Kicking Plastic and Billfish Education at Costa’s Conservation Village
For the second year in a row, Costa Sunglasses hosted their Conservation Village in the Miami International Boat Show to educate showgoers about ocean conservation and encourage them to help out in the fight to #KickPlastic! The Village began with ocean research and advocacy groups from all over Florida, which shared the important message of ocean stewardship. Adults and students alike flowed through the tent, learning how they can make simple changes in their lives to help safeguard the health of oceans, humans and animals that rely on them. Throughout the weekend, The Billfish Foundation educated hundreds of visitors
Blue Marlin Satellite Tagging in the Gulf of Mexico
Because overfished Atlantic marlin receive no government research funding priority, large data gaps relating to their life history characteristics remain. Satellite tagging provides a means to fill some of the data gaps by recording a marlin’s location and movement in the water column, both horizontal and vertical. Each tag records variables in sunlight levels, water temperature and pressure that is converted to location and movement. Movement data then provides insight to such elements as whether oil rigs, which serve as large Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs), modify marlin movements and whether marlin remain in the region all year because