Published November 21, 2019 Louisiana BlackFishery Management DrumPlan Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Office of Fisheries Authors: Jason Adriance, Katie Chapiesky, and Jack Isaacs Editor/Point of Contact: Katie Chapiesky, kchapiesky@wlf. la.gov WLF.LOUISIANA.GOV 1 Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 INTRODUCTION 8 Definition of Management Unit 8 Management Authority and Process 8 Management Goals and Objectives 8 DESCRIPTION OF THE STOCK 9 Biological Profile 9 Physical Description 9 Distribution 9 Habitat 10 Reproduction 10 Age and Growth 10 Predator-Prey Relationships 11 Stock Status and Assessment Methodology 12 Stock Unit Definition 12 Assessment Frequency, Reference Points, and Control Rules 12 Stock Status 13 Assessment Methods 13 Regional Assessment Efforts 14 Stock Resilience 14 DESCRIPTION OF THE FISHERY 15 Data Collection and Analyses 15 Commercial Fishery 16 Volume and Value of Landings 16 Landings by Month 19 Landings by Gear Type 19 Landings by Vessel Length 20 Landings by Area 20 Commercial Black Drum Fishermen 23 2 Fishing Effort 23 Seafood Dealers and Fresh Products License Holders 24 Processing and Distribution 24 Domestic and Foreign Market 24 Recreational Fishery 28 Interactions with Other Fisheries or User Groups 31 ECOSYSTEM CONSIDERATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS 32 Ecosystem Considerations 32 Habitat 32 Bycatch and Discards 33 Environmental Factors 34 Hydrological Conditions 34 Diseases and Parasites 35 Predation 36 Competition from Other Species 37 Invasive Species 37 Incidental Catch of Black Drum in Other Fisheries 37 Habitat Loss and Restoration 37 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill 37 FISHERY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM 39 Management Framework 39 Authorities 40 Louisiana 40 Regional 42 Existing Management Measures 42 Plans 42 Policies 43 Statutes and Rules 43 Compliance 46 Reporting Methods and Requirements 46 Recordkeeping Requirements 47 3 Table of Contents Enforcement 47 Penalties 47 CURRENT ISSUES AND MANAGEMENT OPTIONS 48 Market Conditions during Fall and Winter 48 Harvesting Surplus Black Drum Biomass 49 Gear Conflicts 49 FUTURE RESEARCH AND DATA NEEDS 50 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 53 LITERATURE CITED 54 APPENDICES 60 Appendix I. Assessment of Black Drum Pogonias cromis in Louisiana Waters: 2015 Report 60 Appendix II. LA R.S. 56:638.1-5. Fish Conservation, Management, and Sustainability: Intent, Findings, Purpose, Policy, and Fishery Standards 120 Appendix III. Louisiana Legislative Process 123 Appendix IV. Authorities and Duties of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission 124 Appendix V. Authorities and Duties of the Secretary and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 126 Appendix VI. Other States’ Commercial Black Drum Fishing Regulations 128 Appendix VII. Other States’ Recreational Black Drum Fishing Regulations 130 Appendix VIII. Federal Management Institutions 131 Appendix IX. Federal Laws, Regulations, and Policies 133 Appendix X. Louisiana Commercial and Recreational Black Drum Fishery Regulations—Detailed Text 136 Appendix XI. Chronology of Major Changes to Louisiana’s Black Drum Fisheries Regulations 148 Appendix XII. Penalties for Regulatory Violations 150 4 List of Tables and Figures Tables Table 1. FAO proposed guideline for indices of productivity for exploited aquatic species.. 14 Table 2. Volume of annual black drum landings by major black drum producing U.S. states, 2000–2017. 17 Table 3. Real dockside value of annual black drum landings by major black drum producing U.S. states, 2000–2017. 18 Table 4. Annual Louisiana commercial landings of black drum, by volume, real dockside value, and real dockside value per pound, 2000–2017. 18 Table 5. Average monthly black drum landings by volume, real dockside value, and real dockside value per pound, 2000– 2017. 19 Table 6. Volume of annual black drum landings by most commonly used gear type, 2000–2017. 19 Table 7. Value of annual black drum landings by most commonly used gear type, 2000–2017. 20 Table 8. Volume of annual black drum landings by vessel length, 2000–2017. 20 Table 9. Volume of annual black drum landings by area, 2000–2017. 21 Table 10. Average real dockside value per pound of annual black drum landings by area, 2000–2017. 22 Table 11. Annual number of licensed commercial fishermen landing black drum in Louisiana, 2000–2017. 23 Table 12. Annual number of unique licensed commercial fishermen landing black drum in Louisiana by most commonly used gear, 2000–2017. 23 Table 13. Annual number of commercial fishing vessels reporting black drum landings, 2000–2017. 23 Table 14. Annual number of trips reporting black drum landings, average volume per trip, and average real dockside value per trip, 2000–2017. 24 Table 15. Annual number of licensed dealers reporting purchases of black drum, 2000–2017. 24 Table 16. Annual U.S. landings of red drum, snappers, groupers, and croakers by volume and real dockside value per pound, 2000–2017. 25 Table 17. FAO estimates of annual global mariculture production of red drum, 2004–2016. 25 Table 18. Annual U.S. imports of grouper products by volume, value, and real value per pound, 2000–2017. 26 Table 19. Annual U.S. imports of snapper products, by volume, value, and real value per pound, 2000–2017. 27 Table 20. Annual recreational landings of black drum in Louisiana, 2000–2013. 28 Table 21. Annual estimated private recreational and for-hire saltwater fishing trips, 2014–2018. 28 Table 22. Annual percentage of surveyed private recreational and for-hire saltwater fishing trips that landed black drum, 2014–2018. 28 Table 23. Protected sea turtles in Louisiana and Gulf waters. 34 5 List of Tables and Figures Figures Figure 1. Map of Louisiana’s coastal study areas (CSAs). 14 Figure 2. Average volume of annual black drum landings by state, 2000–2017. 17 Figure 3. Average real dockside value of annual black drum landings by state, 2000–2017. 17 Figure 4. Annual private recreational and for-hire landings of black drum in Louisiana, 2014–2018. 29 Figure 5. Annual private recreational landings of black drum in Louisiana by area, 2014–2018. 29 Figure 6. Annual for-hire landings of black drum in Louisiana by area, 2014–2018. 30 6 Executive Summary Louisiana’s black drum (Pogonias cromis) resource supports one of the state’s top commercial finfish fisheries and the largest commercial fishery for black drum in the United States. Commercial fishermen have harvested black drum in Louisiana waters for more than a century. Historically, black drum was harvested commercially as bycatch in other fisheries and secondary to its more popular cousin, the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). However, as commercial harvests for red drum were prohibited in federal and most state waters (including Louisiana’s) in the late 1980s, markets for black drum grew and the commercial fishery rapidly expanded. Recent commercial harvests of black drum have averaged nearly 3.9 million pounds per year with a dockside value of more than $3.7 million. Black BLACK DRUM (POGONIAS CROMIS). drum are typically a secondary target for recreational fishermen in Louisiana but increased slightly in popularity beginning in the 1980s as more restrictive regulations were placed on more popular primary target species such as red drum and spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus). As Louisiana’s black drum fisheries developed, managers implemented a number of measures to prevent overharvesting and maintain the black drum population at sustainable levels. Biologists regularly monitor and assess the condition of this valuable resource to ensure these measures are effective and to inform future management decisions, all in an effort to protect the viability of the black drum resource for future generations. This fishery management plan creates a centralized document that summarizes current information about the biology and status of Louisiana black drum, Louisiana’s commercial and recreational fisheries for black drum, effects of Louisiana’s black drum fisheries on the ecosystem, and environmental influences on Louisiana’s black drum resource. In addition, this plan describes management approaches within the state and regional framework, defines long-term management goals and objectives, identifies management issues, recommends options to address these issues, and outlines future research and data needs. 7 Introduction Definition of Management Unit The management unit includes black drum and its fisheries in coastal and estuarine waters of Louisiana. Management Authority and Process The Louisiana Legislature (Legislature), Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (Commission), and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) are responsible for managing black drum fisheries in Louisiana’s state waters, which include inland waters and extend seaward from the shoreline to 3 nautical miles. Louisiana Revised Statutes (LA R.S.) Title 56 provide for the preparation and implementation of fishery management plans that will prevent overfishing and achieve and maintain plentiful fish populations to ensure, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield from each fishery. Louisiana’s fishery management plans are developed according to applicable principles and standards of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Responsible fisheries management requires an ongoing process of continual improvement, with active monitoring of fisheries resources and fisheries and timely response to any observed changes. Fishery management plans are flexible and can be