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Episode 703: Billfish: Battle on the Line?

Along Central America’s coastline, ranging from Guatemala south to Panama, recreational fishing is big business. The unique oceanographic conditions of the eastern tropical Pacific make the area one of the best spots in the world for big game anglers to hook billfish. But intense pressures from commercial fishing operations have taken their toll on the numbers of sailfish and marlin in the region. Scientists with the University of Miami Billfish Research Program are using an ecosystems approach to study the animals, by integrating complex oceanographic data with high tech research tools. The ultimate goal is to develop local and region-wide conservation initiatives that ensure billfish populations remain sustainable for years to come.


Experts

Meet the experts featured in this episode.


Special Thanks:

 

Casa Vieja Lodge
Puerto San José, Guatemala
US Address:
9024 SW 152nd Street
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
1 (800) 882-4665

 

Crocodile Bay Resort
Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
US Address:
1250 North McDowell
Petaluma, CA 94954
1 (800) 733-1115

 

Dragin Fly
Los Suenos Marina, Costa Rica
George Beckwith Jr.
(252) 671-3474

 

Trollpro
1 (800) 378-1965

Zing Products, Inc.
12 Kendrick Road
Wareham, MA 02571
(508) 295-2444


Image Credits

Changing Seas would like to thank the following individuals and institutions who kindly allowed their footage, images and other media to be used in this production:


Manoel Cifuentes
MAGA/DIPESCA GUATEMALA

Fish Tank Sportfishing

Sierra Goodman
The Divine Dolphin

Greenpeace

Guy Harvey

Chris Jessen

José Moya

Oceana

Melisa Ramirez

Capt. Chris Sheeder

TrollPro

UM Billfish Research Program

Special Thanks:

 

Elisa Badillo Abascal
Jose Alvarenga
Juan Carlos Alvarenga
Anna Beckwith
Ashley Bretecher
Yuri Carranza
Manoel Cifuentes
Flavio Del Pino
Luis Diaz
Sridevi Eppili
Christopher Franco
Gerardo “Chicho” Guadamuz
Rocio Guido
Maria Hechavarria
Franz Hoffman
Gwen Junod
Robert E. Lee, Jr.
Christopher Lynch
Thomas McGuinness
Kelly Perry
Sandra Ramírez
Karen Richason
Kristen Salazar
Chelsea Torres
Diana Udel
Sofía Valverde
Aitor Villegas


Funding for this episode of Changing Seas was provided by:

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