Gulf of Mexico Restoration Plan
Since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, a group of federal representatives have continued to assess and develop recovery strategies for injured marine resources. Referred to as The Open Ocean Trustees, their most recent plan is a result of past collaborative work and stakeholder input, which aims to restore those affected resources. This strategic Plan will guide restoration of priority fish and water column invertebrates. Atlantic blue marlin, which are overfished and overfishing is taking place, have been identified as a priority species. (To learn the difference between overfished and overfishing
Costa Rica’s Tuna Reform Law – Billfish Impacts Uncertain
As reported recently in the Tico Times, a new Costa Rican tuna law requires all purse seine vessels (none of which are owned by Costa Rican interests) to fish outside of 80 miles from shore. Previously, a 2014 Presidential Decree required the vessels to fish outside 45 miles. This, the Times reported, “created an amazing recovery for sportfishing, except for sailfish” catches, which increased with the commercial longline fishery. Sailfish are very important to the nation’s sportfishing eco-tourism trade, once earning the nation the recognition of Sailfish Capital of the World, now held by Guatemala. Unfortunately, under current regulations, if
New Findings on Striped Marlin Migrations
The following was released by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group and the Large Pelagics Research Center: The most comprehensive effort to date to characterize striped marlin (Kajikia audax) movements in the Central North Pacific revealed broad movements among tracked specimens. The study found some striped marlin have been traveling to the east coast of Australia or halfway to California from their dispersal points around Hawaii. The original research, funded by a NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy Program grant, was conducted by scientists associated with the Hawaii-based Pacific Islands Fisheries Group (PIFG) and the Large Pelagics Research Center (LPRC) in Massachusetts. It was recently published across
Estimating Pelagic Longline Bycatch
Over the years, Dr. C. Phillip Goodyear, TBF’s billfish scientist has developed “species distribution models” for highly migratory species that estimate time-varying, three-dimensional distribution of habitat. These models are useful in estimating abundances, visualizing stock boundaries and estimating abundance from catch per unit of effort. They incorporate a wide range of biological and environmental data. Examples include depth, annual average estimated total chlorophyll by latitude and longitude, water temperature and oxygen by latitude, longitude, and depth by month and year. This year, Goodyear and a team of scientists led by Elizabeth Babcock, demonstrated that a bycatch estimation tool, created
Fight Against Illegal Fishing by Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA)
Countries are robbed of an estimated $26-50 billion annually due to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). IUU fishing is defined as any fishing operations outside of current regulations and quotas. It is responsible for disrupting fish stocks, reducing biodiversity, and limiting resources for coastal communities. Billfish are just one of many bycatch species that are directly affected by this type of illegal practice. Our angling community, specifically those within the United States and surrounding countries that value a regulated and transparent fishery are directly impacted from IUU. In general, IUU has a destructive impact on the marine
Effects of Circle Hooks on Sharks and Rays – IATTC Review
In March of this year, the 1st Circle Hook Workshop of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) commenced. The goal was to analyze “scientific information regarding different circle hooks sizes and their effectiveness at mitigating bycatch and target species with the specific goal of defining the characteristics of an adequate hook for the purpose of mitigating bycatch of sea turtles in accordance with Resolution C-19-04.” In other words, which hook type and size is the most effective at reducing the catch of unwanted species for pelagic longline. Various experts were invited to present their findings on the impacts
Colombia and Panama Updates – June 2022
Sportfishing Banned in Colombia – Beginning in 2023 The Supreme Court of Colombia recently ruled that sportfishing, even catch and release, amounts to torture, thus prohibiting the sport in marine and fresh waters. The court decision proclaimed the practice “violates the principles of environmental protection and animal welfare” and “demonstrates the risk of damage to the environment.” The prohibition is to be phased in over the next year. We at TBF are extremely disappointed the issue did not meet a formidable challenge before reaching the highest court in the nation. Their burgeoning sportfishing industry will surely suffer. To prevent
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Gulf of Mexico Fishery Update
After 11:30 p.m., May 17, 2022, fishermen aboard Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico (i.e. those measuring 73 inches curved fork length or greater). The Angling category fishery for trophy bluefin tuna will close effective 11:30 p.m., May 17, 2022, through December 31, 2022. Based on the best available landings information, the 1.8-mt Angling category Gulf of Mexico incidental “trophy” bluefin tuna (measuring 73 inches or greater) subquota has been reached and exceeded. This action could
Help Reduce Atlantic Shark Depredation
The NMFS has achieved predator-rich relationships with sharks and other species beyond what some scientists describe as “equilibrium.” The result is heavy shark predation of other fish stocks important to others, including billfish and many other species important to recreational fishing. Also out of equilibrium is the government’s failure to factor in the human interests of fisheries and economics. TBF has previously posted on this and included a pre-drafted and editable template to your members on Capitol Hill, all you need to do is to enter your state and name and the letter can be immediately sent. Unless
Recreational Fishing Gear, Bottom Trawls & Pelagic Longline Gear Are NOT the Same!!
With the recent Executive Order (EO), recreational fishing gear, bottom trawls, and pelagic longline are viewed the same as all other fishing gear when it comes to designating Marine Protected Areas (MPA). The EO, signed by Biden, calls for closing 30% of U.S. ocean waters to fishing, including recreational fishing, by 2030 through the MPAs. This is not the first time such a strategy has been raised, very large marine protected areas in various regulatory (marine monuments, wildlife refuges, sanctuaries, marine reserves, etc) forms have preceded the current initiative. Through the US Ocean Action Policy in 2006, the
