Viewpoint of the Us Bureau of Sport

Calif. Jlnr. Res. Coni)n., CalCOE’I Rept., 13 : 95-96, 1969

VIEWPOINT OF THE U.S. BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE

G. B. TALBOT, Director Tiburon Marine Laboratory U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Tiburon, California

The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife oper- 300 million dollars in 1965 in pursuing this sport. ates under the Department of the Interior. Actually, The Pacific coast commercial catch of fish in the same the name “INTERIOR” is a misnomer-for the De- year was valued at the fisherman’s level at about 125 partment should inore properly be called the “ De- million dollars. By the time the commercial catch partirient of Natural Resources, ” since it is the reaches the consumer level, it has probably generated principal conservation agency of the Federal Gov- to the economy of the country two or three times the c3rnmcat. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife value to the commercial fishermen, or about the same and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries are the two as for the sport fishery. Bureaus of the Fish and Wildlife Service which date We don’t have a breakdown by states, but because back to their antecedents-the Biological Survey, the of its population, better weather, facilities, and spe- Bureau of Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish Commission cies available, California undoubtedly enjoys a big whic~hbegan in 1871. share of the sport fishery effort and catch. Opcmtions of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and TVildlife, specifically in marine waters, however, be- I have particularly stressed the value of the sport gan in 1959 when the Secretary of the Interior was fishery because too often it has been overlooked or anthorized and directed by the Congress ‘ ‘to under- minimized in discussions of our marine resources. take continuing research on the biology, fluctuations, This is particularly true at the National level in spite status and statistics of the migratory marine species of the fact that a National Academy of Science, Com- of game fish of the United States and contiguous mittee on Oceanography report states that one of the watws. ” highest returns for research dollars invested in While it was recognized as early as 15 years ago oceanographic studies could be obtained through re- that marine game fish angling was increasing in pop- search on recreational fisheries. Oviously, sport fish- ularity at a fast rate, its magnitude was uncertain. ing has reached such proportions that it must be In 1955, the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries in eo- considered more seriously if we are to manage intelli- operation with the Bureau of the Census began a gently the resources of our marine environment, and national survey of hunting and fishing which is car- this applies particularly to the living resources of ried out every five years. In that year, it was de- the California Current system. termined that over 4 million citizens participated in Conflicts between sport and commercial fishermen marine game fish angling. The survey in 1960 showed are recognized by the US. Fish and Wildlife Service that this number had increased to over 6 million. In as being detrimental to the wise utilization of our that year, a study was made to determine the num- marine resources. The Service recently appointed com- bers and poundage of fish taken. The best estimate mittees from both Bureaus to discuss these problems. obtainable was 1.4 billion pounds. This conipares with The only current conflict recognized. in California a catch in the same year and in the same waters of waters was the one related to the northern anchovy. 1.7 billion pounds of edible species by our commercial The commercial fishermen would like to harvest a fishermen. Even taking into account the possibility of greater tonnage of this species, and the sport fisher- errors in calculating a population from a relatively men are opposed to this, based on the not unreason- small sample and the known proclivity of fishermen able hypothesis that this species is essential to sport to sometimes exaggerate the size of their fish, the (and commercial) species as a forage fish, and that ratch is still impressive. the commercial fishery, once begun, would continue The 1965 survey disclosed that over 8 million citi- to expand until the resource was reduced to a bare zens were serious marine game fish anglers. This is subsistence level as has occurred with the sardine. an increase of 82 percent in 10 years. In contrast, Among other things the Service has recommended the TTnited States population during the same period that it should : increased only 17 percent. In carrying out this means of recreation, the sport anglers not only paid for “1. Work toward representation of both sport and tackle and bait, but many drove long distances, pay- commercial fishing interests on interstate, na- ing for gas and oil, hotel and motel accomniodations, tional, and international fishery committees and food, boats and motors, boat charters, etc., an amount commissions where appropriate. totaling almost 800 million dollars. The survey showed 2. Work with state fish and game agencies and that omr 2 million of the anglers fished on the Pa- interstate commissions to develop comprehen- cific coast, spending an amount estimated at almost sive sport and cominercial fishing statistics. 96 CALIFORKIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS 3. Work with state fishery agencies to establish ticularly in our burgeoning urban communities, makes local advisory communities to assist state and it increasingly necessary to seek meaningful, relaxing, federal agencies, sport groups, and industry recreational opportunities and many are turning to to prevent or resolve conflict issues. marine game fishing as the answer. 4. Make itself available to help mediate sport- A conservative forecast shows that we can expect commercial fishing conflicts when called upon a continual growth in the number of marine anglers by appropriate officials. to 18 million by the year 2000. More than 95 million 5. Take advantage of opportunities to participate days were spent by anglers in coastal fishing in 1965 in meetings where sport-commercial fishing is- -and this amount is expected to increase to 360 mil- sues are to be discussed. ” lion days by the year 2000. Since the population of Other recoinmendations were suggested for each Bu- California is increasing faster than that of most reau and State fishery agency. states, we can expect more than the average increase Actually, the policy of the Fish and Wildlife Serv- in sport fishing pressure here. ice has not changed since it was first expressed by Some of the living resources have already suffered Assistant Director, Charles E. Jackson in 1940, re- declines in abundance partially, at least, from over- stated by Thompson in 1953, and again by the Fish fishing. Many more may suffer similarly from the and Wildlife Service in 1967. This includes the fol- destruction of their environments. The estuaries, lowing points, and I quote : where many of our ocean species spend part of their “a. The Service, lacking the regulatory powers of lives, are continually being degraded by draining, the states, is concerned with conservation based filling, dredging, spoil deposition, and pollution from on technical information and will not take many sources. Pesticides and herbicides, draining from sides on social and political issues. agricultural areas, have invaded the estuaries and b. When a fish resource is not sufficiently large also the ocean. Thermal pollution is another factor to permit both commercial and recreational that will become more prevalent and its effect is un- fishing, it should be used so that the greatest known. number of citizens will benefit. Obviously, we are going to need more facts if the e. The Service is against waste, overfishing, and California Current living resources are to be utilized depletion, but also is against undocumented more wisely. One of the greatest needs is a sport fish charges of these. statistical program which will produce total catch by d. The Service urges that both sides actively sup- species and amount of fishing. Increased research, port their respective associations, interstate particularly on problems related to the sport fishery, fishery commissions, federal and state fact- will be necessary, since in the past this aspect has finding, and equitable distribution of costs be- not received the attention it deserves. More funds tween groups. ” will be required. The research should be coordinated Sportfishing in the marine environment will un- between all state and federal laboratories working on doubtedly increase in future years. As a nation we these problems, so as to produce the most knowledge enjoy more leisure each year. Our workweek has been with funds provided. Fortunately, the relations be- reduced during the past half century from around tween laboratories has been good. We at the Tiburon 60 hours to about 40 hours per week. Several trades Marine Laboratory have received assistance many and professions now have a workweek of 35 or 36 times in the past from both state and federal labora- hours. More and longer vacations have also tremen- tories for which we are grateful, and. have offered as- dously increased leisure time for American citizens. sistance in a small way to the other laboratories when The amount of money spent on vacations has doubled we were able. We will do our part to see that these since World War 11, while the amount spent for relations continue. Working together we probably liquor, for instance, has increased by only 7 percent. will never solve all the problews, but perhaps we can It is very fortunate that we do haw more leisure show the way towards realizing the utmost from this time. The stress and strain of modern living, par- natural resource.