry Ault

 
Sunday

9:00 – 10:30                Three Bonefish Presentations. Questions follow presentations in a panel format.
                                  Moderator: Aaron Adams
                                  Andy Danylchuk
                                  Mike Larkin
                                  Liz Wallace

 
10:30 – 12:00              Three Tarpon Presenations. Questions follow presentations in a panel format
                                  Moderator: TBA
                                  Zack Judd
                                  Kathy Guindon
                                  Jerry Ault