Seaside communities are an integral part of both Florida’s past and future, and nowhere is this more evident than in the historical village of Cortez, one of the last intact fishing villages on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Each year, Cortez residents celebrate the unique appeal of their working waterfront with the Cortez Fishing Festival, a two-day…
Artificial reefs have become an increasingly important fishing opportunity for Florida anglers, yet reefs are created and deployed to achieve a wide range of goals. The 2010 Florida Artificial Reef Summit brought together noted experts, artificial reef managers, and fisheries scientists from around the state and nation to discuss current issues, hear the latest research,…
Lost and abandoned blue crab traps pose a problem in Florida’s commercial and recreational fishing industries by continuing to trap fish and crustaceans. Traps can also pose a marine hazard. Efforts to clean them up are receiving a major boost in 2009, due to a new rule approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation…
Many shark populations throughout the world face continued, massive declines. These are driven largely by the popularity of shark fin soup, which has created a highly lucrative but unsustainable market for shark fins. Shark conservation in the U.S. and worldwide to counter these declines requires comprehensive management and trade monitoring. However, this has not been…