BFFA Releases Flats fishing Economic Study
An economic study commissioned by the BFFA has revealed that flats fishing generates $141 million in total economic benefits to the Bahamian economy annually.
Click here to learn more about the report and what it means for flats ecosystems.
About the Bahamas Flats Fishing Alliance
The Fisheries Conservation Foundation is pleased to announce the formation of the Bahamian Flats Fishing Alliance. The Bahamian Flats Fishing Alliance (BFFA) is a formal partnership between FCF and two other key organizations, the Bahamas National Trust and the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. The Bahamas National Trust, established by an Act of Parliament in 1959, is mandated with the conservation of natural and historic resources of The Bahamas. This responsibility is achieved primarily through in-situ protection. The Bahamas National Trust is the only known non-governmental organization in the world with the mandate to manage a country's entire national park system. The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, founded in 1998, is a membership-based organization consisting of recreational anglers, guides, and marine industry leaders dedicated to increasing global efforts to conserve bonefish, tarpon, permit, and other flats species and their fisheries for future generations.
The overall goal of this effort is to establish a model for how best to assemble the various stakeholders interested in conserving these valuable fisheries, including the critical habitats upon which they depend.
The specific objectives of this important partnership are to:
- conduct collaborative research and education/outreach projects addressing management and conservation of The flats environments and fisheries of the Bahamas;
- develop and implement an effective campaign to communicate the findings of such current and future efforts to relevant policy-makers, resource managers, and the general public;
- assist decision-makers in developing scientifically sound strategies to address relevant fisheries and coastal resource issues; and
- encourage public support for such strategies.
The first project launched by the BFFA is a study to determine the impact of flats fishing to the economy of The Bahamas. The information generated by this study is critical for demonstrating the value for establishing a long-term flats conservation strategy.
The BFFA recently facilitated a workshop in Nassau, Bahamas that brought together bonefishing guides, lodge owners, industry, conservation organizations, and government officials to build consensus as to the importance, content, and operational logistics of a guide certification program. To read more about the workshop click here.
To download a flier about the BFFA click here.