ESPN Outdoors Donates to BTT's Caribbean Bonefish Research Program

ESPN Outdoors (home of Pirates of the Flats) graciously donated $5,000 to support BTT’s Caribbean Bonefish Research Program.  The funds will be allocated between three research components: finclips for genetics, tagging for spatial distribution, and an international growth study.

Through angler obtained bonefish fin clips, BTT has discovered there are multiple, genetically different species of bonefish (previously only one was thought to exist) that are all visually similar and often frequent the same flats.  Our task is to ascertain which species are contributing to the fishery and the extent they co-occur, so the fishery can be managed appropriately.  After a fin clip is taken for genetic testing, frequently a dart tag is implanted in the dorsal musculature by the angler with a unique tag ID for each individual fish.  Tag and recapture location data are used to determine movements of individual fish for better management.  Once a fish is recaptured, the angler can easily phone in the tag ID and the location, as well as the fork length of the fish. Tagging can also help to establish movement patterns within a habitat and also between habitats for the different species.  The final research component, the growth study, determines the different growth rates for bonefish populations of differing locations.  For instance, a 23” bonefish in the Caribbean is approximately 16 years old, whereas a 23” bonefish in the Florida Keys is only 6 years old.  This discrepancy in growth rates is difficult for wildlife managers to accommodate in their regulations, so it is important for us to verify this information from preliminary studies.  A healthy fishery must have good representation of all ages to remain healthy.  This research could not be continued without generous donations from ESPN Outdoors and our other sponsors.