Spotlight on Sea Grant Programs: The Florida Friendly Fishing Guides Program
The recreational for-hire sector in Florida is a rapidly growing field of professionals. More than 4,000 licensed charter captains are operating in the saltwater areas of Florida; however, there are countless others who operate from kayaks, from shore, only in freshwater areas that do not require state licensing. Regardless of experience level, there are very few (if any) professional development opportunities available to recreational fishing guides interested in improving practices or making their business more environmentally sustainable. The Florida Friendly Fishing Guide (FFFG) Program was launched in September 2019 to train, identify, and recognize fishing guides who are committed to preserving the future of Florida’s fisheries through sustainable boating and fishing techniques. The program uses an online, self-paced and mobile-friendly format to teach science-based practices for proper fish handling and release, food safety, sustainable boating, and other topics. Videos, animations, fact sheets, narrated interactive presentations, and evaluations are included in the training modules to increase the knowledge of participating captains. The program culminates in guides earning a certification
and through this training, a cohort of branded ambassadors for sustainable angling practices is being created. This program is an example of how Extension education and outreach can embrace and implement effective online education to reach an audience unlikely to attend classes in traditional educational settings. For this reason, the FFFG Program has generated a great deal of interest in all areas of the state and regionally.
36 Extension Tourism: Impact and Opportunities of Land- and Sea-Grant Programming
extensiontourism.net
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