Recreational Fishing & Fishing Resource Conservation Management

1. Recreational Fishing & Fishing Resource Conservation Management Rob Kramer President, International Game Fish Association

2. Threats to Our Fisheries • Increased population and subsequent demand for seafood • Pollution – both global and local • Advances in fishing gear technology • Lack of fisheries data (biological and catch) • Increasing competition for quota

3. Population Increase • 3 Billion in 1959 to 6 Billion in 1999 • 9 Billion by 2042

4. Demand for Seafood • The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated … that global fish consumption will rise by 25% by 2030 • Freshwater/marine captured fisheries • 95 million tonnes harvested • 60 million tonnes for human consumption • Aquaculture • 1980 = 9 percent ; today = 43 percent • 45.5 million tonnes eaten each year • Worth USD$63 Billion annually • Employs nearly 4 million people in China alone More People Are Eating Fish

5. Pollution Increase Many Sources of Global Pollution

6. Nonpoint Source Pollution • The amount of oil running off of US streets is equivalent to an Exxon Valdez spill of 10.9 million gallons every eight months • Nitrogen runoff from farming is causing increased eutrophication of water bodies

7. Point Source Pollution • US feedlots produce more than 3 times the waste produced by the human population • In 1 week a 3000 passenger cruise ship generates 210,000 gallons of sewage and 37,000 gallons of oily bilge water

8. Advances in Fishing Gear • Of approximately 3.5 million fishing vessels estimated worldwide, only about 38,000, or roughly one percent, account for 50-60% of the world's total fishing vessel capacity. • Advances in technology have allowed fishing fleets to become far more effective

9. Fishing Gear Impacts • Destructive and Indiscriminant Fishing Gear • Trawls, dredges and other types of fishing gear can cause permanent damage to fragile and significant benthic habitats • Non-targeted species can fall victim to improperly placed gear

10. Lack of Fisheries Data • Biological & Catch • In the US, we only know the status of 45% of commercially fished stocks • Many commercially fished stocks may be in trouble, but unknown to us

11. Competition for Quota Allocation • With only so many fish available, user groups must share the resource However, allocation is based on extraction

12. Extraction Management • Stocks are managed based upon maximum sustainable yield - the largest long-term average catch or yield that can be taken from a stock or stock complex under prevailing ecological and environmental conditions • Not always good for recreational fishermen who want more fish and bigger fish

13. So What Can Anglers Do?The Recreational Perspective • Utilize and leverage recreational fishing as a major economic force • Support angler licenses • Work to improve data collection • Improve representation on fisheries management bodies Data/Information=Knowledge=Influence=Change

14. Economics & ParticipationUS Recreational Salt Water Fishing • 14 Million Anglers • 93 Million Fishing Trips • $11.3 Billion Retail Sales • $31.1 Billion Overall Economic Output • Over 349,000 Jobs 2002 American Sportfishing Association Economic Impact Analysis

15. New South WalesStriped Marlin Fishery Recreational Commercial Economic Output $112 Million $4.6 Million Jobs 907 34 Gross Value $53 Million $1.24 Million Gross Value/Kilogram $46.45 $6 96% (approximately $50 Million) of the recreational catch is released !

16. Self-Imposed Excise Tax • Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration • Funded by revenues collected from the manufacturers of fishing rods, reels, creels, lures, flies and artificial baits, who pay an excise tax on these items to the U.S. Treasury • Funds are also received from import duties on sport fishing equipment, pleasure boats, yachts and tax from motorboat fuel sales. • These funds are then distributed to states 75/25 US Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act - has generated more than $5 billion over past 5 decades!

17. Sport Fish Restoration • Fisheries Statistics • Game Fish Research • Habitat Improvement • Fish Health Monitoring • Artificial Reefs • Education and Outreach • Boating Access

18. Salt Water Fishing Licenses Generates Needed Revenue • Funds to support research • Funds to support law enforcement • Funds to support stock enhancement • Increases angler’s influence on management if they are receiving funds

19. Salt Water Fishing Licenses Generates Needed Data • Data on the number ofpeople fishing • Data to conduct economic studies • Data to conduct dependent fishery monitoring surveys

20. Other Ways Recreational Fishermen Can Help… Understanding How Fisheries are Managed • Coordination with Fisheries Scientists and Managers • Representation on national and international fisheries advisory panels

21. Other Ways Recreational Fishermen Can Help… Demand Better Data • ….on commercial fishing • Landings • By-catch • ….on recreational fishing • Numbers of anglers • Landings If you are not being counted, your vote doesn’t count

22. Other Ways Recreational Fishermen Can Help… Support Laws That Are In Place • Demand penalties for those who fish illegally • Report violations • International sanctions • Support through purchase decisions

23. Other Ways Recreational Fishermen Can Help… Work With the Media • Articles promoting and explaining responsible fishing practices – Peer Pressure • Articles on fisheries managers who are not acting in the best interest of the resource • Articles on violators to the fishing laws • Articles on how anglers can become involved

24. Other Ways Recreational Fishermen Can Help… Practice and Promote Responsible Fishing Practices • Catch & Release (sustainable, non-extractive fishing) • Using circle hooks • Limiting your catch

25. Other Ways Recreational Fishermen Can Help… Educate the Next Generation of Anglers • Fishing events for children • Aquatic laboratory exercises • Lead by example

26. Other Ways Recreational Fishermen Can Help… Support Cooperative Research

27. Other Ways Recreational Fishermen Can Help… Support Recreational Fishing Organizations IGFA International Representatives • 325 Representatives • Over 100 countries • Influential and knowledgeable recreational anglers

28. The Future