Marine Policy 86 (2017) 134–143

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Marine Policy

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Impacts of recently implemented recreational fisheries regulations on the MARK Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel fishery for Paralabrax sp. in California ⁎ Lyall Bellquista,d, , Brice Semmensa, Stephen Stohsb, Alayna Siddallc a Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 8750 Biological Grade, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States b NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr., La Jolla, CA 92037, United States c Sportfishing Association of California, 5000 N. Harbor Dr., Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92106, United States d The Nature Conservancy, 402 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101, United States

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Keywords: The California Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel (CPFV) fleet is unique in scale of operation, extensive Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel fishing history, and economic impacts. The basses (Paralabrax sp.), which represent a principal target for the Logbook CPFV fleet, recently gained more stringent size limits and bag limits. The goal of this study was to conduct a Paralabrax survey of CPFV captains to assess perceptions regarding the status of two Paralabrax species, as well as the California recreational fisheries impacts of the new regulations. Catch and effort estimates were also obtained using CPFV logbook data to Survey compare captains’ perceptions with actual changes in the fishery. The captains agreed that both species are vital Regulatory impacts fi ff Catch-per-unit-effort to recreational shing, and that the Barred Sand Bass stock is less healthy than Kelp Bass. Catch and e ort Traditional ecological knowledge analyses were consistent with this perception, with more dramatic declines in CPUE exhibited by Barred Sand Bass. The most experienced captains perceived the status of each species to be in a less healthy state than the less experienced captains, suggesting that shifting baselines are occurring. Most of the captains thought the increased minimum size limits had the greatest short-term impact on the fishing experience. The CPFV logbook data summaries support this assertion, but Kelp Bass CPUE showed a trend reversal. In contrast, Barred Sand Bass CPUE has precipitously declined, and spawning aggregations have been absent since 2013. The agreement be- tween captains’ perceptions and logbook analyses strengthens the overall findings, and suggests captains are a valuable resource for informing fisheries management, especially in future studies with data-limited stocks.

1. Introduction vessels that are not required by law to report catch. However, the California Recreational Fisheries Survey (CRFS) program has generated California maintains the 6th largest GDP in the world [1] with the estimates of catch and effort among the private vessel fleet since 2003, largest ocean economy in the United States. This generates $42.9 billion based on voluntary interview participation. CPFV catch and effort data annually [2–4]. Southern California accounts for the largest portion of have been recorded using vessel logbook reports since 1936. On a ty- the state economy, supporting 72% of state ocean-related employment pical trip, each CPFV leaves the dock with paying recreational anglers, [5]. Marine recreational fishing in California represents an important stops at the bait company receivers (floating pens full of live bait) to component of the ocean economy, with 5.3 million angler trips gen- purchase live bait for the trip, and then proceeds to the fishing grounds. erating almost $3 billion annually (fishing-based expenditures), and By law, the captain must record and report information about the trip, producing a total catch of over 12 million fish in 2011 alone [6]. The including the number of each species caught, the number of anglers, importance of recreational fishing in California has led to adaptive and and the type of live bait used. These logbook reports are often used as progressive fisheries management policies, which are now serving as a the primary source of information for long-term fish population trend model for other states and countries to follow [7–9]. analyses e.g., [10–12]. Two fleets of vessels primarily account for recreational marine fish The California CPFV fleet is the largest of its kind in the world based landings in California: privately owned vessels and Commercial on the spatial scale of operation. The majority of CPFVs in California Passenger Fishing Vessels (CPFVs). Catch and effort metrics are difficult are based in the Southern California Bight as well as the San Francisco to measure for the private vessel fleet given the highly dynamic nature Bay area. The CPFV fleet operating out of landings in southern of recreational fishing and large number of generally small private California consists of approximately 260 vessels (including “6-pack”

⁎ Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (L. Bellquist). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2017.09.017 Received 15 December 2016; Received in revised form 11 September 2017; Accepted 13 September 2017 0308-597X/ © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. L. Bellquist et al. Marine Policy 86 (2017) 134–143 operators, who run private charters for groups of up to six anglers). The These perceptions were then compared to actual catch and effort data fleet is unique, regularly fishing inshore and offshore waters along the summaries based on logbook reports generated by these same CPFV entire coast of southern California and Baja California, Mexico, in- captains. This allowed us to conduct a retrospective comparison of cluding one French territory (Clipperton Island), on fishing trips ran- perceptions about the fishery against actual changes in catch and effort. ging from ½-day to 21 days in length. The vessels are approximately 20–120 ft in length and are permitted to carry up to 149 passengers 2. Methods (average of 43 passengers, excluding “6-pack” vessels), depending on size. California CPFVs are generally divided into three categories based 2.1. CPFV captain surveys on trip length and species targeted: short range (½-day and ¾-day) trips usually targeting demersal species, medium-range (1–2 days) targeting Kelp Bass and Barred Sand Bass range broadly along the Pacific demersal or pelagic species, and long-range (> 2-days) trips primarily coast of the United States and Baja California, Mexico, but they pri- targeting pelagic species. Short-range inshore fisheries are important marily inhabit coastal waters and islands from Point Conception, because they offer year-round fishing opportunities, and they target a California to central Baja. The study area encompassed the United broad suite of demersal species, some of which are impacted by his- States portion of this range, the Southern California Bight (SCB), from torical overfishing e.g., [11,13–15]. Santa Barbara south to San Diego. Among the demersal species targeted by short-range trips, members All surveys were conducted in November 2013, approximately 8 ½ of the genus Paralabrax are particularly important because they are months after the new regulations were implemented on March 1st. This among the most popular southern California gamefishes dating back allowed the captains one full season of bass fishing after the im- over a century, yet have exhibited both long-term and recent fisheries plementation of the new regulations. Surveys were conducted among population impacts [16,17]. However, the rates of decline have differed open-party CPFV captains who operate ½-day, ¾-day, or full-day between the two bass species. While Kelp Bass populations have shown fishing trips that target Kelp Bass and Barred Sand Bass on a regular a consistent, gradual decline over the last several decades, Barred Sand basis. This equated to a total target population of 50 individuals with Bass exhibited a precipitous decline from 2005 to 2007, followed by active status as primary or relief captains. In general, these CPFV cap- continued and significant declines through 2016. Based on CPFV log- tains are highly experienced and knowledgeable about the basses be- book data summaries, landings for Barred Sand Bass in the most recent cause their business often depends upon these species. The surveys in years are lower than at any point since the species first gained popu- this study consisted of field intercepts with these CPFV captains at each larity. The primary reason for the long-term differences in trajectories of the sportfishing landings between Santa Barbara and San Diego. The between the two species is likely due to differences in spawning be- survey consisted of 45 written questions that were given directly to havior. Barred Sand Bass traditionally form large spawning aggrega- each captain aboard their vessel or at their respective landings. Each tions at the same time and place every year, making them easy targets captain filled out the survey and returned it directly back to the re- at known spawning sites during the Jun–Aug spawning season; the ease searcher during the interview. The questionnaire was designed to of harvest during spawning makes them a popular target species but measure fishing experience among the captains, their perceptions of the also leaves them vulnerable to overfishing [18,19]. Spawning ag- importance and status of the Kelp Bass and Barred Sand Bass fisheries, gregations for the species have historically occurred at five well known perceived effects of the new fishing regulations for the two species, locations in the Southern California Bight [20], but have been virtually support for other types of regulations, changes in fishing behavior, and absent during the last four seasons (2013–2016). Kelp Bass form much the availability and importance of different live bait species. smaller group spawning events that are less predictable in time and space [21], making them less vulnerable than Barred Sand Bass during 2.2. CPFV logbook data the spawning season. In response to declines in catch, the California Department of Fish To compare the perception among CPFV captains with actual catch and Wildlife implemented new regulations on individual take for all and effort before and after the new bass fishery regulations, we ana- three Paralabrax species effective March 1, 2013 (the third species, lyzed CPFV logbook data provided by the California Department of Fish Spotted Sand Bass, P. maculatofasciatus, is not a key CPFV target species and Wildlife. Summaries included catch (number of fish) and effort and hence is not further considered in this paper). The intended out- (number of anglers and angler hours) for both Kelp Bass and Barred come of the new regulations was a long-term benefit to both the po- Sand Bass from 1980 to 2016. The most recent data from 2016 are pulation and the fishery, following a possible short-term impact on the considered preliminary and only include the period from Jan-Nov, but fishery. Minimum size limits were increased from 12 to 14 in. this 11-month period accounts for an average of 98.5% of total annual (30.5–35.6 cm) total length, and daily bag limits were decreased from landings of each species from 1980 to 2015. The 2016 estimate was 10 to 5 fish per person. Decreasing the bag limits was intended to de- thus considered accurate enough to include in the figures. crease total fishing mortality, and increasing the minimum size limits Bait availability to the fleet (availability in this study is defined as was intended both to decrease fishing mortality in the short-term, and the species available to CPFVs for purchase at the bait company re- to increase spawning biomass in the long-term. ceivers) was also estimated because CPFV captains have been recording Without question, the CPFV fleet captains experienced the effects of presence/absence of the three primary bait species (northern both the new bass regulations and population declines. In southern anchovy—Engraulis mordax, Pacific sardine—Sardinops sagax, and California, approximately 50 active CPFV captains operate ½-day, market squid—Loligo opalescens) purchased on each trip since 1995. ¾-day, and full-day open-party trips targeting coastal demersal species, Bait availability data collected in this manner are not considered to be which includes Paralabrax. These captains have a wealth of traditional representative of in situ availability because the commercial bait vessels ecological knowledge specific to this resource. This creates a unique sometimes prefer certain bait species over others depending on both opportunity to assess their opinions about the status of local fisheries, oceanographic and market conditions, meaning their catch cannot be and to measure their perceptions of regulatory impacts. This study re- considered a function of abundance. presents a targeted survey specifically among short-range open-party CPFV captains who regularly target the basses, and measured 1) their 2.3. Analyses opinions about the current status of Kelp Bass and Barred Sand Bass populations, 2) their greatest challenges following the new regulations, The survey and the logbook datasets were each treated differently and 3) and the perceived effects of the new regulations on catch-and- because the former is a measurement of perceptions of the fishery, and release rates and ridership among recreational anglers aboard CPFVs. the latter provides estimates of actual fishery dynamics. The survey

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