As a part of their ongoing partenership with the Central American integrated fisheries agency, OSPESCA, TBF will sponsor a workshop focusing on the development of catch and effort data collection protocol to be put into place across Central America.  This work is in support of the region-wide sportfishing conservation and management plan developed by the partnership this past year to support the sustainable use of billfish and other fisheries resources that provide the nations of Central America with sportfishing tourism rewards.
 
The workshop, to be held at the Radisson Conference and Convention Center in San Salvador on December 10-11, will bring together fisheries scientists from OSPESCA, TBF and each Central American nation to begin work on an integrated data collection system that will eventually allow for monitoring and assessment of fish stocks important to the sportfishing industry.  TBF is soliciting volunteers from the sportfishing sector to help us assure that this effort is consistent with the capabilities and needs of the fleets and marinas that supply fishing opportunities to angling tourists.

"It is essential that this data plan take into account the ability of the charter fleets to collect and maintain good data," said TBF President Ellen Peel, "because we need good data but its collection must fit into the business frameworks under which these fleets operate.
 
If you are interested in helping with this effort, please contact TBF's Dr. Russell Nelson via email or at 954-938-5311