Swordfish Fishery - San Diego Miramar...
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RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015 www.PosterPresentations.com The swordfish prized for its steak like texture was and still is a fishery threated by a severely diminished the population. A microcosm of the over-fishing was documented with the North Atlantic population being 58% of its norm (NRDC 2015). This and the reduced but continuing high rate of by-catch of other species e.g. sea turtles, threatens the fisheries from being closed due to their contributions to the damage of ecosystems. Developments pursued by scientists in developing new catch methods have shown promise to returning swordfish to a status of a truly sustainable resource. Abstract Swordfish Fishery History Pacific When fisheries are fishing for a specific species like tuna, or swordfish they can sometimes catch another species of fish unintentionally; this is known as by-catch. The by-catch can be a serious concern because if a significant number of a species are caught, it can debilitate their population. If a fishery reports too many by-catch of a particular species they may be suspended of their fishing license for the rest of the season.(Worldfishing 2011) For the swordfish fishery serious by-catch concerns are : sea turtles in the Pacific (especially around Hawaii), Opah in the pacific, and sharks in the Pacific and Atlantic. Many fisheries’ crews have to be eligible and qualified to handle Sea turtles given their delicate nature. By-Catch Commercial Gear Cont. Long lining is a practice involving miles of line and buoys placed roughly 300m apart and multiple hooks in between boys at depths of 20-30m(BWFA 2015). Long lining has less casualties to sub minimum sized swordfish caught compared to Gillnets, but still has an aggressive by-catch rate to species such as turtles and sharks. Especially when using circle hooks instead of J hooks. Circle hooks are better for catching the intended size and species of fish. Also decrease mortality rate of by-caught fish(Sepuvelda 2014) (Photo: BWFA 2015) Deep Set Gear Buoys(DSGB) use lines that place hooks at greater depths than long lines,, thus placing them out of the depth of untargeted species. The hooks can be placed in a multiple or single buoy set. Overall DSGB have a 60% catch rate of swordfish versus other species caught. (Sepuvelda 2014).It’s easier to prevent by-catch of endangered sea turtles by using Deep Set Gear Buoys. This is important because if enough sea turtles are caught the fishery will likely be shut down. There is also a higher rate of return of by-caught species to the wild. Commercial Gear Used for Swordfish Fisheries Ways to keep Swordfish a sustainable resource. Effective implementations to sustain swordfish as a resource: • Restricted use of gillnets, especially in certain areas where there is an increased by-catch probability of juvenile swordfish and other species (e.g. sea turtles)(BWFA 2015) • Promoted research of DSBG systems and finding more effective ways to use them and which method works the best for catching swordfish as the intended species. • Use of circle hooks instead of J-hooks. 2014) • Reduced fishing near swordfish nursery areas. (NRDC 2015) "FishWatch." NOAA. NOAA, 23 Sept. 2015. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/swordfish/gro up_pages/>. "Give Swordfish a Break." NRDC:. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/fish/nswordbr.asp>. "Pelagic Longlining | Blue Water Fishermen's Association." Pelagic Longlining | Blue Water Fishermen's Association. BWFA, 23 Sept. 2015. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <http://www.bwfa-usa.org/our- fishery/pelagic-longlining>. "Swordfish & Billfish." WWF -. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/swordfish_ billfish/ C, Sepuvelda A. "Testing Modified Deep-Set Buoy Gear to Minimize Bycatch and Increase Swordfish Selectivity." BREP 1 (2014): 27-32. Print. "Insight for the International Fishing & Aquaculture Industry." World Fishing & Aquaculture. World Fishing and Aquaculture, 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 08 Dec. 2015. <http://www.worldfishing.net/news101/industry-news/longline- bycatch-restricted-to-17-loggerheads>. "Let's Find a Better Way to Catch Pacific Swordfish - The Pew Charitable Trusts." Let's Find a Better Way to Catch Pacific Swordfish - The Pew Charitable Trusts. Pacific Ocean Conservation, 02 May 2014. Web. 09 Dec. 2015. <http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue- briefs/2014/05/02/lets-find-a-better-way-to-catch-pacific- swordfish>. Ritchie, Erika I. "An End to 'curtains of Death'? State May Ban Drift Gillnets, Risking Fishermen's Livelihoods." The Orange County Register. Orange County Register, 21 Jan. 2015. Web. 09 Dec. 2015. <http://www.ocregister.com/articles/swordfish-648860- nets-drift.html>. Success in the Swordfish fishery in the pacific ocean declined rapidly since the early 1980s due to the introduction of gillnets which were the main cause of overfishing. Overfishing is when a the catch rate of the fish exceeds the reproduction capacity of the fish species. To remedy this Oregon and Washington banned the used of gillnets by 2009(Pacific Ocean Conservation 2014). The alternative methods for fish catching in the pacific are playing a key role in rebuilding the swordfish population making it a sustainable resource.(Sepuvelda 2014) Jesse DeVivo Swordfish Fishery Only 17 loggerhead turtles can be caught in Hawaii each year. Before the fishery is shut down (Photo: Terry Maas) (Photo : Pacific Ocean Conservation 2014) Swordfish Fishery Atlantic The North Atlantic swordfish population at one point had been reduced to 58% of its targeted population due to overfishing brought on by lack of regulation. The lack of regulation included the fisheries having a large jurisdiction for fishing grounds, including swordfish nursery areas. The lack of protection of the nursery areas caused juvenile swordfish to be caught damaging the population. In 1998 the IATTC enacted restrictions on and quotas for swordfish fisheries. After the regulations had taken effect it took only 30 months for the population to become solvent at 94% of its targeted numbers. Important dates: -International quota restrictions on the North Atlantic swordfish catch achieved in 1999. (NRDC 2015) -The closure of swordfish nursery areas in U.S. waters to fishing, achieved in 2000. (NRDC 2015) The most common methods used in Commercial spearfishing are: Gillnets, Long lining, and the newly developed Deep Set Gear Buoy. The Gillnet though illegal in many places is still used widely in the Mediterranean. A gillnet is a large net dragged behind a boat. Once a fish passes through the net it cannot retreat or backup ,because the gills are caught in the net and the rest of its body behind the head is too large to continue through all the way. Gillnets have a high by- catch casualty rate and an increased probability of catching of juvenile/below minimum sized swordfish. The By-caught fish are susceptible to mortal levels of damage thus reducing the chance of returning by-caught fish to wild.(WWF 2015) (Photo : Steve Drogin, Orange County Register)
Transcript of Swordfish Fishery - San Diego Miramar...
RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015
www.PosterPresentations.com
The swordfish prized for its steak like texture was and still is a fishery threated by a severely diminished the population. A microcosm of the over-fishing was documented with the North Atlantic population being 58% of its norm (NRDC 2015). This and the reduced but continuing high rate of by-catch of other species e.g. sea turtles, threatens the fisheries from being closed due to their contributions to the damage of ecosystems. Developments pursued by scientists in developing new catch methods have shown promise to returning swordfish to a status of a truly sustainable resource.
Abstract
Swordfish Fishery History Pacific
When fisheries are fishing for a specific species like tuna, or swordfish they can sometimes catch another species of fish unintentionally; this is known as by-catch. The by-catch can be a serious concern because if a significant number of a species are caught, it can debilitate their population. If a fishery reports too many by-catch of a particular species they may be suspended of their fishing license for the rest of the season.(Worldfishing 2011) For the swordfish fishery serious by-catch concerns are : sea turtles in the Pacific (especially around Hawaii), Opah in the pacific, and sharks in the Pacific and Atlantic. Many fisheries’ crews have to be eligible and qualified to handle Sea turtles given their delicate nature.
By-Catch
Commercial Gear Cont.
Long lining is a practice involving miles of line and buoys placed roughly 300m apart and multiple hooks in between boys at depths of 20-30m(BWFA 2015). Long lining has less casualties to sub minimum sized swordfish caught compared to Gillnets, but still has an aggressive by-catch rate to species such as turtles and sharks. Especially when using circle hooks instead of J hooks. Circle hooks are better for catching the intended size and species of fish. Also decrease mortality rate of by-caught fish(Sepuvelda 2014)
(Photo: BWFA 2015)
Deep Set Gear Buoys(DSGB) use lines that place hooks at greater depths than long lines,, thus placing them out of the depth of untargeted species. The hooks can be placed in a multiple or single buoy set. Overall DSGB have a 60% catch rate of swordfish versus other species caught. (Sepuvelda 2014).It’s easier to prevent by-catch of endangered sea turtles by using Deep Set Gear Buoys. This is important because if enough sea turtles are caught the fishery will likely be shut down. There is also a higher rate of return of by-caught species to the wild.
Commercial Gear Used for Swordfish Fisheries
Ways to keep Swordfish a sustainable resource.
Effective implementations to sustain swordfish as a resource:
• Restricted use of gillnets, especially in certain areas where there is an increased by-catch probability of juvenile swordfish and other species (e.g. sea turtles)(BWFA 2015)
• Promoted research of DSBG systems and finding more effective ways to use them and which method works the best for catching swordfish as the intended species.
• Use of circle hooks instead of J-hooks. 2014)
• Reduced fishing near swordfish nursery areas. (NRDC 2015)
"FishWatch." NOAA. NOAA, 23 Sept. 2015. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/swordfish/group_pages/>.
"Give Swordfish a Break." NRDC:. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/fish/nswordbr.asp>.
"Pelagic Longlining | Blue Water Fishermen's Association." Pelagic Longlining | Blue Water Fishermen's Association. BWFA, 23 Sept. 2015. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <http://www.bwfa-usa.org/our-fishery/pelagic-longlining>.
"Swordfish & Billfish." WWF -. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/swordfish_billfish/
C, Sepuvelda A. "Testing Modified Deep-Set Buoy Gear to Minimize Bycatch and Increase Swordfish Selectivity." BREP 1 (2014): 27-32. Print.
"Insight for the International Fishing & Aquaculture Industry." World Fishing & Aquaculture. World Fishing and Aquaculture, 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 08 Dec. 2015. <http://www.worldfishing.net/news101/industry-news/longline-bycatch-restricted-to-17-loggerheads>.
"Let's Find a Better Way to Catch Pacific Swordfish - The Pew Charitable Trusts." Let's Find a Better Way to Catch Pacific Swordfish - The Pew Charitable Trusts. Pacific Ocean Conservation, 02 May 2014. Web. 09 Dec. 2015. <http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2014/05/02/lets-find-a-better-way-to-catch-pacific-swordfish>.
Ritchie, Erika I. "An End to 'curtains of Death'? State May Ban Drift Gillnets, Risking Fishermen's Livelihoods." The Orange County Register. Orange County Register, 21 Jan. 2015. Web. 09 Dec. 2015. <http://www.ocregister.com/articles/swordfish-648860-nets-drift.html>.
Success in the Swordfish fishery in the pacific ocean declined rapidly since the early 1980s due to the introduction of gillnets which were the main cause of overfishing. Overfishing is when a the catch rate of the fish exceeds the reproduction capacity of the fish species. To remedy this Oregon and Washington banned the used of gillnets by 2009(Pacific Ocean Conservation 2014). The alternative methods for fish catching in the pacific are playing a key role in rebuilding the swordfish population making it a sustainable resource.(Sepuvelda 2014)
Jesse DeVivo
Swordfish Fishery
Only 17 loggerhead turtles can be caught in Hawaii each year. Before the fishery is shut down (Photo: Terry Maas)
(Photo : Pacific Ocean Conservation 2014)
Swordfish Fishery Atlantic
The North Atlantic swordfish population at one point had been reduced to 58% of its targeted population due to overfishing brought on by lack of regulation. The lack of regulation included the fisheries having a large jurisdiction for fishing grounds, including swordfish nursery areas. The lack of protection of the nursery areas caused juvenile swordfish to be caught damaging the population. In 1998 the IATTC enacted restrictions on and quotas for swordfish fisheries. After the regulations had taken effect it took only 30 months for the population to become solvent at 94% of its targeted numbers.
Important dates:
-International quota restrictions on the North Atlantic swordfish catch achieved in 1999. (NRDC 2015)
-The closure of swordfish nursery areas in U.S. waters to fishing, achieved in 2000. (NRDC 2015)
The most common methods used in Commercial spearfishing are: Gillnets, Long lining, and the newly developed Deep Set Gear Buoy.
The Gillnet though illegal in many places is still used widely in the Mediterranean. A gillnet is a large net dragged behind a boat. Once a fish passes through the net it cannot retreat or backup ,because the gills are caught in the net and the rest of its body behind the head is too large to continue through all the way. Gillnets have a high by-catch casualty rate and an increased probability of catching of juvenile/below minimum sized swordfish. The By-caught fish are susceptible to mortal levels of damage thus reducing the chance of returning by-caught fish to wild.(WWF 2015) (Photo : Steve Drogin, Orange County Register)
