Science & Conservation

Deep Water Cay has a recently established relationship with the Bonefish Tarpon Trust* so that, in short, most every bonefish that fishermen catch gets tagged prior to release. When those fish are caught again, our guides are trained to capture the data for use by the BTT scientists to measure. Our combined efforts tell us much more than simply what flies are working. They provide us with insight into creating better fisheries, healthy ecosystems, pristine environments, and bountiful fish stocks.

History

To date, tagging has been conducted entirely by guides who have been trained by BTT scientists. While this has been a successful approach, a more effective means of getting large numbers of bonefish tagged in a short amount of time, and thus decrease the amount of time needed to get data from recaptured fish, is for BTT scientists to work with lodges and guides to use large seine nets to catch and tag bonefish.

For decades, it was assumed that since the recreational bonefish fishery was catch and release, conservation and management weren’t needed. As we learn more about bonefish and the fisheries they support, however, we now know that this assumption was not valid. Research by BTT collaborators, for example, has revealed that the way that anglers handle bonefish can significantly influence the survival rate of bonefish after release. With this information we can now focus on angler education to ensure that catch and release is a valid conservation tool for sustainable bonefish fisheries.

Moving Forward

In collaboration with Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Deep Water Cay has undertaken an extensive bonefish tag and recapture program to determine and track the health of the population and to identify important habitats and locations. Though bonefish are primarily a catch and release species, the health of a fishery is not entirely determined by the numbers of fish present. Bonefish populations have declined in other locations – typically due to habitat loss – and recovery is very slow, if it happens. The tagging program established at Deep Water Cay is designed to provide anglers and guides with the opportunity to assist in gathering the critical information needed for long-term conservation of the fishery and its habitats.

To highlight the importance of our mission, over a thousand bonefish have been tagged just in the waters surrounding Deep Water Cay. You and your guide should note and retrieve the tag from any tagged bonefish you catch, measure the fish before release, and report the date and location where the fish was captured.

Money Fish

The Bonefish Tarpon Trust, along with Deep Water Cay, has developed an incentive to help you help us. You can become a BTT member, and then, while a guest at Deep Water Cay, if you catch the bonefish with the magic tag number, you will qualify to receive a $10,000 reward.

The rules for this rewards program are simple:

• Must be a BTT member to participate.

• Must be staying at Deep Water Cay and fishing with a Deep Water Cay Lodge guide.

• 20% of the prize goes to the guide.

• Tags must be clipped and mailed to BTT along with dates of catch, location, and fish length

* Bonefish & Tarpon Trust is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit organization committed to conserving and enhancing global bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries and their environments through stewardship, research, education and advocacy.