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Highly Migratory Species Reportby John T. Koegler (from Jersey Coast Anglers Association June 2006 Newsletter) NMFS HMS 2006 Permit Mischief???NMFS 2006 HMS permit has new reporting requirements. I find fault with them in that they may be used by NMFS in the future to close anglers' access to key HMS species. The 2006 permit for the first time requires reporting of recreational LANDINGS ONLY of Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish, Swordfish, plus the previously required bluefin tuna landings. The reason for the word “landing” emphasis is that only kept billfish are to be reported. Catch and released billfish are not to be reported The problem arises when you consider that US Blue and White Marlins are under a tiny yearly quota allocation from ICCAT. The current limit is 250 marlins per US fishing year. That’s 250 total marlin landed from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico during 2006. This tiny quota was the result of NMFS reporting to ICCAT only the landing they observed while doing scientific studies at a mere handful of major US HMS tournaments. Now, after a fixed international quota has been imposed, NMFS desires to collect accurate information on all US billfish landings! This is made even more distressing when readers remember that all other ICCAT members make no report or even an estimate of their recreational landings. NMFS deliberately over reports US recreational landings while the rest of the world reports “0”! NMFS management procedures must be changed immediately.
SWORDFISHRecreational landings of Swordfish are not a major a problem at this time. US recreational landings are included in the miscellaneous category for swordfish landings. NMFS reports that the swordfish commercial landings have dropped below the US quota allocations from ICCAT for several years. A major cause for the decline of the commercial sword fishery is massive imports of frozen swordfish from the Pacific and Indian ocean areas. These imports low prices have sharply reduced the dockside price of fresh US landed swordfish. As a result, US fishermen now limit their trips to that time period when they can be assured of a good catch. Given the cost of fuel, a quality catch is needed to cover the cost of their trips.
Recreational School Bluefin EstimatesA major reason anglers are upset with NMFS HMS reports is they consistently manipulate their angler data. The result is anglers are never allowed to land their allocated HMS quota. The perfect example is the recent data review of NMFS anglers' bluefin tuna landing estimates. Bluefin tuna are mandated to be measured using the Curved Fork Length system. However, when most tuna are measured at LPS dockside interviews, they use the standard scientific metal ruler that measures a tuna’s straight length. NMFS corrects for this by adding 17% to the length of straight fork length measurements reported to them. But anglers CFL measurements cover over 90% of the bluefin reported. The result is NMFS over estimates recreationally school landings by 17%. Then NMFS compounds this over estimate. Using their school tuna length to weight conversion tables, they increase their already high estimates by an additional major amount.
Bluefin Tuna SeasonThe school bluefin tuna season as is proposed by NMFS to be closed in 2006. They estimated that anglers landed more school bluefin (27”-47”) than their 8% quota limit from ICCAT allows. They estimated that only 5.7 MT remained in anglers' 2006 quota. Given that there would be a short one-day fishery with a quota of 5.7 MT, NMFS proposes to close anglers school bluefin season. They will allow a season on bigger fish of 47” to 63” of three bluefin tuna per boat. NMFS had at least two years to correct their angler landings number due to their over estimating. There has been some indication that NMFS will make data changes so that there will be some school bluefin season for 2006. Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphins have been dramatically impacted by commercial fishing. Gill nets and other commercial fishing gear have a major impact on the numbers of dolphin deaths. As a result, the costal migratory stock of this species has been designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Normally this should not impact recreational anglers. However, in a Federal Register report on Monday, April 24, 2006 under proposed rule changes NMFS states that there have been undocumented reports of recreational interaction with this dolphin species. Please understand that all commercial interactions are totally documented. No undocumented reports have ever been used for corrective commercial regulatory actions. Commercial fishing dolphin deaths are currently over 10% of the estimated entire bottlenose dolphin population. Under the MMPA corrective action is mandated. Watch this issue since if this species goes to the next step and becomes listed as either endangered or threatened tough future rules will be imposed. Wiggly, Squiggly Eels.Eels are the preferred live bait for a large number of recreational fisheries. Recent scientific studies have found a major reduction in the eel population. Corrective action has been started by ASMFC. So far there are many questions about the eel’s population status and the corrective action required. Future regulatory action is considered a certainty by those active in fishery management issues.
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