Fishing reefs and wrecks in Marathon and the Florida Keys is as common as the postcard sunsets. But bottom fishing can bring with it an all-too-common sight: a deep water fish floating away after being released. It’s called barotrauma, where the fish’s body cavity expands and distorts, leaving them helpless at the surface. Initiatives are underway to change this dynamic, including Return ‘Em Right, which aims to reduce barotrauma in recreational reef fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico.
