Cold Weather Impacts Fisheries

While the national news focuses on the impact of the record-breaking cold on the Florida agriculture industry, the impact of the cold on the fish is largely ignored. So here is perhaps your first glimpse into the impact of freezing temperatures on flats species. In the Florida Keys, there are many reports of dead bonefish. In various locations of south and southwest Florida, tarpon kills have been reported (mixed in with many thousands of snook). Even guides in the northern Bahamas are concerned.

While this long stretch of cold weather is unwanted, it is not unnatural, and it is a phenomenon the fish and habitats have been through before (the last such severe episode was in 1989).  But this brings with it an opportunity for fisheries conservation - the better the health of the fish populations and the habitats, the better the fish populations will be able to recover from these types of events. Since with this weather even those of you who live in Florida aren't fishing, use this event and your time cooped up indoors to contact some friends who aren't yet BTT members and get them to join. And please continue to support BTT's conservation efforts in Florida and elsewhere.

Coverage in the Miami Herald

If you are aware of any media coverage of the weather releated fish kills in Florida or The Bahamas, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll post it.