NO. 164, WINTER (JAN-MAR) 2021 INSIDE THIS ISSUE OCEAN VIEW: 2021 – LOOKING AHEAD 2 I AM WILD OCEANS: WILD OCEANS Wild BOARD MEMBER JODY BRIGHT 3 2020: OUR YEAR IN REVIEW 4 2020 OCEAN HONOR ROLL 5 TURNING THE TIDE: WILD OCEANS NEWS AND ACTIVITIES 6 FLORIDA FORAGE FISH COALITION The Horizon SCIENCE CORNER 7 ADAPTING TO A CHANGING OCEAN Rethinking Fisheries Flexibility By Theresa Labriola case scenarios and potential solu- shifts on predators that depend on Pacific Program Director tions for responding to the effects this prey. Only then can we evaluate As extreme cold poured into south- of climate change. “Flexibility” con- harvest strategies to preserve biodi- ern states in February, power fail- tinues to gain attention. versity and ecological relationships. ures followed and cast a spotlight on Flexibility is often construed as the Fisheries may need to adapt their whether energy companies and reg- ability to quickly change regula- methods, gear, vessels and markets ulators are adequately preparing for tions to allow fishing activity in a to successfully target a newly-avail- climate change. This echoes a similar new place, at a new time or for a able species. concern in fisheries management. new species. The focus has been on Adaptability relies on commercial The extreme weather that scientists maximizing yield in response to un- and recreational fishing diversity. A warn will become more common predictable events and stock shifts. diverse fishing community provides has strained power plants and has But, flexibility for the sake of maxi- the infrastructure needed to seize also caused ocean changes, shifted mizing yield comes at the expense of new opportunities. Adaptability stocks and disrupted the supply of sustainability. also relies on innovation. In South- sustainable seafood. Experts agree Discovering solutions to climate ef- ern California, deep-set buoy gear we need to change our paradigm; we fects requires an understanding of was developed that not only targets must think about worst-case scenari- ecosystem structure and function swordfish with more than 80% effi- os to reduce our vulnerability. and how human actions might impact ciency, it steers clear of threatened As ocean conditions change and fish the changing ecosystem. We must and endangered species. Designing stocks shift, we must build durable ensure that new fishing activity will selective gear becomes more impor- responses that protect ecosystems not undermine ecosystem health. tant in a shifting landscape where while encouraging fisheries to adapt. Then we can ask, "Are our fisheries the ability to engage in new oppor- Then we can avoid a black swan flexible and adaptable enough to op- tunities may hinge on avoiding non- event and ensure ocean resources erate in the new paradigm?" target species. and opportunities thrive to their full- For example, as West Coast forage The push towards flexibility must not est extent. fish shift northward, new fishing op- pull attention away from the impact Fishery managers are preparing by portunities will arise for squid, sar- of human activities on the ocean. We using climate scenario planning to dine or anchovy. We must first un- can adapt our fishing practices to identify potential challenges, worst- derstand the impact of these stock new opportunities that contribute to a sustainable future. P.O. Box 272122, Tampa, FL 33688 WildOceans.org Ocean View 2021 – Looking Ahead With a challenging 2020 in the rearview In 2020, The Driftnet Modernization and were pleased when the idea of this leg- mirror and our new 5-year Strategic Plan Bycatch Reduction Act passed the U.S. islation was first mentioned. The Forage complete, it’s time to look to the coming Senate unanimously and was approved Fish Conservation Act, as introduced in year with optimism and focus. While we by the House only to be vetoed by the the 116th Congress, had good provisions experienced a couple setbacks in two of President. In 2021, we will work to again but was problematic, excluding im- our decades-long campaigns this past year, help pass this important legislation which portant forage species groups such as Wild Oceans is not about giving up. It is our will permanently (and finally) ban the use squid. In 2021, we will advocate for legis- perseverance that has allowed us to exist of drift gillnets in all U.S .waters. lation that promotes ecologically-sustain- for nearly a half a century. So, 2021 holds • Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization: able management of all forage fisheries the promise of progress by doing what we The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conser- through science-based best practices. do best – “sticking with an issue until we vation and Management Act (MSA), the • Conserving Billfish at Home and Abroad: get a win for the fish.” In addition to our primary law governing fisheries in fed- Wild Oceans and the International Game on-going interaction with regional fishery eral ocean waters, was last amended Fish Association led the charge in the managers, we will be working on the fol- and reauthorized in 2006. In December passage of The Billfish Conservation Act, lowing federal priorities. 2020, a discussion draft was released which prohibits billfish imports and sales • Gear Restricted Areas: Despite strong that addresses many of our priorities by in the U.S., providing a limited exemp- recommendations from more than 60 incorporating climate change science in tion for traditional fisheries and markets groups and 16,000 public comments, fisheries management, adding new tools in Hawaii and nearby territories. With the in January 2020, NOAA announced that and procedures for attending to shifting U.S. billfish market restricted to these lo- it would reopen the surface longline stocks, strengthening essential fish habi- cal sales, we turned our attention to the fi shery in the Gulf of Mexico, including tat protection and conserving forage domestic and international management areas of peak spawning for the western fish. In 2021, we will continue to provide of billfish, where limits on landings are population of Atlantic bluefin tuna. In input on MSA reauthorization bills as they needed. In 2021, we will work interna- 2021 we aim to overturn this new rule by move through Congress to ensure that tionally and domestically to adopt a per- educating decision makers and working to legislation advances conservation and manent rebuilding plan for Pacific striped reinstate these proven conservation mea- responsible management of our nation’s marlin. We will focus on research efforts sures. fisheries. to better understand billfish spawning • Drift Gillnet Legislation: For more than • Forage Fish Conservation Act: As an grounds and will work to strengthen man- 3 decades, Wild Oceans has worked to organization that has spent decades agement measures to protect them. remove drift gillnets from U.S. waters. advancing forage fish conservation, we – Rob Kramer, President For the Future of Fishing Wild Oceans is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to keeping the oceans wild to preserve fishing opportunities for the future. Our Goals: Officers and Staff: Board of Directors: ● preventing overfishing and restoring Tim Choate, Chairman Mary Barley (Islamorada, FL) depleted fish populations to healthy Tim Ervin, Vice Chairman Bill Boyce (Saugus, CA) levels Rob Kramer, President C. J. Bright, Jr. (Kailua-Kona, HI) ● promoting sustainable use Pam Lyons Gromen, Executive Director Tim Choate (Coral Gables, FL) policies that balance commercial, recreational and ecological values Theresa Labriola, Pacific Program Director Stephanie Choate Oppenheimer (Tulsa, OK) Tim Ervin (Onekama, MI) ● modifying or eliminating wasteful fishing practices Ken Hinman (Lovettsville, VA) Contact Us: ● improving our understanding of Wild Oceans Frankie Labriola (Misquamicut Beach, RI) fish and their role in the marine P.O. Box 272122 Peter Truslow (St. Petersburg, FL) environment Tampa FL 33688 Directors Emeritus office: 727.677.8127 ● preserving fish habitat and water Stanley Arkin (New York, NY) quality web: wildoceans.org John Heyer (Sedona, AZ) 2 JODY BRIGHT WILD OCEANS BOARD MEMBER I am Wild Oceans When I told my Dad I was going to turned into a lifetime take “a year off from college” to go and, I probably would chase marlin, he was not pleased. have made more mon- I shook my head at that. I mean, it ey working on things was his fault. that required a college It’s not that I was one of those kids degree. who couldn’t wait to get away from But then I would have their parents. It was just that he’s never become a “regu- the one who raised me fishing. lar” on the Great Barri- how do I create a Hawaii Conserva- He was the guy who made me clean er Reef during the giant black marlin tion Association (HCA)?" most of the fish while letting my seasons. Nor would I have left the With HCA we passed reef fish legis- brothers off to go swim. When I GBR after each season to join a salty lation in the State Capitol when the asked why, he said, “Because I think old scalawag named Leo Wooten requisite State agency would take no you like fishing more than they do.” on Bora Bora, supplying fish to the administrative action. Armed with I shook my head at that too. legendary Bloody Mary’s restaurant. experience gained at FFA and from On The Reef I learned how to catch a gig Nichol’s got me with the Food My Dad was one in a group of bud- giant black marlin. This helped Leo dies who founded the Poco Bueno and Agriculture Organization of the and I catch the largest blue marlin of United Nations, I once approached tournament and the Gulf Coast Con- my life. From Leo I learned that stor- servation Association (GCCA). GCCA the Western Pacific Council on the ing tools in the oily bilge kept them subject of long line management.