By Alexandra Lovett-Woodsum

Director of Marketing & Communications

Bonefish and Tarpon Trust

Maverick Boat Group, builders of the Maverick brand of flats skiffs, announced today its sponsorship of a major new research program by Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, which seeks to unlock the mysteries of tarpon movement and habitat use, and help ensure conservation of the valuable tarpon fishery.

The Tarpon Acoustic Tagging Program is a five-year study using acoustic telemetry to identify tarpon movement patterns and important habitats. It capitalizes on a large network consisting of thousands of acoustic receivers stretching across the Gulf of Mexico and along the coastline of the Southeastern US. This array of receivers will monitor the movements of some 50 tarpon tagged as part of the program.

Maverick, a longtime partner of BTT, extends its leadership support as signature sponsor of the new program through a marketing agreement with BTT.  For every Maverick Boat sold, the company will donate a portion of the proceeds to the non-profit organization.

“It’s impossible to fully protect a migratory species without knowing where it travels throughout its full life cycle. This innovative program unlocks some of those mysteries and we’re proud to be a part of it and a partner with BTT,” said Charlie Johnson, Director of marketing for Maverick Boat Group.

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“The tarpon fishery in Florida is an important part of the state’s multi-billion recreational angling industry, and conserving it is central to BTT’s mission,” said Jim McDuffie, BTT Executive Director.

“The first step in ensuring that our conservation efforts are successful is to understand how tarpon move in our local waters as well as at long distances,” said McDuffie. “This study will help us understand if tarpon in different locations are part of the same population, which will inform our conservation action at scale.  We appreciate Maverick’s leadership and support of the program.”

BTT is a non-profit organization with the mission to conserve and restore bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries and habitats, through research, stewardship, education and advocacy.

Maverick Boat Group (MBG) is the builder of the Maverick, Hewes, Pathfinder, and Cobia boat brands. An active supporter of fisheries conservation and angler advocacy since its inception 31 years ago, MBG is privately owned and operated and is located in Fort Pierce, Florida.