M O T E M A R I N E L A B O R AT O RY
FISHERIES CONSERVATION & ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE: Protecting and Replenishing Sarasota Bay Fisheries — A Barnett Leadership Call to Action With brilliant blue waves lapping gently upon sands as soft and white as sugar, it is no surprise that Florida is the top travel destination in the world with nearly 97 million visitors traveling to Florida in 2013 alone. Even more remarkably, Florida has recently become the third most populous state in the country with more than 1,000 people moving into Florida each and every day. Florida boasts 1,800 miles of coastline, 1,200 miles of sand beaches, and 11,000 miles of rivers, streams and waterways, making Florida’s marine ecosystem vital to its economy and high quality of life. Closer to home, the Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest ocean basin in the world – home to 28 species of marine animals and over 1,500 species of fish. Forty-five percent of all the people who fish in saltwater in the United States, fish in the Gulf of Mexico evidenced by an astonishing $6.9 billion annual impact to our state’s economy. Florida is ranked first in the nation
for recreational fishing with over 47 million fish harvested and 74 million caught and released in 2011. Commercial fishing also has an economic impact with over 97 million pounds caught each year. While visitors may see a bountiful catch, local communities and experienced Florida anglers know that fishing here is not what it once was. Loss of habitat, increased fishing pressure, red-tide kills, and the occasional Florida freeze – like the most recent one in January 2010 – have negatively impacted Florida’s marine ecosystems and fisheries resources. Over 90 percent of all seafood consumed in the United States is imported, and food demand is expected to increase by 50 percent by 2030. Therefore, it is up to us, all of us, – Mote scientists, anglers, fishing captains, philanthropists and any stakeholder of Florida –working together to help protect, restore and sustain Florida’s natural marine environment. The time is now.
The Fisheries Ecology & Enhancement Program focuses on developing and testing responsible science-based stock enhancement technology to restore depleted populations, augment fishery yields and advance basic knowledge about wild stocks. Working closely with the Marine & Freshwater Aquaculture Research Program allows Mote scientists to incorporate new species for stock enhancement research, while expanding existing aquaculture production capabilities that are essential to support the production of hundreds of thousands of fish. Mote’s Aquaculture Research Program is developing innovative technologies to sustainably produce fishes and invertebrates to meet the growing demand for seafood and to restock depleted recreational and commercial stocks. Together, Mote’s Fisheries Enhancement and Aquaculture Research programs will provide unique expertise and tools, monitoring abundance
of wild mullet, and relationship between mullet populations and recreational predator fish populations. Expanding beyond Mote’s snook conservation program, this initiative will launch a novel partnership initiative with grassroots community groups, local commercial fishers, recreational fishers, fish processors, restaurateurs and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to gain critical new insights for agencies and stakeholders to jointly support conservation and sustainable fisheries management of Sarasota Bay mullet. The Cortez Sustainable Mullet Fisheries & Stock Enhancement is the second component of this initiative. It will be coupled with a survey of the Sarasota Bay region to identify critical habitats for juvenile mullet (in tandem with the snook habitat survey), and determine which of these sites may require restoration. The Cortez Mullet Component will also be coupled with a mullet
M
ote has launched a science-based, community-wide, grassroots partnership initiative aimed at fisheries conservation and sustainable-use in Sarasota Bay with the generous financial support from Carol and Barney Barnett, philanthropists who recognized the need to start this movement. The Barnett’s lead gift of $3 million for Mote’s Fisheries Conservation & Enhancement Initiative begins the transformation of a vision into reality with a concerted effort to conserve, enhance, and protect the snook fishery in the state of Florida. However, to complete this transformational initiative, Mote is seeking others to pledge their financial support as a means to expand the potentially transformative research through a collaborative effort between Mote’s Fisheries Ecology & Enhancement Program and Mote’s Marine & Freshwater Aquaculture Research Program.
The $3 million challenge will provide the following: CORTEZ COMPONENT OF THE SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES & STOCK ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE
ANNUAL AMOUNT
TOTAL 5-YEAR AMOUNT
Senior Fisheries / Aquaculture Scientist (50% support)
$119,000
$595,000
Research Scientists (25% support)
$125,000
$625,000
Mote Fisheries / Aquaculture Technician
$96,000
$480,000
$260,000
$1,300,000
Equipment, Supplies, Aquaculture production
TOTAL
$3,000,000
aquaculture-based stock enhancement initiative in Sarasota Bay to help maintain the abundance of prey mullet (mullet juveniles). The mullet stock enhancement effort will be integrated with new research to examine the coupled effects of (1) mullet fishing mortality, (2) mullet natural mortality, and (3) stock enhancement effect on juvenile mullet abundance in Sarasota Bay. A key element to the success of this component will be evaluation of mullet mortality impact and availability of nursery habitat on sustainable juvenile mullet prey abundance - a key food source for recreational sport fishes. Florida’s Gulf Coast is indeed a special place with an idyllic beauty that includes brilliant blue waves and vast coastal shorelines that expand the horizon. Tourists and residents are drawn to this coastal environment, Florida’s economy depends on these marine ecosystems, and our
LEFT TO RIGHT Board Trustee G. Lowe Morrison, Dr. Michael P. Crosby (Mote President & CEO) and Captain Scott Moore.
lifestyles are intrinsically linked to them. Thus, we all must heed the call to protect, restore and sustain our shared marine resources now and for generations to come. Carol and Barney Barnett have issued a call to action through a leadership giving challenge for others to pledge their financial support as a demonstration of unified tribute to Captain Scott Moore while also providing the necessary funding to fully implement all components of this vital comprehensive initiative. It is up to us to conduct the research needed to make this a reality, and the Barnett’s have proven that generous philanthropic support is the most critical path to make this possible. As an independent, marine science institute, Mote is prepared to respond because of the vision, dedication and financial support from donors like you. Please join us.
In conjunction with the Barnett’s significant donation, Mote is pleased to announce the naming of the Captain Scott Moore Senior Fisheries Scientist position in honor of the lifetime commitment and dedication Captain Moore has made as a skilled fishing captain, ocean steward, conservationist, and marine science educator in our community. Captain Moore has demonstrated throughout his career the value and importance of a strong partnership between scientists and fisherman to provide guidance of how fisheries and marine conservation can come together to protect and restore marine biodiversity and marine ecosystems.
Carol and I have been supporters of Mote’s research for years and we are excited to join the effort to fully implement Mote’s Fisheries Conservation & Enhancement Program. Participating in this community-wide grassroots partnership with the goal of protecting and replenishing fisheries populations is an opportunity we wouldn’t miss. Because of the collaboration between Captain Scott Moore and Mote scientists, combining the traditional knowledge of an expert fisherman with the scientific expertise of Mote’s scientists seems an unstoppable partnership. We believe this program has the power to be hugely impactful for aquaculture and fisheries in our area.” — BARNEY BARNETT philanthropist
It is an honor to support and celebrate the remarkable experience of Captain Scott Moore. No one has greater knowledge of fish Carol and Barney Barnett
habitats and the need for successful restocking efforts than an expert local fisherman like Captain Moore. The success of this program is paramount in order for us to be able to enjoy a tradition that represents our quality of life. I am grateful to be a part of this important initiative and congratulate Scott for this esteemed and well-deserved recognition.” — ROBERT THOMAS Captain Scott Moore client
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