Tom Davidson Sr., founding chairman of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT), was inducted into the International Game Fish Association's Fishing Hall of Fame on August 29 at Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. The honor recognizes Davidson's lifetime of leadership in fisheries conservation.
"On behalf of BTT's board, staff, scientists, partners, and supporters, we congratulate Tom Davidson on this well-deserved honor and thank him for the vision and leadership that continue to guide our mission," said BTT President and CEO Jim McDuffie.
Davidson's conservation journey began with his passion for flats-fishing in the Florida Keys. In 1997, concerned by a dramatic decline in bonefish and the lack of scientific information about the species, he recruited five fellow anglers—Russ Fisher, Dick Farmer, Roe Stamps, Mike Smith, and Joel Shepherd—to each contribute $10,000 toward a University of Miami research initiative. That effort laid the foundation for BTT.
Over nearly two decades as Chairman of the Board, Davidson helped BTT grow from a small group of concerned anglers into a globally recognized, science-based conservation organization. BTT has since led groundbreaking research on bonefish, tarpon, and permit; identified and advocated for protecting critical spawning habitats and migration pathways; conducted the largest tarpon tracking study in history; supported full funding for Everglades restoration; launched large-scale habitat restoration in Florida and The Bahamas; and advanced fisheries conservation and management across the Southeastern United States, The Bahamas, Belize, and Mexico.
Davidson's induction honors not only his personal achievements, but also his legacy of institution-building and conservation leadership. A distinguished business executive and former Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year, he founded and led companies across North America and Europe and chaired prominent leadership organizations. He currently serves on the board of the Everglades Foundation and has held leadership roles with the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary Advisory Board and Sanctuary Friends of the Florida Keys.
What began as a response to declining bonefish in the Florida Keys has grown into a lasting contribution to the future of flats fisheries—advancing science and turning research into meaningful conservation outcomes.