Florida Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

Symposium Announcement & Call for Papers

 

Improving Recreational Fisheries with Bag Limits and Size Limits: Effective Fisheries Management in Florida?

 

24th Annual Meeting

February 23-25^*, 2004

Withlacoochee Training Center

Brooksville, Florida

 

Marine and freshwater fisheries management strategies have changed greatly over the last 15-20 years.  Prior to the late 1980’s, simple harvest restrictions were used to manage most of Florida’s recreational fisheries (e.g., statewide size limits and liberal bag limits).  In response to increased fishing effort, diverse harvest restrictions have been implemented including species-specific bag limits, size limits, and fishing seasons. The Florida Chapter of the American Fisheries Society will be hosting a symposium to assess the effectiveness of the state’s harvest restrictions.  Topics will include:

 

-How do stock assessment methods differ between marine and freshwater fisheries managers?  What can we learn from each other?

 

-Have fish population parameters such as abundance, growth, mortality, recruitment, and population size structure changed in response to changes in harvest restrictions? 

 

-Have harvest restrictions reduced the extent of overfishing in Florida? 

 

-What factors influence the success/failure of a harvest restriction?

 

-From the recreational angler perspective, how should regulations be used in marine and freshwater systems?

 

This will be a half-day session with invited speakers from marine, freshwater, and the recreational angler groups.  Presenters will describe examples of how changes in harvest restrictions influenced, or failed to influence, Florida’s fish populations and fisheries.

 

*We are meeting on Monday-Wednesday this year due to the Southern Division Meeting

            in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, February 26-29, 2004.

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to invited speakers, contributed paper sessions addressing a range of fish ecology, biology, and management topics will be presented. The technical sessions will provide professionals of all levels an opportunity to discuss new concepts, directions and strategies in fisheries biology, as well as the current state of Florida’s fisheries habitats and resources.  Organizers are looking for papers and posters.

 

 

PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING

CONTRIBUTED PAPERS AND POSTERS

 

Individuals desiring to present research and management results or progress with ongoing work should submit abstracts to Mike Allen, Program Chair, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, The University of Florida, 7922 NW 71^st Street, Gainesville, FL 32653 (352) 392-9617 ext. 252  msal@ufl.edu. DUE DATE for submitting abstracts: January 10, 2004

 

Platform presentations will be scheduled for 20 minutes; anticipating a 15-minute presentation followed by a 5-minute question/answer period. Moderators will encourage a lively discussion during the 5-minute period after each presentation, and time limits will be strictly enforced. PowerPoint presentations are preferred, however slide presentations (2×2 inch, horizontal orientation) can be accommodated.  We encourage authors to submit abstracts early.  After all platform presentation slots are filled, abstracts will be accepted as poster presentations only.