Sea Grant's Florida Friendly Fishing Certification Programs Receive National Award for Marine Conservation

Sea Grant's Florida Friendly Fishing Certification Programs have been honored by the Sea Grant Outreach Assembly as national winners of the Superior Outreach Programming Team Award. This recognition celebrates a key achievement in promoting sustainable fishing practices for marine conservation.

This prestigious recognition, awarded during Florida Sea Grant Week in Savannah, Georgia, highlights the positive impact of the Florida Friendly Fishing Guide (FFFG) and Florida Friendly Angler (FFA) courses.

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The courses were developed in collaboration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The FFA program, available in both English and Spanish, along with the FFFG program, were selected as regional winners in the Gulf of Mexico area, before being submitted for consideration for the national award.

“Preserving Florida’s aquatic resources through education and the implementation of best practices is essential to the environmental, economic and human health of our state,” said Michael Sipos, Florida Sea Grant agent in Collier County. “Enjoying beaches and wilderness are key drivers of tourism in Florida, while activities like fishing are crucial to both thousands of jobs and our culture.”

 

Since the program’s inception, thousands of Floridians and visitors have learned environmental ethics and best fishing practices, Sipos added.

These innovative programs teach science-based best practices for fish management, release techniques and sustainable boating. These practices encourage environmentally responsible fishing habits among recreational anglers and professional guides.

 

The courses were designed to contribute to the protection of Florida’s fish populations that face increasing pressure due to increased fishing activity, coastal development and pressure on coastal and marine habitats.

According to data collected by FWC, Florida has more than 4 million licensed freshwater and saltwater anglers, as well as more than 4,000 licensed charter captains.

As recreational fishing gains popularity, so does the need to adopt sustainable practices.

The FFFG and FFA programs were developed independently, but they share a common goal: to provide anglers and guides with the tools and knowledge needed to reduce their environmental footprint. FFFG was created in 2019, followed by FFA in 2022.

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The certification programs offer interactive online courses that address topics such as fisheries management, catch and release best practices, seafood food safety, and environmental ethics. Certified anglers and guides become ambassadors for sustainable fishing practices, sharing their knowledge with clients and other anglers through their leadership.

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To date, the FFFG program has certified 118 charter boat captains, while 980 people have completed the FFA course. Participants report significant gains in their knowledge, with guides adopting an average of 30 of the 64 best practices taught. Beyond conservation, FFFG certification also acts as a marketing tool, helping guides improve their business by attracting environmentally conscious clients.

“We are working to increase the visibility of the Florida Friendly Angler En Español program, as there are not many educational resources about fishing geared toward Spanish-speaking audiences,” Sipos noted. “Spanish speakers make up a sizable portion of our state’s population and are also enthusiastic anglers. Additionally, we are focused on making the program more visible to court systems that handle fisheries violations.”

 

Frequently, fines or court settlements related to fisheries violations do not include an educational component. Being able to provide scientific information that explains what happened and corrects the behavior is extremely important, Sipos added.

The Sea Grant Extension Assembly is comprised of leaders representing Sea Grant programs in 34 states and regionally, providing a platform for these leaders to address issues and share knowledge.

The Sea Grant Extension Assembly awards the Superior Extension Programming Award (SOPA) to recognize the leadership, teamwork and accomplishments of extension staff.