Characterization of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Penaeid and Rock Shrimp Fisheries Based on Observer Data ELIZABETH SCOTT-DENTON, PAT F. CRYER, MATT R. DUFFY, JUDITH P. GOCKE, MIKE R. HARRELSON, DONNA L. KINSELLA, JAMES M. NANCE, JEFF R. PULVER, REBECCA C. SMITH, and JO A. WILLIAMS Introduction nificant declines in landings of several al.6). More than 150 bycatch reduction Bycatch in shrimp trawls is a signifi- species of southeastern finfish, notably device (BRD) styles were developed red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, by industry, scientists and gear special- cant source of fishery induced mortality 4 for several state and Federally managed (Goodyear and Phares ), resulted in the ists and evaluated through cooperative finfish species in the southeastern United implementation of Federal management multi-year efforts (Scott-Denton and States (Pellegrin, 1982; Alverson et al., measures to identify reasons for these Nance, 1996; Nance and Scott-Denton, 1994; Nichols et al.1; NMFS2,3). Sig- declines and to expedite the necessary 1997; Watson et al., 1999; Scott-Denton, steps required to rebuild affected stocks. 2007; NMFS2, 3; Branstetter7; Nance et 1 Nichols, S., A. Shah, G. J. Pellegrin, Jr., and K. In response to Congressional direc- al.8; Foster and Scott-Denton9; NMFS10; Mullin. 1987. Estimates of annual shrimp fleet tives, NOAA’s National Marine Fisher- Helies and Jamison11). bycatch for thirteen finfish species in the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Report to the Gulf ies Service (NMFS), Southeast Fisheries The two primary objectives of these of Mexico Fisheries Management Council. U.S. Science Center (SEFSC), in cooperation evaluations were to: 1) estimate catch Dep. Commer., NOAA, Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., with the Gulf and South Atlantic Fish- Southeast Fish. Sci. Cent., Pascagoula, Miss., 6 Hoar, P., J. Hoey, J. Nance, and C. Nelson. 28 p. eries Foundation, Inc. (Foundation), 1992. A research plan addressing finfish bycatch 2 NMFS. 1995. Report to Congress: cooperative implemented a cooperative research in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic shrimp research program addressing finfish bycatch in plan in 1992 to identify, develop, and fisheries. Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foun- the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic shrimp dation, Inc., Suite 740, Lincoln Center, 5401 fisheries. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, South- evaluate gear options to reduce bycatch W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, Fla., 128 p. (avail. east Reg. Off., St. Petersburg, Fla., 68 p. (avail. at in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlan- at http://www.gulfsouthfoundation.org/uploads/ http://galveston.ssp.nmfs.gov/publications/pdf/ tic shrimp fisheries (NMFS5; Hoar et reports/45 Part 2_20091022111207.pdf). 620.pdf). 7 Branstetter, S. 1997. Bycatch and its reduction 3 NMFS. 1998. Report to Congress: southeastern in the Gulf of Mexico and south Atlantic shrimp United States shrimp trawl bycatch program. 4 Goodyear, C. P., and P. Phares. 1990. Status fisheries. Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foun- Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, Southeast Fish. of red snapper stocks of the Gulf of Mexico - dation, Inc., Suite 740, Lincoln Center, 5401 W. Sci. Cent., Galveston Laboratory, Galveston, Report for 1990. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, Fla., 27 p. Tex., 155 p. (avail. at http://galveston.ssp.nmfs. Southeast Fish. Sci. Cent., Miami Lab. Rep. 8 Nance, J., E. Scott-Denton, E. Martinez, J. gov/publications/pdf/235.pdf). Contrib. CRD 89/90-05, 72 p. (avail. at https:// Watson, A. Shah, and D. Foster. 1997. Bycatch grunt.sefsc.noaa.gov/P_QryLDS/mainqry.jsp). in the southeast shrimp trawl fishery: A data sum- 5 mary report. NMFS, Southeast Fish. Sci. Cent., The authors are with the Southeast Fisheries Sci- NMFS. 1991. Shrimp trawl bycatch research re- quirements. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA, Natl. Miami, Fla., SFA Task N-10.03, 25 p. (avail. at ence Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, http://galveston.ssp.nmfs.gov/publications/pdf/ NOAA, 4700 Avenue U, Galveston, TX 77551 Mar. Fish. Serv., Southeast Fish. Sci. Cent., Miami, Fla., and NMFS Southeast Reg. Off., St. 512.zip). (corresponding author: elizabeth.scott-denton@ 9, 10, 11 noaa.gov). Petersburg, Fla., 66 p. See next page. ABSTRACT—In July 2007, a manda- the highest concentrated effort occurred studies for the Gulf of Mexico penaeid tory Federal observer program was imple- off South Texas and southwestern Florida. shrimp fishery. These decreased ratios mented to characterize the U.S. Gulf of Gear information, such as net characteris- may be attributed to several factors, nota- Mexico penaeid shrimp (Farfantepenaeus tics, bycatch reduction devices, and turtle bly decreased shrimp effort and higher aztecus, F. duorarum, and Litopenaeus set- excluder devices were fairly consistent shrimp catch per unit of effort (CPUE) in iferus) fishery. In June 2008, the program among areas and target species. recent years. CPUE density surface plots expanded to include the South Atlantic By species categories, finfish com- for several species of interest illustrated penaeid and rock shrimp, Sicyonia spp., prised the majority (≥57%) of the catch spatial differences in distribution. Hot fisheries. Data collected from 10,206 tows composition in the Gulf of Mexico and Spot Analyses for shrimp (penaeid and during 5,197 sea days of observations South Atlantic penaeid shrimp fisheries, rock) and bycatch species identified areas were analyzed by geographical area and while in the South Atlantic rock shrimp with significant clustering of high or low target species. The majority of tows (~70%) fishery the largest component (41%) was CPUE values. Spatial and temporal dis- sampled were off the coasts of Texas and rock shrimp. Bycatch to shrimp ratios tribution of protected species interactions Louisiana. Based on total hours towed, were lower than reported in previous were documented. 74(4) 1 rates during commercial shrimping (GMFMC12), mandated observer cov- months (NMFS, 1999). Rock shrimp operations for both target and nontar- erage of Federally permitted vessels. In are primarily targeted from waters get species by area, season, and depth; 2007, the SEFSC implemented a manda- off the east coast of Florida in depths and 2) evaluate BRD effectiveness at tory observer program for the commer- between 10–40 fm (Anderson, 1956; eliminating or significantly reducing the cial shrimp fishery operating in the U.S. Nance, 1993b). capture of nontargeted species, notably Gulf of Mexico. In June 2008, observer Currently, there are 1,467 Federally red snapper. coverage was expanded to include the permitted vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, Since the early 1990’s, much prog- South Atlantic penaeid and rock shrimp and 534 penaeid and 106 rock shrimp ress has been made in addressing the fisheries through Amendment 6 to the Federal permit holders in the South complex issues associated with finfish Shrimp Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic (SERO14). Observer coverage bycatch reduction in the southeastern the South Atlantic Region (SAFMC13). of the entire southeastern shrimp fishery shrimp fishery (NMFS10). BRD’s have A voluntary component of the observer is approximately 2% based on industry been required in Federal waters of the program continues for the purposes of effort (nominal days at sea). South Atlantic since 1997, the western BRD development and evaluation. While finfish are the primary bycatch, Gulf of Mexico since 1998, and the Three commercially important several species listed under the Endan- eastern Gulf of Mexico since 2004 penaeid shrimp species, brown shrimp, gered Species Act of 1973 as amended (50 CFR 622). BRD designs currently Farfantepenaeus aztecus; white shrimp, (16 U.S.C. 1536 et seq.), or other regula- certified (or provisionally certified) Litopenaeus setiferus; and pink shrimp, tory mandates, have been encountered for use in Federal waters of the Gulf Farfantepenaeus duorarum, historically in the southeastern shrimp fishery. These of Mexico and South Atlantic include: comprise the majority of shrimp landed include the following species: composite panel, extended funnel, fish- in southeastern U.S. waters. In 2010, Five species of sea turtles (Kemp’s eye, Jones-Davis, and modified Jones- these three species accounted for 99.9 ridley, Lepidochelys kempii; leather- Davis (NOAA, 2008a). An additional % of annual shrimp landed in the Gulf back, Dermochelys coriacea; hawksbill, design, the expanded mesh BRD, is of Mexico (NMFS, 2003). Landings Eretmochelys imbricata; loggerhead, certified for use in the South Atlantic were approximately 177.0 million lb Caretta caretta; and green, Chelonia only. Potential BRD designs are certified (80.3 million kg) (heads-on) valued at mydas) occur in the Gulf of Mexico and based on criteria set forth in the revised $335.5 million (NMFS, 2003). Penaeid South Atlantic and may be affected by and consolidated BRD testing manuals shrimp landings in the South Atlantic shrimping activities (Magnuson et al., and certification requirements for the were approximately 16.3 million lb (7.4 1990; Epperly et al., 2002). All of these Gulf and South Atlantic shrimp fisher- million kg) (heads-on) valued at $33 species are currently listed as threatened ies (NOAA, 2008b). Once certified, million. Rock shrimp, Sicyonia spp., also or endangered under the Endangered observer data are used periodically to primarily targeted in the South Atlantic, Species Act (ESA). reassess the continued effectiveness of accounted for a smaller percentage of Other species that may be encoun- BRD designs
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