Yamaha Rightwaters has partnered with Skeeter Boats to donate a SX2250 center console equipped with a 250-hp Yamaha V MAX SHO outboard to the University of Florida.
Scientists at the university’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience will use the vessel to conduct a study on redfish, gathering data on the gamefish species in northern Florida.
“The root of successful conservation begins with in-depth knowledge of the species and areas you are trying to protect,” Dr. Jimmy Liao, Ph.D., said in a statement. Liao is a marine biologist at the university who focuses on fish sensing and fish behavior.
“The more data we collect, the better our understanding of the redfish becomes, and with that understanding comes the ability to better manage the fishery. The Yamaha Rightwaters and Skeeter teams recognize the important relationship between conservation and growth in the recreational fishing and boating industry, and we are grateful for the support,” Liao continued.
The study will take place in a 35-mile radius of northeastern Florida and has three components. The first is tagging the fish to get a better idea of the exact number in the area. The second is studying migration patterns to determine which habitats are preferred by the adult breeders and which make good nursery sites for juveniles. (The acoustic tags used can pick up signals from Canada to Cuba.) Third will be seeding fisheries with redfish bred by the university and tracking the number of juveniles returning to the fisheries.
“Scientific research is one of the four cornerstones of the Yamaha Rightwaters mission,” said John O’Keefe, senior specialist of government relations at Yamaha Marine U.S.
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