| 09 April 2010
Snook in Port of Tampa. photo credit: Bebo SmithThe Snook Foundation has taken
the first steps in setting up baseline fishery data survey
driven by anglers with the Angler Action Program (AAP), which has been agreed
upon and designed with the help of State scientists in Florida
and Texas. We
will roll out the program at an event at The Funament Event at River Palm Cottages and Fish
Camp (Jensen Beach, FL) the weekend of Apr 17th. Scientists from
both FWC and Texas
will be on hand to assist SF personnel and anglers with the roll out.
In Florida, the motivation for AAP revolved around the many questions/complaints about accuracy in stock assessment and the recent winter fish kill closure of snook. Texas anglers are trying to improve their growing snook fishery, and collecting accurate data is a critical step.
The time for anglers to have a role in collecting data has arrived; we are many while the science corps is few. Sportsmen and women who have desired a chance to take ownership, stewardship and the responsibility - to be a part of the solution to our faltering and/or mismanaged fisheries - will have that chance thanks in part to the foresight of scientists at FWC. With minimal time and minimum effort, anglers can be effectively assist and support scientists with data collection simply by going fishing and completing a short data sheet.
The AAP will begin with snook in Florida and Texas. Once the program has proven to effectively provide accurate and usable data, we plan to expand the efforts to a variety of species.
For more info visit www.snookfoundation.org or call 401-302-5550 be sure to sign up for the Snook Foundation Angler Alert on line news letter.
