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SAILFISHIssue 18

Monitoring DID YOU KNOW? Fun Facts Vessels

Where Does Your Come From?

Teens Take on Billfish Conservation Contents Inside this issue of

3 Monitoring Fishing Vessels at

7 Fight Against IUU Fishing

9 Virginia Key Beach Outdoor Center

ON THE COVER ALSO INSIDE: “IN FLIGHT” Photo courtesy of 11 Did You Know Capt. Stuart Simpson fishing out of 12 Tracking Maps Cape Verde.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the FLEMING FOUNDATION for their belief in as an important conservation tool. The Billfish Foundation, educators, students, parents, the ocean and the are grateful for our sponsor’s generous donation that made this issue of Sailfish possible.

Copyright 2017 • The Billfish Foundation • Editor: Peter Chaibongsai • Graphic Design: Savvy Graphics Sister Publications: Billfish and Spearfish magazines • Published by The Billfish Foundation • For subscription information contact: [email protected] Where When glancing at a seafood Does Your menu or the display of fish at your local market, have you Seafood ever stopped asked yourself, “I wonder how this got here?” Come Apart from maybe asking if the fish was caught locally or not, most people know very little From? about where or how their fish was caught - and this is a big problem. Currently, over 90 percent of the oceans’ fish populations are overfished or are on their way there due to . The most prominent reason for this is the intense exploitation by large- vessels. These produce the vast majority of seafood found in supermarkets or restaurants around the world. But how exactly is the commercial degrading the ocean and what can you, as a consumer, do about it?

OVERFISHED According to the World Health Organization, per-capita consumption of seafood products has increased by an average 3.6 percent every year OVERFISHED VS. since the 1960’s, leading to a doubling in seafood consumption over the OVERFISHING last 50 years. Globally, over 90 million tonnes of fish and other seafood is Overfished: When a currently caught every year for consumption, according to the World Health Organization. In order to meet this demand, the global commercial fishing population is below its industry has increased in size and adopted industrial techniques that allow sustainable levels. for exponentially larger catches. The majority of fish are currently caught by longline, gillnet, or trawl, all of which are considered non-selective fishing Overfishing: When a methods. This means that these fishing methods, although they generally population is being caught only target a specific , say or , catch a variety of other species in the process. Non-target species or undersized catches are at an unsustainable rate. referred to as bycatch and are usually discarded. A population can be subject to overfishing but WHAT IS A TRAWL? not yet be overfished. Trawls are large cone shaped nets that are dragged along the bottom The worst case scenario (bottom trawls) or mid water (pelagic trawls) by one or two boats. They is a population that is are used to capture fish, shrimp, and . Unfortunately, because of overfished AND is subject their large size and little to no selectivity, trawls have been associated with a 50-60 percent bycatch rate, according to NOAA and OCEANA. This to overfishing. is to say, a 1,000 pound trawl catch would contain 500-600 pounds of bycatch. Common bycatch of trawls include: , various fish species, © Australian Management Authority © Australian Authority

, and dolphins. Although their acoustic pingers that deter marine bycatch levels are still excessive, mammals, enlarged net spacing to The following are more sustainable U.S. trawling vessels are leaders in avoid catching undersized fish, and fishing methods and are gaining more making more conservative changes lowered their nets 30 feet or more and more popularity, as demand for to their techniques. For example, below the water's surface to avoid is increasing: U.S. shrimp trawlers are required to catching turtles. install excluder devices (TEDS) BUOY GEAR (DEEP-SET) in their nets, which allow for turtles to WHAT IS A LONGLINE? Buoy Gear is an up-and-coming escape the nets. Longline fishing setups involve technology mainly used to catch thousands of baited hooks attached and has recently been WHAT IS A GILLNET? to minor lines called snoods. These gaining popularity in U.S. fisheries. Gillnets are large monofilament minor lines are attached to a main Although designs vary, buoy gear is nets draped vertically in the water line that can reach up to 100 miles typically fished during the day and column as to form a net wall. The in length. Longlines usually target consists of a single line attached to net is designed to get caught on swordfish or tuna in the open a buoy or float with multiple hooks fish’s gills, spines, teeth, and fins. ocean and or snapper on hanging off of the main line at According to NOAA, gillnets operate reefs. But because of their length depths ranging between 800-2000 at a 30-40 percent bycatch ratio. and enormous amount of hooks, feet. Due to its specialized approach They are notorious for catching longlines often catch a multitude of of targeting only swordfish, buoy whales, sharks, turtles, dolphins, non-target species. Longlines are the gear boasts a bycatch rate of and highly migratory fish, such as largest contributor to critical declines less than 6 percent, according to billfish and the endangered bluefin in , bluefin tuna, and OCEANA. Buoy gear is currently tuna. U.S. gillnetters have made vital seabird numbers, as they kill millions one of the most sustainable fishing changes to their nets by installing of individuals worldwide. methods for commercial fisherman .

© Olive Ridley Project GREENSTICK GEAR Growing in popularity among U.S. commercial vessels targeting various species of tuna, Greenstick gear consists of a large 45-55 foot fiberglass pole with a 500 to 800 foot monofilament main line. Attached to the main line are up to 10 lures or baits that hover just below or just above the water's surface. Greenstick gear is a relatively selective fishing

4 HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR MAKING THE RIGHT SEAFOOD CHOICES: Visit Monterey Bay’s Seafood Watch website and download the app. Seafood Watch allows you to search any type of seafood and will recommend to you options that have the least impact on the environment.

© Australian Fisheries Management Authority Look for sustainability certifications, the most common being Marine method with low bycatch rates and method makes it easy to spot and Stewardship Council MSC. Although allows for relatively easy release of release bycatch species promptly. bycatch species. there is some doubt regarding the Marine degradation due to validity of these certifications, they TROLL/POLE CAUGHT commercial fishing is an enormous are a good place to start. Commercial or jigging is and ongoing issue that is currently similar to but threatening the collapse of many Buy U.S. caught seafood. Although occurs at a much larger scale. species worldwide. Fortunately, This method of fishing contributes as a seafood consumer you can U.S. fisheries continue to catch much less bycatch relative to other support the fisheries and fishermen excessive amounts of bycatch, commercial methods, as vessels committed to sustainability by they are by far some of the most specifically target large, free purchasing sustainable seafood sustainable, relative to the rest of swimming groups of tuna and other options and spreading awareness the world. This is because of the target species. In addition, this to family and friends. strict regulations and monitoring requirements placed on its fishers. © Pew Charitable Trusts Buoy Gear Eat farm raised fish from reputable producers (you can use Seafood Watch to help you determine). If produced correctly, farm raised fish, also referred to as , can provide nutritious seafood products while taking the strain off of wild populations. Eat less fish. As mentioned before, one of the main drivers of overfishing is a surplus in demand. With an ever growing population, our oceans will feel more and more fishing pressure.

5 HOW DO YOU MONITOR FISHING VESSELS AT SEA?

In order to ensure fishing More recently, technological can be limited in use as vessels may vessels follow national rules and developments are beginning to simply turn off their GPS during illegal internationally agreed upon measures, produce potential upgrades to the activity so they cannot be tracked. we have monitoring at sea. The idea is fishing monitoring system. Electronic International fisheries management that monitoring improves compliance monitoring (EM) takes the human organizations are beginning to take with things like gear restrictions, size element out of the observer program note, however, and require GPS from limits, the return of non-target species, and instead utilizes technology like vessels as well as identify those who and the general law. However, GPS and cameras to observe the abruptly disappear.

monitoring each and Both forms of monitoring every fishing vessel at are also expensive. sea is as difficult as it Observer work is not sounds. How can a easy and does require nation account for its a financial incentive, hundreds of vessels plus there are costs to and ensure they follow securing an individual’s regulation? safety aboard a fishing

vessel. The technology The traditional form of of EM can also be monitoring is through expensive, and may still observers: people whose

job it is to accompany © NOAA a vessel on its fishing trips to record data and monitor operations in support of management and conservation. In the © Indian Ocean Tuna Project United States, observers have collected data since 1972 and activity of a fishing vessel. Cameras 47 fisheries are today monitored are now equipped with facial under the National Observer Program. recognition and that technology can require a person to watch the video There are currently about 1000 have use in fisheries by identifying a footage or monitor the GPS locations. observers nationwide, monitoring fish that comes aboard and estimating It’s clear there are still functions a everything from the New England its weight. More difficult, though, is human can perform that a computer groundfish to the North Pacific building an algorithm that can identify cannot. fishery to the Gulf of Mexico species pulled aboard. Some fish look . Observer coverage very similar as adults, while others Ultimately the monitoring of fishing can vary by fishery: for example, a may have a juvenile stage that looks vessels at sea serves to ensure mandatory 100% coverage is required like the adult stage of a different fish. compliance with regulations— for the Pacific swordfish fishery, while A number of groups are currently regulations that are in place to ensure the Gulf shrimp fishery has less than working on solving this problem. we maintain our fisheries and do not

1% coverage. There can be tension rapidly deplete the resource. As noted To be clear, both the observer program between observers and the fishermen by those at the National Observer and electronic monitoring have gaps. who are being monitored, and being Program, the future of fisheries Observer coverage will never reach an observer in other parts of the world monitoring will likely be a mix of 100% globally, nor nationwide, as it is can be dangerous. observers and EM. simply not feasible to place that many

people aboard every fishing vessel. EM

6 THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED & UNREGULATED “IUU” FISHING

The ocean may be a vast, seemingly endless expanse of blue, providing all kinds of resources for human use, however, there are regulations. Numerous marine agreements have been made between nations, including those for shipping lanes, pollution guidelines, protections, and fishing regulations to ensure the populations last into the future. Many nations share fish resources, like the United States and who work together to manage stocks in the Pacific, while others target the same species such as tuna and want to ensure each country catches a fair share. While some respect these regulations, there © NOAA are many vessels that do not, leading to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

IUU fishing costs the world up to $23 The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Rush escorts the suspected high drift net fishing vessel Da Cheng billion each year, and is responsible in the North on August 14, 2012. © NOAA for illegally catching up to 26 million tons of fish. This loss is significant because the fishermen who do follow fishing vessels cannot enter. If a large is contributing to IUU fishing. Or if a the rules are the ones to lose out. commercial vessel does enter this vessel engages in way Consider an example: locals fishing restricted zone (illegally), perhaps out at sea (cutting the fins off a shark from handmade in Africa sneaking in at night, and deploy its and discarding the body back into the have been given a designated area large nets to scoop up much of the ocean),despite the policy against it, just for them, where large industrial sea life in the area, there will be very there is no one in the middle of the little left for the local ocean to regulate the act. It may be © NOAA fishermen to catch easier to spot others, like the illegal and then sell. activity of a vessel fishing in a closed area where there should clearly be no IUU fishing can be vessels. IUU fishing can take many less visible too, for forms, but always does harm to the example if a tuna seafood industry. vessel captures more than is allowed In the United States, a majority of the and that extra fish seafood we eat is imported from other goes unreported it nations. A 2014 study found that

7 between 20-32% of the wild-caught Port State can have measures in place catching that fish. If you’re out to eat, seafood we import comes from IUU to ensure the seafood coming in to it’s easy to ask the waiter or chef where fishing. While vessels belonging to the docks was caught legally, whether your fish was caught. If we demand the U.S. may not be engaged in IUU by inspecting the catch or requiring legally caught, sustainable seafood, fishing, American consumers who paperwork that authorizes the boat those engaged in IUU fishing will be demand seafood do contribute to the to carry that species. The Port State squeezed out because no one wants illicit activity. Measures Agreement, which entered to buy their illegal fish. The trend of into force in June of last year, gives knowing where your came from So what can we do? IUU fishing is Port States this authority and is the first started on land but is migrating to difficult to combat because it is often international agreement to specifically sea - just as you want to know whether out of sight, occurring at sea far from target IUU fishing. your was given hormones, it’s our view and from law enforcement. important to know that the capture of Nations have started working together As a seafood consumer, you can your did not come with further on solutions and decided that the take the extra step of finding out consequences. Port State can have a lot of power in where your seafood came from to be preventing IUU fishing. The Port State sure it was caught legally and in a If you’d like to know more about IUU is the country where a vessel takes its safe manner. Look on the wrapping fishing or sustainable seafood, visit our catch to unload and send the seafood for a certification of sustainability website at www.billfish.org all over the world. Because of this, the or description of the gear used in

TEACHERS! Remember to get your free Marine Discovery Guide!

The Billfish Foundation (TBF) recently released four weeklong modules, each focusing on a its Marine Discovery Guide (MDG). The different aspect of billfish, their habitat, and MDG is free and makes clear what national the related industries and jobs. The lessons and state standards are being met with each and activities provide students the opportunity lesson plan. The lesson plans are geared to to learn about popular gamefish and middle school teachers and students in the sportfishing issues. Gulf of Mexico. The MDG is divided into

If you would like copies of the guide for your schoolor class, please contact [email protected].

8 TBF Visits Virginia Key Beach Outdoor Center

On Friday, June 22, The Billfish were fascinated by much of the In addition, friends at the University Foundation made a visit to the Reel information and enjoyed getting of Miami Rosenstiel School of Love youth fishing camp based out of hands on with our model billfish and Marine and Atmospheric Science the scenic Virginia Key Beach Outdoor real-life billfish larvae, bills, and tags. experimental hatchery and coral reef Center. We were joined by longtime A 6x6” cut out of a transom that had rehabilitation gave us a tour of their friend Capt. Tony DiGiulian, president been completely penetrated by a blue impressive facilities. The kids, as well of Saltwater Professional Consulting marlin bill drew the most attention. as the adults, were left amazed by the and long time TBF ambassador. groundbreaking work both facilities Tony followed up with an were conducting. After starting off the morning with entertaining demonstration of safe some back bay snapper fishing, handling techniques and gear used TBF wants to thank friend Allison the kids were brought together to catch billfish. After a morning Stattner of the Reel Love Miami under a canopy of large trees for of featherweight snapper fishing, fishing camp for letting us speak with an educational seminar headed many of the kids were amazed at its young anglers, along with the staff by interns Heather Sadusky and the strength of tackle needed to at the University of Miami for the Panos Smyrnios. The kids, many tame a billfish. Tony did a great tour. Between the two sessions, we for their first time, learned about job emphasizing the importance of hope to have helped educate and what a billfish is, their basic biology, proper hook removal, keeping the foster a passion among the upcoming importance to recreational fishing, fish in the water, and the importance generation of sportsmen and marine TBF’s role in conservation, and of circle hooks. enthusiasts. the TBF tagging program. They

9 Jr. Angler Spotlight CAMERON JOHNSON Age 13

Cameron Johnaon had a passion for billfishing at a very young age, releasing his first at the age of 7, a 175lb blue marlin caught in Kona Hawaii. He has since caught a short bill spearfish in Hawaii, Pacific blue marlin and sailfish in Panama, in Madeira, Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Bom Bom Principe, a in Cabo San Lucas and a in Australia. In 2015 Cameron released a 700 lb blue marlin in Madeira, at the time his largest billfish. The day after he released that fish, his luck rubbed off on his father as he won the Blue Marlin World Cup on the 4th of July!

In 2016, Cameron had a year for the ages. In July, he released an 800 lb blue marlin in Cape Verde, fighting the fish for an hour and a half on an 80lb, along with a Cameron Johnson has reeled in a giant 500kg black marlin in Far North Queensland. few other releases up to 500 lbs. In early November, he released his first black marlin, estimated at 1,100 lbs. grander, Cameron was adamant that he wanted to release Imagine that, his first black marlin is a grander! his first grander black marlin, allowing it to fight, grow and reproduce in the future. Ever the conservationist, Cameron is proud that he has never killed a billfish and is very diligent about reviving One of his goals is to catch all 9 billfish species and any billfish before it is released and removing the hooks Cameron and his family look forward to chasing that goal if possible, so that some other lucky angler can fight the with their new boat that they will be launching in late spring fish another day. With anglers often weighing their first 2017.

10 did you know?

Did you know that in 2010 a single blue marlin cost British Petroleum (BP) 100 million dollars in damages? According to Bloomberg, a blue marlin punctured one of the highly protected, ultra thick main pipelines leading to BP’s Plutonio field storage barge off of the west coast of Angola, preventing 900,000 barrels of oil from being exported for sale and over 100,000 million dollars in losses. Thankfully, very little oil was leaked into the water.

© Africa Travel Channel

Billfish, just like Swordfish lodged into the hull of Alvin, a deep humans, regurgitate sea Navy submarine. The Alvin is famous for their stomach voyage missions to survey hydrothermal vents, contents when they decommissioning sunken WWII bombs, and are having trouble digesting or want exploring the wreck of the Titanic. According to the to expel unwanted Smithsonian, in 1967, Alvin was exploring deep sea objects from their corals in 2000 feet of water off the coast of Florida digestive tract. when a swordfish attacked and got stuck to its hull. However, instead The swordfish was just under 200 pounds and hit the of throwing their sub so hard the majority of its head was jammed into stomach contents a small gap in the sub’s exterior and was brought to “up” and out their mouth like humans the surface. and many other land do, many fish and © Sport Fishing Magazine shark species expel their entire stomach organ inside out from their mouth, emptying the contents within. The scientific term for this seemingly grotesque behavior is gastric eversion.

Fishermen can often witness this behavior when catching sharks or billfish, like the sailfish pictured above. Man-made hooks are new to these species, as they have existed for millions of years. Remember, a protruding stomach does not necessarily mean death. © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute To find out more fun facts go to http://www.billfish.org/education/did-you-know/ TBF TRACKING MAPS

SWORDFISH RECAPTURE! At right, Richard Gudoian and Sean O›Connor tagged this swordfish off Key Largo on 5/11/17, estimated at 35 inches and 23 lbs. Captain Mark Bodick of «White Water II» recaptured it 31 days later off the coast of North Carolina.

And above... a trans- recapture of a fish that had been at large for almost five years! On July 31, 2012, Timothy Landry and Capt John Galvin aboard «Mulberry Canyon» tagged this fish off of Chatham, Massachusetts. Last week, Pedro Lina from the Portuguese Institute for the Ocean and Atmosphere (IPMA) wrote to let us know that the fish had been recovered in a tuna trap located south of Portugal on June 26.

You can find more maps like these on Billfish.org and on TBF’s Fan page on Facebook!