TBF Calls For Collective Management of FAD Fisheries
Humans have known for centuries that fish are attracted to floating objects. Fishermen have taken advantage of this behavior by fishing around palm fronds, seaweed patches, and any debris that may be found in the open ocean. Theories for the behavior vary from protective sheltering to following food to stock enhancement, all attributable to the floating object. More recently, this behavior has been utilized by both the commercial and recreational sectors seeking large pelagic species, usually found scattered throughout the vast ocean. If a floating object attracts these fish, then it’s a floating object we’ll use to catch
Gulf of Mexico Blue Marlin Tournament Data Analysis
What is the right minimum size for blue marlin in the Gulf Tournaments? The Billfish Foundation newest Winthrop P. Rockefeller Ocean Program intern Nick Becker, a recent graduate from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, is working on assessing blue marlin tournaments minimum sizes on harvested blue marlin – a continuation from his master’s […]
Florida’s Saltwater Industry Back In Business After Irma
Following the wrath of Hurricane Irma came the destruction: downed trees, debris thrown across roadways, docks uplifted from their posts, boats sunken or tossed on land, and in some cases complete flattening of structures. The entire state of Florida felt the massive storm and its aftermath in some way, not least of all the recreational and saltwater industry. Tourism is a strong economic generator for the state, but took a beating during the hurricane. Entertainment parks like Disney World and Miami Seaquarium, water activities like charter fishing and craft rentals, and entire destinations like Key West all shut down
ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA GENERAL FISHERY OPEN 4 DAYS BEFORE ANOTHER CLOSURE
The Atlantic bluefin tuna General category fishery for large-medium and giant bluefin tuna closes Thursday October 5, 2017 for roughly two months. This comes just four days after the October 1 reopening of a previous closure instituted on September 17. The National Marine Fisheries Service made the decision to close the fishery based on the best available landings information in addition to current catch rates and fishing conditions. NMFS determined that the September subquota for the General category will be reached by October 5, warranting a closure. This closure applies to vessels permitted in the commercial Atlantic tunas General category as
TUNAS & FLOATING OBJECTS DOMINATE CONVERSATION AT ICCAT
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (and other highly migratory species, HMS) convened mid-September in Madrid, Spain specifically to discuss management of tropical tunas followed by the topic of fish aggregation devices (FADs). The first gathering regarding tropical tunas was largely made up of scientists, with heavy representation from Spain, France, and the U.S., as well as with individuals from Japan, Ivory Coast, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, and more. The purse seine fishery is of primary concern when it comes to tropical tunas, as most are caught in this type of gear. Further, purse seine
NOVA HALTS LONGLINE RESEARCH
TBF thanks its constituents for their continued support in keeping this issue at the forefront. Join the TBF community today to be part of our efforts on matters like
THE QUEST FOR MEDITERRANEAN SWORDFISH OFF FRANCE
In a small coastal town on the French Riviera, fishing is now part of history, romanticized by the thousands of international holiday seekers making new use of the beaches and docks that once served fishermen. Today, yachts far outnumber fishing boats in Saint-Tropez, which became popular with tourists in the 1960s and remains known as a trendy destination. But there is at least one man still bringing beasts up from the depths off southeastern France. Samuel Urbain is not a commercial fisherman, nor does he keep much of what he catches. Urbain goes fishing for the joy of it
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ATLANTIC SWORDFISH VARY BY STOCK
Highly migratory species, including tunas and billfish, travel the world’s oceans and traverse national boundaries. Regional fishery management organizations (RFMOs) work at the international level to manage such species, bringing together scientists and policymakers from all nations who have a stake in the fishery. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) is the RFMO that manages tuna, billfish, and sharks in the Atlantic Ocean. Management and catch limit recommendations are made each year based on the best available science. However, assessing the health of each species requires a substantial amount of data and cannot be accomplished
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fishery Closes For September
The Atlantic bluefin tuna General category fishery for large-medium and giant bluefin tuna (73 in. curved fork length or larger) closes September 17, 2017 for the remainder of the month. The National Marine Fisheries Service instituted the closure, effective 11:30 p.m. local time Sunday night, until the reopening on October 1, 2017. It was determined that the subquota for September will have been reached by Sept. 17, and therefore the closure is warranted. The closure, which affects vessels permitted in the commercial Atlantic tunas General category as well as the HMS Charter/Headboat category, is intended to prevent overharvest
Sailfish Brewery Welcomes TBF At Tag & Release Festival
Members of The Billfish Foundation team spent a full Saturday at the Sailfish Brewing Co. in Fort Pierce, Florida for Labor Day weekend activities. The brewery hosted a Tag & Release Festival to announce the new can for its Tag & Release Amber Ale, a beer named after TBF’s global billfish tagging program. A watermelon eating contest was also on the agenda, as well as live music from two local groups. Patrons were able to visit TBF’s stand for a prize wheel spin or to enter the raffle. Numerous drawings throughout the day made for many happy winners –
