A Special Invitation to Join the
Fall Florida Keys Bonefish Population Census
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Esteemed Guides and Anglers, we need your help! With your assistance, this will mark the 8 th consecutive year of conducting a Fall Bonefish Population Census in the fabulous Florida Keys . This year's Fall census event is planned for Saturday, October 23, 2010 .
Bonefishing is a multimillion dollar industry in the Florida Keys and virtually all of the fish are released unharmed to fight again. The bonefish census, coordinated by the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) and the University of Miami RSMAS (UM), helps to determine population trends of one of the Keys most important sport fish. This is the first and only population estimate ever done on bonefish anywhere in the world. The information provided by the census is vital to evaluating year-to-year changes in the bonefish population, and for providing guidance that ensures a sustainable fishery!!!
Last Fall 2009 we had great participation that was spread out across 19 zones in four regions of the Florida Keys (Biscayne, Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys) stretching from Key Biscayne to the Marquesas. However, results from this year's spring census have clearly indicated that we must get more sampling coverage in the middle and lower Keys to accurately estimate bonefish population size. Of particular note, your participation in this year's census is critically important because we are trying to get a handle on the extent to which January's extremely cold weather and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill may have impacted the Florida Keys bonefish population.
Our ability to detect year-to-year differences in the bonefish population size depends on the number of census participants. It's a relatively simple formula, the more participants we have the more robust our population size estimate. Please volunteer to help us as we need greater coverage of the fishery running from Key Biscayne to the Marquesas. All the information collected during the census will remain strictly confidential and be used only for scientific research purposes.
If you are able to participate please contact Dr. Jerry Ault at jault@rsmas.miami.edu or 305-421-4884. Once we have heard from you we will mail you a census package with datasheet. Your responsibilities are minimal, all we ask is that you record: the zone(s) you fished; the distance poled; and, the number of bonefish seen. Simple, but very important! Finally, census datasheets will also be available from Florida Keys Outfitters (305-664-5423) or can be downloaded at www.bonefishresearch.com
We are counting on you to help us determine the current population size of this very important sports fish.
Dr. Jerry Ault
jault@rsmas.miami.edu
