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Home , Billfish, Commercial fishing, Wild fisheries

SailfishVersion 14 Teens Take on Conservation

Fisheries Series Part II: Commercial Policy & Management for Commercial

All About

recapture maps

Jr. Angler Profile Sales de La Barre

Cutler Bay Academy Welcomes The Billfish Foundation & Carey Chen Contents Inside this issue of FfeaturesEATURES

3 Series Part II:

5 Aquaculture

7 Policy & Management of Commercial Fisheries

8 Commercial Fishing Review Questions

9 Cutler Bay Academy Students Enjoy Visit from TBF & Carey Chen

10 Billfish Advocacy at South Broward High

also inside

Get Involved: Track your school’s climate impact

Recapture Maps

Jr Angler Profile – Sales de La Barre

We would like to extend our gratitude to the Fleming Family Foundation and the William H. and Mattie Wattis Harris Foundation for their belief in education as an important conservation tool. The Billfish Founation, educators, students, parents, the and the are grateful for our sponsors generous donation that made this issue of Sailfish possible.

Copyright 2014 • The Billfish Foundation • Editor: Peter Chaibongsai • Associate Editor: Elizabeth Black • Graphic Designer: Jackie Marsolais Sister Publications: Billfish and Spearfish magazines • Published by The Billfish Foundation • For subscription information contact: [email protected] by Jorie Heilman

Commercial Fishing by Jorie Heilman What provides nutrition to 3 billion people gear advanced, could pursue Top left: Aquacage snapper farm. Top right: Korean fishing boat. Below top to bottom: worldwide and is relied upon by 500 sources that were farther off the . Fishing boat in India. Commercial longline boat. Fishermen in the Seychelles. Commercial million people for their livelihoods? The Fish traps and nets were among the fishermen on a dock fixing a net. answer is commercial fishing, which, along first methods, and more modern fishing with artisanal and , techniques like hook and line are thought comprises the three sectors of the fishing to have started around 8,000 to 3,000 industry. This article is the second in years ago. a series that will focus on the different sectors of the . Large-scale commercial fisheries took longer to progress than subsistence Commercial fishing is fishing done for fishing. By the 1500s the in profit, usually on a large scale. Commercial Newfoundland had been established. The fishing can be broken down into two main 1600’s saw the development of the categories, wild and farmed fisheries industry, another of the first large scale (aquaculture). include an fisheries. Fishermen relied on schooners incredibly diverse array of methods and and other sailing vessels until the end of involve many different target . the 1800s, when mechanization of the Aquaculture is both an ancient practice fleets greatly increased fishing capacity and and an emerging industry. The technology efficiency. Soon, the demand for fishery is improving rapidly, allowing more species products grew to such an extent, that to be farmed and sold. Both fields come larger catches became necessary. This with their own unique sets of conservation was accomplished by increasing the size issues and are interesting to study. However, and amount of fishing gear deployed. Long this article will only focus on the history, lining, a type of commercial fishing in which methods, and stakeholders of wild fisheries. hundreds of baited hooks are attached on a single line and set out behind a vessel, Fishing has a long and rich history. The first developed during this time to meet the real evidence that fishing took place is an increased demand for fish. analysis of remains found in that date back 40,000 years. The remains show In order to meet the needs of the that man consumed mostly freshwater market around the world, various fishing species. Archeological evidence indicates methods are implemented, targeting that seafood consumption probably began different species. The most common gear with mollusks, then freshwater species and types used by US fishermen are trawl then marine coastal species. The spread of nets, purse seine and longlines. Trawl fishing from inland to pelagic open ocean nets are ones that are dragged behind species can be explained by the evolution of fishing vessels and move on or parallel to technology over time. As boats and fishing the ocean floor. Another common fishing

3 PURSE SEINE Photo by: C. Ortiz Rojas, NOAA Fisheries. Courtesy of : Australian Authority

BOAT CIRCLES SCHOOL PURSE WIRE IS WINCHED IN, WITH WALL OF NET GATHERING THE NET & HARVESTING THE FISH

Left: About 400 tons of jack caught by a purse seiner. Above is a diagram of how a purse seiner works. Purse seines are considered unsustain- able because they are not specifically designed to catch one type of species.

technique is a purse seine. Seine nets Commercial fisheries target a wide governments, non-profits, exporters and have been used as long as fishing has variety of species ranging from the general public (consumers). These existed, but have grown larger and like clams and , to very small are just a handful of those involved in more complex over time. These large fish like , to large highly the wild and farmed fisheries industry. nets encircle the fish and work well for migratory species like yellowfin , It is estimated that one out of six jobs in catching species that form schools, like and cover every species in between. the U.S. rely on the marine environment anchovies, and some species of If someone will eat it, then someone in some way. tuna. Other types of fishing common in will catch and sell it. Due to the wide- commercial U.S. fisheries are long lines, The United Nations gillnets, dredges, and pots & traps. Convention on the Law of the has 4 designated that every 3 photos below: farming. Longline country have an harvesting, and longline . (EEZ) stretching two hundred nautical from their coastline, in which they have the right to all marine resources. The has the largest EEZ in the world, ranging coastline in the United States, covering an impressive 4.38 million each region specializes in different square miles –remember the USA has fisheries. For example, the Northeast coastlines outside of the domestic U.S. is known for , shellfish and like Alaska, Guam, Puerto Rico, etc. groundfish like black sea bass, whereas This area is even larger than the land the Pacific Northwest is famous for area of the U.S. which means there is , and . an opportunity for extensive fishing of which the U.S. can take advantage, but Fishing is a vitally important industry also must take care to manage wisely. with many stakeholders. It is estimated Of the three different fishing sectors, that fish (and shellfish) provide commercial industries are by far the essential nutrition for 3 billion people largest, which means they have major across the globe. 500 million people impacts on conservation worldwide. in developing countries rely directly or Careful management is required to indirectly on fishing for their livelihoods. ensure the millions who rely on fish for Stakeholders include fishermen, fish food and employment can continue to processors, stores and supermarkets, count on them for years to come. fisheries managers, federal and state

4 aquaculture Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic and the farmed area. This method can organisms such as fish, , be good for large species that require 5 molluscs and aquatic plants. a lot of space, such as cobia, Top: Salmon farm. Above: Alaskan purse Aquaculture involves cultivating and tuna. seigner lifting a catch of Herring. (NOAA) freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions. While Another type of aquaculture is . Land based farms like this are most people’s thoughts do not go right Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture good for species that do not require as to fish or molluscs when they think of (IMTA) or polyculture. This method much space to survive such as salmon. farming, aquaculture has been around utilizes the waste from one species to sustain another. Multi-trophic An idea similar to IMTA is . for thousands of years and is an This combines aquaculture and increasingly common source of food. indicates that it is raising organisms at different levels of the . For hydroponics (growing plants in ). Historically, aquaculture has been example, an IMTA system might raise It works by setting up traditional employed by a number of cultures. a fish species like , a mollusk aquaculture fish and then using 8,000 years ago, the Aborigines may like oysters and a primary producer fixing bacteria to make the have raised . As early as 2,500 BCE, like seaweed. Uneaten food and waste waste water usable for growing plants. the Chinese would keep fish that got from the tilapia serve as sources of The plants purify the water allowing it trapped in during floods for food. food and for the mollusks and to be reused in the aquaculture ponds. Since the late 1600s, the Japanese seaweed. This decreases the impact Many plants work well for hydroponics have been cultivating seaweed. that this type of aquaculture has on including lettuce, tomatoes and basil. the environment. Scientists need to like tilapia or are Aquaculture includes various methods do further study to figure out how often used in aquaponics systems. of farming marine and freshwater to maximize the environmental and is the fastest growing organisms. One method is , economic benefits of these systems. which is raising the organisms in sector of production. In 1970, their . This often Not all aquaculture is done in the production was less than 1 kilogram means using pens placed in shallow ocean. There are many ways to per-capita, in 2008 it grew to almost ocean areas. The large photo at the establish farms on land as well. 8 kgs. Around half of the seafood we top of the page shows salmon pens. eat in the United States is estimated An aspect to note of mariculture is that Farms are seen as an opportunity to to come from farmed sources. By water flows freely between the ocean reduce pressure on wild stocks, like far, China is the largest source of

5 Illustration of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) or polyculture. Illustration: Joyce Hui, Author: Fisheries and . Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2014.

mariculture products. Total aquaculture There are also conservation concerns Just like making is estimated at a worth of 106 billion that go along with the rising prevalence choices for wild caught species, it dollars per year. These statistics of aquaculture. While aquaculture can is important to choose aquaculture show that aquaculture has important take pressure off wild target species, species carefully. For example, economic impacts on the world. it can increase pressure on species Atlantic farmed salmon is considered used to feed farmed fish. Sometimes a species to avoid, but There are many benefits to aquaculture. there can be higher levels of disease farmed in tanks in the U.S. is an One benefit is that it takes the pressure and parasites in farms, and escaped acceptable alternative. are off of wild stocks which are struggling individuals can introduce these to another example where farmed with . Aquaculture creates wild populations. Waste products like species in open systems are best jobs and opportunities for a wide range excessive nutrients and chemicals can avoided, but freshwater-farmed of people, from all different cultures. run off into the aquatic environments. from the U.S. have minimal negative Populations all over the world are Recycled water facilities can help with impacts on the environment. Farmed growing and since 1 in 7 people rely on this. Some individuals are concerned tilapia ranges from good alternative to seafood for daily protein, aquaculture that aquaculture could hurt the best choices, depending on where it’s could play a large role in keeping up with livelihood of fishermen. It could also be from, but is generally sustainable. The the demand. Aquaculture’s utilization problematic if small communities base best way to support sound aquaculture of near environments is good their entire economy on aquaculture is to make informed buying choices. motivation for the reduction of because disastrous events such as To learn more about selecting the to prevent contamination of farms. storms or disease could jeopardize best seafood in your region check out their success. seafoodwatch.org.

6 Policy & Management of commercial fisheries

Ivonne Pellworm efforts are considered secondary stakeholders. These are just a handful of the stakeholders involved and do not include international or state governing agencies like the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

With the increasing population and need for protein, proper management of fisheries is crucial and there are several threats to be aware of when it comes to commercial fisheries management. One threat is overfishing, Above: Commercial crab boat. Right: Mussel which is defined as a fishery that is harvesting. depleted beyond a level that can be Fisheries management is complex but supported by reproduction. If overfishing is based on research and management of a given fishery continues, those disciplines. Scientists acquire data species targeted, or even worse, and information on a fishery, such caught as , can cease to exist. as the abundance, age structure, Some fisheries, both in the U.S. and and life history. This data provides stakeholders, direct and indirect, worldwide, have experienced collapse scientists ways to develop options involved. Direct stakeholders are the due to overfishing. When this occurs a for managing the fishery. Resource ones whose livelihoods are involved moratorium on fishing has to be set to managers and policy makers then take in the fishery, such as fishermen, fish let the fishery recover. This can disrupt this information, review the options, processors and exporters. Indirect the communities who rely on the fishery. and select the one that best fulfills stakeholders have major stakes Proper resource management is the biological, economic, and social in fisheries, but do not financially the best way to combat fisheries constraints of that fishery. This makes benefit from the fishery. Government collapsing. There are many strategies overseeing fisheries an important but agencies like the Fish and Wildlife to accomplish this, each has different difficult task. Service and Environmental Protection advantages and disadvantages. One Agency as well as non-governmental The goal of fisheries management option is setting fishing quotas. Another organizations (NGOs) and non-profits includes resource conservation as option is setting size minimums and that aid and support conservation well as economic and social goals. PELAGIC LONGLINE Biological or conservation objectives Courtesy of : Australian Fisheries Management Authority include maintaining sufficient stocks of the target species to insure a viable RADIO BEACON population for future exploitation without endangering the stock. The socio-economic goals are to maximize the economic benefit to an area in BUOY LINES the creation of jobs and money being MAIN LINE added to the local economy and social benefits of maintaining traditional ways SNOODS of life. BAITED HOOKS Management is extremely difficult because there are so many

7 New England Fishery An example of setting size minimums and maximums is the lobster fishery in New England. Some of the rules set on the are that the carapace (body) has to be a certain length to prevent juveniles from being caught, but a maximum length was also set, allowing large lobsters which are the ones most successful at surviving, to pass on their genes. Additionally, females who are caught with eggs are marked with a notch in their tails and released. This prevents Numerous lobster traps alongside a lobster boat. them from being harvested once they have started producing eggs. Overall management of the lobster fishery has been maximums on individuals. (see New England successful proving that these management strategies, when Lobster Fishery at right) enforced, can work. Proper management comes from integrating biological, economic, and social aspects of the fishery. Then recommendations can be made on which policy would be best used to achieve the goals of a management plan. These recommendations include descriptions of how and by whom the management plan will be implemented, Commercial Fishing what organizations will monitor the fishery, and who will enforce regulations associated Review Questions: with the proposed plan. In the US, a management plan for a fishery must be acceptable to a majority of the individuals 1. Name as many types of commercial fishing as you can. impacted by any regulation(s); therefore, public hearings are an integral part of the development of any proposed management 2. What is bycatch and overfishing and why is it plan. Once the proposed management plan is drafted and reviewed, a bill is introduced important to management? to the responsible legislative body, and a law is enacted to put the plan in place. 3. List 2 or more jobs that are dependent on fisheries. Commercial fisheries management is a necessity. Proper management helps to ensure fisheries are at levels healthy enough 4. Name one type of aquaculture. for the billions of people who depend on them. Biological and socio-economic scientists utilize the best available science 5. What is a benefit of aquaculture? to help policy makers make the most informed decision to protect fisheries. Just remember that you, as the public, 6. What is a disadvantage of aquaculture? play a hand in helping to get laws passed. Be active in ocean issues that affect you and join conservation groups, like The Billfish Foundation, who can help voice your opinion!

8 CUTLER BAY ACADEMY STUDENTS ENJOY VISIT FROM TBF & Carey Chen

How do students learn to protect fishing adventures around the world, and still take a fish some in search of marine life to paint home? Coast Academy, one of three and others just for the thrill of fishing. specialized study programs for students Being an avid angler influenced his at Cutler Bay Academy (CBA), offers preference for drawing and painting specialized academic training to marine ife, his primary art subjects. advance marine and environmental Students inquired about various art conservation. Its mission is to prepare techniques and some were more students to be responsible stewards interested in the fishing stories. and further sustainability of natural Chaibongsai a discussion and took marine resources. When Carey Chen, questions about famous marine life artist, and Peter issues that included local Chaibongsai, Chief Science & Education and international or highly migratory Officer, from The Billfish Foundation fish issues. He explained what it means (TBF) visited the school, students were to “tag” a fish and why it is important, eager to learn how art and marine even sharing information about conservation mixed. Chaibongsai tags, which report fish movements in brought mini fish mounts donated the . by King Sailfish Release Mounts so students could express their artistic Following the presentation students talents after learning more about fish began to design the color schemes for conservation, exciting fishing trips and their fish mounts. Each fish was primed, how to develop drawing techniques. painted, varnished and then displayed at the school before being taken home Chen told students how he developed at the end of the school year. his ability to draw small sketches and then masterful paintings, conveying Future collaborations between CBA the message that even a little talent and TBF are planned to promote can be expressive and can produce marine education and conservation. some very satisfying pieces of art For more information, please visit after training and practice. He told of bayacademy.org or billfish.org.

9 TBF Tracking Maps

After being tagged and released almost five years ago this bluefin tuna made an amazing transatlantic trip of more than 4,600 miles across the and into the Mediterranean Sea. This bluefin was first tagged by Capt. Nat Moody and Ronald Butler of First Light Anglers in early August of 2009 on Stellwagen Bank in Cape Cod Bay. When they released the bluefin, Butler and Moody estimated it weighed 175 pounds and 68 inches in length. After 1,801 days, 265 pounds and 4,600 miles later this same bluefin had crossed the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean where it was recaptured off the west coast of Sicily, Italy by a longline boat. When it was recaptured the bluefin was estimated at 450 pounds and 86 inches in length.

Often the most exciting recaptures come from that are recaptured thousands of miles from where they were originally tagged. This swordfish was tagged by Capt. John Holley in the DeSoto Canyon, Gulf of Mexico, in July of 2006. When it was released, Capt. Holley estimated it was just 55 pounds. Almost eight years later (2,885 days at large) this swordfish was recaptured more than a thousand miles away off of North Carolina in June of 2014. When it was recaptured by the Persistence, Capt. Kyle Goodwin and mate Moulay Dos Santos estimated it had grown to more than 300 pounds!

Be sure to report your catch, tags and releases at TagBillfish.org.

You can find more maps like these on Billfish.org and on TBF’s fan page on Facebook! Facebook.com/BillfishFoundation 10 10 The Billfish Foundation Talks Billfish Advocacy in the Classroom

In October, the students in South Broward High School’s Marine Policy We want class participated in their annual mock debates about billfish policy as they worked together to create a management plan for billfish in the to hear United States. Groups of students represented different stakeholders from you! in the fishery such as recreational fishermen, commercial fishermen, The Billfish Foundation environmental groups, scientists, and government officials as they wants to hear from you and debated on how to implement increased conservation measures for your class. Check out TBF’s billfish. TBF’s Andrew Cox attended the final day of debates where the youtube channel and social students finalized their positions and came to a conclusion for a new media networks for inspira- management plan. Students were given insight and feedback on their tion. You and your class- proposed management plan and how many of the items suggested mates can be featured in were things that TBF is currently working on such as increased gear an upcoming Sailfish Issue. restricted areas and catch caps on billfish. TBF is looking forward to Send in pictures, project next year’s billfish debate! ideas & conservation efforts to [email protected].

You can find more maps like these on Billfish.org and on TBF’s fan page on Facebook! Facebook.com/BillfishFoundation 11 Young Angler profile Sales de La Barre Sales de La Barre, 15 years old, from Jackson, MS, first learned to fish when he was just about 4 years old. Growing up in Pass Christian, MS, fishing was a normal pastime with family and friends. It wasn’t long after Katrina hit the Gulf coast, that the family moved to Jackson, where Sales love of fishing continued. Since those fishing days, Sales’ fishing experiences and skills have grown significantly. In 2012, he entered the Mississippi Fishing Rodeo and took 3rd place Freshwater Catfish and 3rd place Freshwater Bass. During the past few years he has enjoyed summer fishing trips that most high school students can only dream about. Sales’ dream summers come from his good fortune of having Elaine “Lainey” Jones as his godmother; she is also a TBF board member. Jones, originally from New Orleans where she learned how to fish while a member of the New Orleans Big Game Fishing Club, now resides in Kiln, Mississippi and owns a new 66 foot Viking sportfishing boat named the Mama Who, her third sportfishing boat. The Mama Who’s fishing team is a competitive force in the tournament circuits of both the Bahamas and Bermuda. Sales’ introduction and continued improvement in offshore fishing skills came as a direct result Lainey Jones and Godson, Sales de La Barre. Top Junior Angler in the 2014 Bermuda of the tutelage from Jones and her team. It Release Cup wasn’t long before he was catching large and billfish, first in the Bahamas and then Bermuda. In 2014 he won Top Junior Angler in the Bermuda Release Cup with a good sized blue . When asked what he enjoys the most about Bermuda fishing, Sales said, “what’s not to love?” When back home in Mississippi, Sales enjoys playing football on the Bruins team at St. Joseph Catholic High School. He also continues to enjoy fishing, deer & .

Hey students, Get Involved! Track your school’s climate impact.

High school students can investigate the link school’s climate impact. Students gain detailed between everyday actions at their high school, understandings of climate-change drivers, impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, and . and science; produce an emission inventory and action Log on to http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ plan; and can even submit the results of their emission wycd/school.html. inventory to their school district. Students can also go

Using EPA’s Climate Change Emission Calculator to http://www.energystar.gov and download the Portfolio Kit (Climate CHECK) (a link can be found on this Manager to compare the energy use of your school with site to download this kit), students can learn about other schools nationwide, and earn the ENERGY STAR for climate change, estimate their school’s greenhouse your school if it qualifies as a top performer. gas emissions, and identify ways to mitigate their

Send your findings to TBF at [email protected] and we will print them in an upcoming issue.