Recreational & Charter Fishing Working Group

Boat transiting

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is working with charter fishing operators to develop a voluntary education and recognition program. This Blue Star Fishing Guide program may be modeled after the current Blue Star program for charter dive and snorkel operators.

The Sanctuary Advisory Council created a community working group to help develop this program. Following a series of meetings, this working group will provide recommendations to the Advisory Council in April of 2017. Upon consideration of these recommendations, the Advisory Council may direct FKNMS to move forward in developing Blue Star Fishing Guide for 2018.

Objectives

  • Cultivate a voluntary program which will recognize charter fishing operators who meet set criteria to educate their customers to conserve the special ecosystem of the Florida Keys;
  • Increase the awareness and stewardship of the FKNMS within the resident and visiting angling community;
  • Increase communication and partnership between FKNMS and the recreational and charter fishing community; and,
  • Promote FKNMS as a multiple use recreational area.

Members

Advisory Council Lead - Will Benson

Advisory Council Representatives:
Suzy Roebling - Citizen at Large, Upper Keys
Martin Moe - Education and Outreach
Joe Weatherby - Tourism, Lower Keys
Shelly Krueger - Research and Monitoring

Community Experts:
Brice Barr - Key West Charter Boat Association
Luke Kelly - Lower Keys Guides Association
Steve Freidman - Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association
Brooke Black - Bonefish Tarpon Trust
Trip Aukeman - Coastal Conservation Association
Gary Jennings - Keep Florida Fishing
Mike Weinhofer - Compass Rose Charters

Meeting Schedule

Initial Workshop: Wednesday January 25th 9:30am-3:30pm
City of Marathon Council Chambers
9805 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Agenda (100 kb)
See the Notes tab for additional information on this meeting.

Public Engagement Meeting Marathon: Wednesday February 1st 6:00pm-8:00pm
City of Marathon Council Chambers
9805 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Draft Agenda for Public Engagement Meetings (350 kb)

Public Engagement Meeting Islamorada: Wednesday February 8th 6:00pm-8:00pm
Monroe County Public Library - Islamorada
81830 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036
Draft Agenda for Public Engagement Meetings (350 kb)

Public Engagement Meeting Key West: Wednesday February 15th 6:00pm-8:00pm
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
35 E. Quay Road
Key West, FL 33040
Draft Agenda for Public Engagement Meetings (350 kb)

Final Workshop: Wednesday February 22nd 9:30am-3:30pm
City of Marathon Council Chambers
9805 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Draft Agenda for Final Workshop (190 kb)

Meeting Notes

Meeting Agendas and Meeting Summaries will be posted as available.

January 25th Initial Workshop

Other Materials

February 22th Final Workshop

Draft Recommendations