The Future of US Fisheries

1. 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

2. Fisheries Going…Going…Gone Joanna Krohn

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Northwest Atlantic Catch Compostion

9. 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

10. 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!

11. 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

12. 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.

14. Fishing as a Career Meghan Fuller

15. 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

16. Salmon • Salmon are some of thebest known migratory fish • Migrate for spawning purposes

17. Swordfish Billfish Dauphin Tuna Halibut Lobster Migratory Fish Stocks

18. Swordfish Distribution

19. 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

20. 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

21. Fish Stocks Declining

23. 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

24. Hazards on the Water

25. Risk of Dive Fishing • Equipment malfunctions • Murky waters • Sudden changes in current

27. Fisheries Management SteveArtabane How are Fisheries Managed? Who is Responsible for Management?

28. 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

29. Regional Fishery Management Councils Eagle et al. (2003)

30. State Divisionsto Regional Councils

31. 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

32. Individual Fisherman Restrictions • Permits • Days at Sea • VMS System for Scallop Boats • Crew Limits • Individual Limits • Restricted/Closed Areas • Gear Restrictions • Mesh Sizes

33. 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

34. 51% of Voting Members Represent Fishing Eagle et al. (2003)

35. 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

36. Vessels Required to Report Right Whales

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

42. Management of 3 Fisheries Leigh Zimmermann

43. Pacific Halibut • Hippoglossus stenolepis • Flatfish • CA to Bering Sea • Up to 500-700 lbs. • Can reach 9 ft.

45. IPHC • International Pacific Halibut Commission • 1924 • IFQ • Derby system • User groups

46. American Lobster • Homarus americanus • Crustacean • ME to NY • Up to 63 cm (~25”) • >19 kg (~42 lbs)

47. Lobster Fishery

48. Management • New England Fishery Management Council’s Lobster Fishery Management Plan • Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fishery Management Plan

49. Regulations • License • Closed periods • Methods • Gear • Size and type of lobster

50. Pacific Salmon • Chinook, coho, pink, sockeye, chum, and steelhead • Wide range of sizes • Pacific Ocean • Saltwater fish, spawns in fresh water • Coho = threatened