Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management-Based Research Needs and Priorities JUNE 2020 ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES MANAGEMENT-BASED RESEARCH NEEDS AND PRIORITIES June 2020 Office of Sustainable Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlantic Highly Migratory Species | MANAGEMENT-BASED RESEARCH PRIORITIES This document was developed by the Atlantic Highly Common Name Scientific Name Migratory Species (HMS) Management Division of Night shark Carcharhinus signatus NOAA Fisheries to update and communicate key research needs that directly support Atlantic HMS Sand tiger Carcharias taurus management. Atlantic HMS include those species listed White shark Carcharodon carcharias in Table 1. This document updates a list last released Basking shark Cetorhinus maximus in 2014 of near- and long-term research needs and Tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier priorities that can be used by individuals and groups Nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum interested in Atlantic HMS to identify key research Sevengill shark Heptranchias perlo needs, improve management, reduce duplication, Sixgill shark Hexanchus griseus prioritize limited funding, and form a potential basis for future funding. The priorities range from Bigeye sixgill shark Hexanchus nakamurai biological/ecological needs to socioeconomic needs. Shortfin mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus Table 1. Species Managed Under the 2006 Consolidated Longfin mako shark Isurus paucus Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan and Its Amendments Porbeagle shark Lamna nasus Smooth dogfish Mustelus canis Common Name Scientific Name Florida smoothhound Mustelus norrisi Skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis Gulf smoothhound Mustelus sinusmexicanus Albacore tuna Thunnus alalunga Lemon shark Negaprion brevirostris Yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares Bigeye sand tiger shark Odontaspis noronhai Bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus Blue shark Prionace glauca Bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus Whale shark Rhincodon typus Swordfish Xiphias gladius Caribbean sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon porosus Sailfish Istiophorus platypterus Atlantic sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon terraenovae White marlin Kajikia albida Scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini Blue marlin Makaira nigricans shark Roundscale spearfish Tetrapturus georgii Great hammerhead shark Sphyrna mokarran Longbill spearfish Tetrapturus pfluegeri Bonnethead shark Sphyrna tiburo Bigeye thresher shark Alopias superciliosus Smooth hammerhead shark Sphyrna zygaena Thresher shark Alopias vulpinus Atlantic angel shark Squatina dumeril Blacknose shark Carcharhinus acronotus Bignose shark Carcharhinus altimus Narrowtooth shark Carcharhinus brachyurus thisAt this document time, specific will inform funding future for the strategic priorities internal outlined Spinner shark Carcharhinus brevipinna NOAAin this Fisheriesdocument HMS has researchnot been identified.resource allocations. However, Silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis This priorities document may also be used by Galapagos shark Carcharhinus galapagensis interested scientists who are applying for federal Finetooth shark Carcharhinus isodon funding opportunities (FFOs) as a way to highlight the relevance of their research to HMS management needs. Bull shark Carcharhinus leucas There are several FFOs that support different types of Blacktip shark Carcharhinus limbatus competitively awarded funds for research including the Oceanic whitetip shark Carcharhinus longimanus Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program, Cooperative Dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus Research Program, and Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Caribbean reef shark Carcharhinus perezii Program. More information on these FFOs is available Sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus on the NOAA Fisheries website and grants.gov. Smalltail shark Carcharhinus porosus U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service 3 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species | MANAGEMENT-BASED RESEARCH PRIORITIES Management Division while developing and proposing Priorities for All managementPriorities were measures. identified Many by the of Atlanticthe research HMS priorities Atlantic HMS mortality and/or bycatch to more effectively manage address key data gaps and/or ways to reduce fishing Near-Term Priorities • Improve the accuracy and precision of all HMS Fisheries’HMS fisheries, broad either efforts directly to improve or by ecosystem-basedimproving stock assessments. Some items also reflect NOAA catch data with an emphasis on non- or under- change, advance habitat conservation, and other fisheries management (EBFM), address climate reported catches in international fisheries, artisanal fisheries, bycatch and discards in HMS priorities. Because these needs were identified by federal and state recreational catch statistics. differ somewhat from more technical priorities and non-HMS fisheries, data-limited stocks, and fishery managers, these research priorities may • Provide estimates of at-vessel and post-release mortality rates of all HMS across gear types, While some of the priorities were derived from identified by the scientists across NOAA Fisheries. regions, and age classes and identify factors (e.g., soak time, temperature, handling, etc.) that contribute to that mortality, with an emphasis on notstock repeated assessment verbatim reviews, here. stock-specific In general, the priorities Atlantic HMSidentified Management in published Division stock implicitly assessment considers reports any are research that would improve an HMS stock assessment, • overfishedAssess the ecologicalor more frequently and socioeconomic encountered impacts stocks. or increase stock assessment output, to be a priority. of HMS spatial management and closed areas. Please refer to the relevant stock assessment reports • Identify and address factors limiting the ability of (links below) for more detailed information on • Develop and examine the feasibility of alternative Ongoing survey and monitoring programs are not certain HMS fisheries to achieve optimum yield. research priorities supporting specific assessments. gear types (e.g., buoy gear), conservation engineering technology (e.g., weak hooks, expansion of an existing program. These survey anddiscussed monitoring unless programs, there is a whichspecific include suggestion but are for net checks, best practices for safe release) to reducemagnetic bycatch deterrents), and discard and fishing mortality methods rates (e.g., while andnot limitedobserver to programs,shark nursery are vitaland essentialto stock fish habitat studies, fishery independent surveys, assessments and effective HMS management. maintaining target catch and seafood quality. These ongoing survey and monitoring programs Long-Term Priorities should continue to be considered a high priority. • Enhance routine biological sampling of HMS Except for those priorities that are applicable across for studies of age, growth, maturity, longevity, all Atlantic HMS, the list is broken down by species or population genetics, stock composition, and total species group. These research priorities are further reproductive contribution by size and age. characterized as near-term or long-term priorities. • Characterize the economic value and impact of Near-term priority items are generally those that are needed to address more pressing management by region, and reassess the socioeconomic needs. Long-term priorities would provide for more all recreational and commercial HMS fisheries, effective HMS management, despite lacking an immediate need. Within the near-term and long- status of key HMS fishing communities by term priorities lists, the needs are not prioritized. • updating the HMS community profiles. Develop a commercial fishing site selection model economics,that will estimate and oceanographic when and where conditions fishermen (e.g., will go fishing depending on their port of departure, 4 U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Atlantic Highly Migratory Species | MANAGEMENT-BASED RESEARCH PRIORITIES FishSet for HMS, www.afsc.noaa.gov/REFM/ • Evaluate the impacts of offshore energy Socioeconomics/current_research.php) to help development activities (including construction estimate impacts of management measures. and post-installation monitoring) on • Expand the use of species distribution and habitat modeling to address spatial management priorities, • HMSDevelop and management associated fisheries. strategy evaluation and examine the feasibility of dynamic area processes to address impacts of current management based on oceanographic conditions management, various harvest control rules, (hindcasts as well as short- and long-term forecasts). and alternative management objectives. • Continue conventional and electronic tagging • studies across HMS stocks, regions, and life tagging) to develop empirical estimates of natural mortalityUse fishery-independent rates across species methods and (e.g., size/age electronic classes. movements, seasonal migration and residency stages with an emphasis on filling gaps on • labeling, and marketing campaigns (includingExamine the NOAA effects FishWatch) of seafood on certification, consumer susceptibility,patterns, habitat age use, validation, stock identification and survival rates. and mixing rates, fisheries exposure, bycatch perceptions and consumption of HMS. • Develop more cost-effective electronic • tag and telemetry products. • Advance the implementation of EBFM and Develop methods that can efficiently