University of FloridaSolutions for Your Life

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Publication #SGEF-166

 

A Practical Guide to Assembling and Using a Fish Resuscitation System for Florida Catch-and-Release Fishing Tournaments1

Robert Wasno2

Florida is known as the “Fishing Capital of the World.” However, increasing fishing pressure and loss of habitat threaten the sustainability of our fishing resources. A key to the future of our fishery resources is maximizing the effectiveness of catch-and-release practices.

Ethical angling has been a part of the Florida fishing tournament trail for many years. Today, this is even more evident with the use of modern fish resuscitation systems that provide a controlled environment to enhance fish health in the increasingly popular catch-and-release tournaments.

The scientific basis for enhancing fish health under tournament conditions has contributed to the development of the fish resuscitation system, and is what makes it so successful. This practical guide provides all of the basic information necessary to assemble the apparatus, and provides step-by-step instructions on how to use it safely and successfully.

In this guide, several equipment manufacturers are named, and suggested retail price ranges are given for the equipment needed to assemble the fish resuscitation system. These are intended as examples; no endorsement is intended or implied. Suitable, quality equipment produced by different manufacturers and offered through various suppliers is normally available locally, or through online purchase.

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Footnotes

1.

This document is SGEF-166 published by the Florida Sea Grant College Program with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Sea Grant, U.S. Department of Commerce. Published May 2006. Reviewed March 2009. For more information contact Florida Sea Grant, PO Box 110400, Gainesville, FL 32611-0400, 352-392-5870.

2.

Robert Wasno, former Marine Extension Agent, Lee County Cooperative Extension, 3406 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers, FL, 33916-3736. Inquiries may also be directed to: lee@ifas.ufl.edu.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.