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The Future of US Fisheries. Historical background—Joanna Life of a Fisherman—Meghan Fisheries Management—Steve Specific Species Management—Leigh Aquaculture—Zach Future of NC Fisheries—Drew. Fisheries. Going…Going…Gone Joanna Krohn. Fish Facts. 500 mya
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The Future of US Fisheries • Historical background—Joanna • Life of a Fisherman—Meghan • Fisheries Management—Steve • Specific Species Management—Leigh • Aquaculture—Zach • Future of NC Fisheries—Drew
Fisheries Going…Going…Gone Joanna Krohn
Fish Facts • 500 mya • Nourishment: provides 16% of protein to the World’s populations • Provide food, work, culture • Uses: -Menhaden used to make glue -puffer fish for asthma
Fishing Industry • Employs millions • In North Carolina: -reliant on Industry for tourism, commercial or recreational fisheries, and military activity -5,500 commercial fisherman -9,000 RCGL -2 million recreational anglers
Statistics • US Landings: Year: Pounds: $: 1950 4,978,081,222 336,266,187 1966 4,407,265,300 455,825,239 • 4,986,043,100 729,491,834 • 6,438,764,920 2,373,018,412 • 10,297,683,995 3,806,062,152 2003 9,504,553,331 3,355,545,349
A closer look at commercial landings: Species: 1972 2003 Catfish 2,398,012 385,878 Menhaden 84,692,020 48,936,502 Pigfish 171,785 50,556 Seatrout 502,792 181,462 Spot 3,902,144 2,043,385 Striped Bass 1,261,060 565,919 (prohibited) Sturgeons 154,109 Endangered
Recreational LandingsEstimated Harvest Species: 1989 2003 Bluefish 1,605,431 939,199 Cobia 6,269 4,191 CroakerAtlantic 2,131,763 480,123 SharksDogfish 85,868 1,513 Drum,red 62,359 24,943 SpanishMackerel 679,360 342,338
Who’s the culprit? • Pollution (Dioxins-paper mills, Mercury, PCBs) • Oceanic temperature rise • Overfishing: 25-30% fish pop. Overfished -government aid->providing low interest loans for boat building, currently yields 3.5-4 million commercial fishing boats • Trawling: 50% of continental shelf -Bycatch->kills innocent by-swimmers -long-liners->wiping out swordfish & others -“ghost nets”->killing dolphins, birds, turtles, & sharks *also destroys our coral reefs that help protect fish populations & provide habitat
Modern Fishing • Spotter planes help boats pursue schools • Dynamite and cyanide • Aquaculture • Restrictions in size, season, quantity etc. -big fish are the sexually mature • Advanced technology for temperature and depth sensors(Military sonar), as well as sturdier winches and cables, & more powerful engines * 60 tonnes of fish in 20minutes!
Jellyfish sandwich anyone? • North Atlantic has one-sixth the high quality “table fish”(ie Cod, Tuna) that it posessed in 1900’s • In the 1960’s 21 lbs per person, now 7 lbs! • Price of seafood has risen 20-fold since 1950 • Sturgeon population decreased 90% in last 20 years
It doesn’t take a Dodo bird to figure out… That the world’s oceans are headed for complete collapse, quite possibly by the year 2010.
Fishing as a Career Meghan Fuller
Pros of a Fishing Lifestyle • Seasonal Job • Fish migration daily to annual, and distances from a few meters to thousands of kilometers • Change in water temperature (seasonal migration), to mate/spawn, or to for feeding patterns • Classifications of migratory marine fish • Anadromous ex: Salmon • Oceanodromous ex: Swordfish, Tuna
Salmon • Salmon are some of thebest known migratory fish • Migrate for spawning purposes
Swordfish Billfish Dauphin Tuna Halibut Lobster Migratory Fish Stocks
Pros of a Fishing Lifestyle 2) Travel Possibilities • Potential to see different areas due to migration • Occasional free room and board • Majority of fishers are self-employed
Cons of a Fishing Lifestyle • Lack of Job Security • Over-fishing results in loss of fish stock • Income dependent on fish stock • Projected decline through 2012
Cons of a Fishing Lifestyle • Dangerous Job • Work is long and difficult • Equipment heavy and slippery • Weather hazards due to strong winds, heavy rains, rough water, fog • Help not readily available
Risk of Dive Fishing • Equipment malfunctions • Murky waters • Sudden changes in current
Fisheries Management SteveArtabane How are Fisheries Managed? Who is Responsible for Management?
History of Fisheries Management • Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 • Congressionally Mandated • Renamed Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 1996 • Sustainable Fisheries Act 1996 amended • Establishes 8 Regional Management Councils to govern fisheries
Regional Fishery Management Councils Eagle et al. (2003)
Regional Management Councils • Establish Fishery Management Plans • Determine amount of Fishing Effort • Numbers of Participants • Amount of Catch • Gear Restrictions • Assess Maximum Sustainable Yield or Optimal Yield • Take account for Communities impacted
Individual Fisherman Restrictions • Permits • Days at Sea • VMS System for Scallop Boats • Crew Limits • Individual Limits • Restricted/Closed Areas • Gear Restrictions • Mesh Sizes
NOAA US State Dept. US F&WS NC Div Marine Fish. South Carolina DNR Georgia DNR Florida Fish and Wildlife State Obligatory Seats At Large Seats South Atlantic Regional Fisheries Management Council 16 Total Members South Atlantic Council Sub-Committees
51% of Voting Members Represent Fishing Eagle et al. (2003)
Essential Fish Habitat • Fisheries managers are responsible for determining if EFH exists • Congress defined EFH as "those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity" (16 U.S.C. 1802(10)). (from NOAA) • This can is difficult to Determine • Easy for Salmon, can be hard for Highly Migratory Species like Tuna
Role of National Marine Fisheries Service • Scientific Data Collection • NEFSC Conducts • Fall, Spring, Winter Bottom Trawls • Summer Scallop Surveys • Ocean Quahog and Surf Clam Surveys • Ecosystem Monitoring • Whale Surveys • Using Same Methods Year After Year
Role of US Coast Guard • Fisheries Law Enforcement • Responsible for Boarding Fishing Vessels and Checking for evidence of: • Safety Infractions • Illegal Activities • Permit Violations • USCG Personnel will check permits, check cargo, measure and inspect gear, and measure, ID and count fish
Role of NOAA • NOAA General Counsel prosecutes violators • On judgment of USCG, catch can be seized • Vessel is escorted to port • NOAA attorneys bring Owner, Captain and/or Permit Holder to Trial • National Observer Program
Observers • Observers record catch and bycatch and discards • Requires cooperation between fisherman and program admins. • Requires Federal funding • Trained Individuals • Work is usually contracted out to companies
Management of 3 Fisheries Leigh Zimmermann
Pacific Halibut • Hippoglossus stenolepis • Flatfish • CA to Bering Sea • Up to 500-700 lbs. • Can reach 9 ft.
IPHC • International Pacific Halibut Commission • 1924 • IFQ • Derby system • User groups
American Lobster • Homarus americanus • Crustacean • ME to NY • Up to 63 cm (~25”) • >19 kg (~42 lbs)
Management • New England Fishery Management Council’s Lobster Fishery Management Plan • Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fishery Management Plan
Regulations • License • Closed periods • Methods • Gear • Size and type of lobster
Pacific Salmon • Chinook, coho, pink, sockeye, chum, and steelhead • Wide range of sizes • Pacific Ocean • Saltwater fish, spawns in fresh water • Coho = threatened