Florida Friendly Angler Certification Program
Become A Florida Friendly Angler!
Florida Friendly Angler (FFA) is a free, online, do-at-your-own pace educational program designed for any angler who wants to learn more about sustainable fishing and boating practices while interacting with Florida’s aquatic environments.
Florida is the fishing capital of the world with over 4 million unique fishing license holders! Annually, recreational, and commercial fisheries provide our state with a combined $17 billion of economic impact and support tens-of-thousands of jobs. With all this pressure, and significance fishing has on this state’s economy, environment, and culture, it’s up to all of us to educate both Floridians and visitors to make sure we’re able to enjoy our natural resources and environment for years to come!
Florida Friendly Angler (FFA) is a free, narrated, online, short, do-at your-own-pace educational program that informs users about our state’s aquatic environments, best practices when fishing and the inner workings of fisheries management. By teaching the how and why behind topics that anglers encounter while fishing in Florida, the program reinforces practices that can reduce our impact while fishing, ensuring the creation of great future fishing stories!
What Anglers Who Have Completed FFA Are saying
Participation in the FFA course is completely voluntary. Enroll for free to help ensure quality fishing experiences in Florida are here to stay.
Course
Topics
Environmental Ethics
Catch & Release
Intro to Fisheries Management
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit FLFriendlyAngler.com to enroll for free!
The curriculum takes approximately 1.5 – 2 hours to complete. Each of the three educational modules contain about ~30 minutes of narrated content and can be accessed via desktop or mobile device at any time after registration. the course is available in English and in Spanish.
This online program can be accessed at any time via desktop or mobile device. Course information is shared through narrated interactive presentations, videos, animations and more! Each module also has supplemental content if users would like to dive further into a particular topic. Upon completion of the program, students receive a certificate and a free Florida Friendly Angler weatherproof decal.
In all, the course covers 64 science-based best management practices (BMPs) that help reduce the environmental footprint of fishing.
Module 1:
The first portion of the program covers environmental ethics for anglers. In this section, anglers learn the growing need for best practices and ethical behavior while interacting with fisheries and the environment. Anglers will learn about fishing pressure, how popular species like Gag Grouper have been previously affected by pressure/management and what WE can do to help reduce the strain on heavily targeted species. There is also information on how various environments like natural reefs and seagrass flats can be impacted from careless behaviors such as anchoring on coral heads or creating seagrass propeller scars. The course addresses both those issues and more; providing best practice suggestions to boaters and anglers.
Module 2:
The second section of the course covers best practices when fishing. Anglers learn about conditions that can contribute release mortality and how factors such as improper handling can impact our favorite fish populations. The program provides information on how to reduce release mortality with suggestions on proper gear types, choosing the most appropriate gear and best landing/handling procedures. The module is filled with information like baitfish identification, how gills work, how to hold fish properly when snapping a photo and more!
Module 3:
The third lesson is an introduction to fisheries management. In this portion, viewers learn why we have fisheries management, understand who manages our state’s fisheries and what management decisions are based on. Many anglers are aware of fishing regulations but may not know why they are put into place. The module also offers information on management agencies, fisheries science tools, what is a stock assessment, population models, fisheries data and how anglers can contribute to science.
Administrators
If you have any questions or technical difficulties accessing the FFA course, contact one of our course administrators below. We have support resources at UF to assist with any difficulties.
Si tiene preguntas sobre Florida Friendly Angler En Español, comuníquese con: With millions of anglers enjoying Florida’s fisheries annually, and the significance fishing has on the state's economy, environment, and culture, it’s up to us to educate both Floridians and visitors to make sure we’re able to enjoy the natural resource for years to come.
