The Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament annually has a marine conservation night to educate the public on oceanic conservation issues. This year’s event will take place Nov. 6 at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School starting at 6 p.m. The event is free, and worthwhile for the whole family.

As guest speaker, Capt. Skip Smith of the Billfish Foundation’s captains’ advisory board will discuss his work with the Billfish Foundation—refining circle hook regulations. The Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament was the first tournament to go to an all circle hook format, and has given over $560,000 to marine enhancement and conservation programs in South Florida.

Following in the footsteps of the Miami Billfish Tournament, one sailfish tournament is taking conservation in a different direction. The Sailfish Tournament is dubbing itself as the first “carbon neutral” fishing tournament. As part of the tournament’s setup, carbon credits will be bought to counter the effluence produced from tournament-fishing boat engines. More or less, the tournament pays money to counter its carbon footprint on the environment it affects. Learn more about the green tournament in the December issue of Florida Sportsman magazine. For more information on the Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament, visit www.miamibillfish.com. For The Sailfish Tournament, visit www.thesailfishtournament.com.