Launching in April 2019, this effort will help rejuvenate the snook population.
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the sportfishing industry’s trade association, recently contributed funds to support the Adopt-A-Snook program which will help offset impacts to snook populations on the southwest coast of Florida due to the ongoing red tide event.
The program is a two-year initiative set to begin April 2019 and is organized by the Coastal Conservation Association Florida (CCA) in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Mote Marine Laboratory.
ASA’s monetary contribution to the Adopt-A-Snook initiative will help the program’s mission to raise and release 10,000 hatchery-reared juvenile snook along Florida’s southwest coast once the current red tide bloom in Florida’s waters dissipates. In addition, Mote Marine Laboratory scientists will tag each of the hatchery-reared juvenile snook with a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag that will allow scientists to track their progress throughout the study.
“The Adopt-A-Snook program is exactly the type of proactive initiative needed to enhance Florida’s iconic snook population, post red tide. As conservationists, ASA, on behalf of the sportfishing industry, is honored to contribute to efforts like these that will help preserve our fisheries for generations to come,” said ASA’s President, Glenn Hughes.
“Florida’s angling community supports more than 128,000 jobs, provides $9.6 billion economic activity and contributes more than $53.3 million in fisheries conservation. The Adopt-A-Snook program will help provide for Florida’s fisheries and anglers after this significant red tide event dissipates. We are doing our part to help maintain Florida’s reputation as the ‘Fishing Capital of the World,’” said Kellie Ralston, ASA’s Southeast Fisheries Policy director.
“This year, red tide is a tremendous challenge for our state. With the support of Florida’s more than three million anglers and conservation organizations such as CCA, FWC and Mote Marine Laboratory, we can work together on red tide recovery while also supporting Keep Florida Fishing’s mission to ensure Florida’s anglers have clean waters, abundant fisheries and access to both,” said Gary Jennings, ASA’s Keep Florida Fishing director.
About Keep Florida Fishing®
Keep Florida Fishing® is an advocacy arm of the American Sportfishing Association with the goal of ensuring Florida anglers have clean waters, abundant fisheries and access to both. Florida is considered the ‘Fishing Capital of the World’ and home to more than three million licensed anglers, supporting 128,000 jobs, providing $9.6 billion in economic activity and contributing more than $53.3 million for fisheries conservation. Learn more at www.KeepFloridaFishing.org. Find Keep Florida Fishing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
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