Dr. Savanna Barry, Florida Sea Grant Regional Specialized Agent for the Nature Coast and administrator of FFA, with Jack Payne, member of the National Sea Grant Advisory Board, at 2024 Sea Grant Week.
Florida Sea Grant’s Florida Friendly Fishing certification programs received the 2024 Superior Outreach Programming Teams Award (SOPA) at National Sea Grant Week in Savannah, GA. This award recognizes the Florida Friendly Fishing Guide (FFFG) and Florida Friendly Angler (FFA) courses for promoting sustainable fishing practices and honoring outstanding leadership, teamwork, and outreach impact by Sea Grant extension personnel.
As the fishing capital of the world, Florida boasts over 4 million recreational anglers, generating a $13.8 billion economic impact and supporting thousands of jobs annually. To ensure the sustainable enjoyment of these resources, Florida Sea Grant partnered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) to launch Florida Friendly Fishing Guide in 2019 and Florida Friendly Angler in 2022.
The Florida Friendly Fishing Guide Certification Program educates for-hire guides on eco-friendly fishing practices, seafood handling, and safety to promote sustainable fishing experiences. In response to recreational anglers’ interest, the Florida Friendly Angler Program was created. FFA offers narrated lessons on best catch-and-release practices, environmental ethics, and fisheries management, complemented by educational videos and additional resources. It also makes fishing more accessible for first-time anglers, providing information to fish confidential and responsibly.
Florida Friendly Angler recently expanded its reach with a Spanish-translated version of the program. With over a quarter of Florida’s population identifying as Hispanic or Latino and nearly 5 million residents speaking Spanish at home, this effort addresses the need for more angler education and natural resource stewardship resources in Spanish.
To date, the FFFG program has certified 118 charter captains, while 1,206 people have completed the FFA course. Participants report significant gains in knowledge, with guides adopting an average of 30 of the 64 best practices taught and recreational anglers adopting at least 10 new best practices on average. Beyond conservation, the FFFG certification also serves as a marketing tool, helping guides enhance their business by appealing to eco-conscious clients.
The program’s recognition highlights its significant impact, earning prestigious awards in 2023 from the Association of Natural Resource Professionals (ANREP) for excellence in educational technology and marketing. That same year, Ohio Sea Grant launched the Erie PrOH Guide Certification Program, inspired by the FFFG. This initiative educates for-hire captains and crew on conservation-focused best practices in the Great Lakes.
“Florida Friendly Fishing reflects Sea Grant’s core values of being visionary, collaborative and sustainable. The programs were developed in response to community needs, involving input from multiple FSG faculty and staff, partners and stakeholders,” says Dr. Maia McGuire, Florida Sea Grant’s Associate Director for Extension and Education. “By focusing on promoting the sustainability of fish populations and a healthy environment, I look forward to seeing these programs continue to expand their impact both in and beyond Florida.”
Learn more about the Florida Friendly Fishing Certification Program and 2024 SOPA Award.
