By John Koegler
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association - November 1995 Newsletter)
On September 17th the recreational bluefin tuna category was closed unexpectedly. A "NEW" NMFS methodology was used to manipulate Large Pelagic Survey recreational data. This "NEW" created data caused an unexpected recreational closing of the 1995 Bluefin Tuna angler category. Repeated recreational requests for the methodology and data used to justify this closing have gone unanswered. This closing cost thousands of recreational businesses huge amounts of lost income during September and October 1995.
LPS survey data showed that on August 13, the 13th week of recreational bluefin catch data, the angling category had landed an estimated 117 metric tons (mt) of bluefin tuna. Two weeks later on the 15th week angling category landings totaled 137 mt. Averaged out based on 13 weeks or 15 weeks, this is below 10 mt. of tuna per week. Three weeks later on September 17 the season was unexpectedly closed. An averaged 1995 total would have amounted to 16"7 mt. out of a 1995 assigned quota of 324 mt. "NEW" NMFS 1995 methodology has created an disputed astronomical recreational total of 4,25.3 mt.
There was explosion of outrage in recreational circles. The verbal explanations were so inadequate that a peer review of this manipulation of LPS data was requested. This request was granted by Rollie Schmitten, head of NMFS before the end of September, 1995. Three weeks later at the ICCAT meeting, not only had this "NEW" NMFS methodology not been expunged but this
disputed data, while under NMFS peer review, was used to recompute 1994 ICCAT recreational data. Recreational anglers were flabbergasted that disputed data would be included in the US official 1994 ICCAT document. The commercial interest groups clearly had advance knowledge of these disputed changes, since they castigated the recreational category at the ICCAT public hearings. WHY?, when recreational and commercial catches were about equally over assigned quotas even with NMFS's use of the disputed recreational data. The commercial excesses should have never occurred given the strict regulation and reporting they operate under. Commercials were given 120 mt out of the 1995 reserve of 145 mt. This unfair and unreasonable sharing of the reserves erased the commercial categories 120 mt overage but assigned only 25 mt. to the angling category. This is the second year in row that NMFS management failures have permitted general category overages of more than 100 mt. to occur.
The disputed changes in NMFS use of LPS data will for all practical purposes eliminate recreational fishermen from meaningful future recreational participation in the bluefin tuna fishery. Recreational interests must take NMFS to court on this issue and demand their rightful 50% share of this, their historic fishery. This fishery only 35 years ago was fished and enjoyed 100% by recreational fishing interests, not commercials. Today, recreational assigned quota of 219 mt represents only 17% of the 1311.4 mt bluefin tuna fishery, an outrage.
Other additional items of concern to recreational fishermen.
- New for 1994 is 11.3 mt listing for BFT rod and reel discards. No explanation was provided as to how this data was determined. The report states; 250 bluefin 115-144cm were discarded dead in the rod and reel fishery.(1994)
- US 1994 Recreational billfish landings reported to ICCAT were recompute using methodology that was disputed at a recent billfish data conference. MRFS sailfish data, long known for it inaccurate results in rare event fisheries such as sailfish was used to recompute the sailfish recreational discard totals to 105.2 mt. for 1994 and a suggested 128.3 for 1995. Changes that have an major impact on international management should be peer reviewed before becoming part of a restated ICCAT document.
- Yellowfin tuna catches from recreational were restated from 409 mt total in 1992 to 809.6. 1994 totals were revised to 5,044 mt below conservative recreational estimates.
- Swordfish, one of the most prized recreational fish, recreational landings was stated in the report to be zero for a last several years. This fishery in the 1970's often totaled over ONE MILLION POUNDS PER SEASON by rod and reel fishermen.
- NMFS management of the commercial SHARK fishery has permitted this once thriving recreational catch and release fishery to be reduced to very low levels. All the while unsustainable commercial catches has decimated many species of coastal and pelagic sharks to overfished status with only a few years of commercial effort. Commercial quotas must be sharply reduced
- Large pelagic pair-trawling has had a major negative impact on recreational interests though out the Northeast. Grounds conflicts with recreational and other commercial gear types continues to grow. Pair trawlers fishing on stocks already considered fully exploited or overfished must be ended with the expiration of their experimental status.
Put the above items together and a course of action is suggested. Can recreational interests continue to accept NMFS's management choices when there is such obvious commercial basis? NMFS has allowed many important fisheries to suffer from commercial overfishing and even commercial extinction. Should the HMS management function be separated from NMFS and be assigned to another agency or group ?
Public hearings on these issues by congressional committees will occur.
Recreational trust and confidence in the NMFS fair and equitable management of the HMS fisheries has evaporated !!