Recreational Fisheries Recreational Fisheries Management in the USAManagement in the USA
Michael Kelly
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Services
Our Mission
Stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and management and the promotion of healthy ecosystems.
Recreational Sea Angling in the Recreational Sea Angling in the USAUSA
2005 Profile2005 Profile• Over 14 million participants
• Over 93 million fishing trips last year• Fifth most popular outdoor activity
• Over 135 thousand metric tons landed per year
• Economic impact of more than $30 billion
• Over $22 billion in related expenditures
• More than 349,000 jobs supported
• Over $12 billion in related personal income
Total Harvest (in 1,000’s of pounds)
Recreational Commercial
Striped Bass 13,463 6,715
Bluefish 12,778 8,299
Summer Flounder 12,523 15,170
Dolphinfish 12,113 917
Red Drum 9,850 12
Spotted Seatrout 9,544 585
King & Cero Mackerel 8,721 4,881
Atlantic Croaker 8,213 25,304
Yellowtail 5,698 245
Yellowfin Tuna 5,607 17,124
Recreational and Commercial HarvestTop Recreational Species
Recreational Fisheries in the Recreational Fisheries in the USAUSA
• Over half of all fish caught are returned alive
• Largest organized constituency of NOAA
• Continued expansion expected– Florida 88% increase since 1981– California 25% increase since
1993
Recreational Fisheries in the Recreational Fisheries in the USAUSA
• First annual meeting of Billfish Tournament Directors - November 2006
• Closure of EZZ to Striped Bass fishing
• Circle hooks in Atlantic Billfish Tournaments
• Turning Management Adversaries into Partners
Recreational Fisheries in the Recreational Fisheries in the USAUSA
EAThe Ethical Angler:
• Promotes, through education and practice, ethical behavior in the use of aquatic resources.
• Values and respects the aquatic environment and all living things in it.• Avoids spilling, and never dumps, any pollutants, such as gasoline and oil, into
the aquatic environment.• Disposes of all trash, including worn-out lines, leaders, and hooks, in appropriate
containers, and helps to keep fishing sites litter-free.• Takes all precautionary measures necessary to prevent the spread of exotic
plants and animals, including live baitfish, into non-native habitats.• Learns and obeys angling and boating regulations, and treats other anglers,
boaters, and property owners with courtesy and respect.• Respects property rights, and never trespasses on private lands or waters.• Keeps no more fish than needed for consumption, and never wastefully discards
fish that are retained.• Practices conservation by carefully handling and releasing alive all fish that are
unwanted or prohibited by regulation, as well as other animals that may become hooked or entangled accidentally.
• Uses tackle and techniques which minimize harm to fish when engaging in "catch and release" angling.
4,911
1,628
1,073
945
738
487
482
418
392
378
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000
New York
Oregon
Maryland
New Jersey
Massachusetts
Louisiana
Washington
North Carolina
California
Florida
Economic Impacts in Millions of Dollars
U.S. Marine Recreational Fishery Economic Impacts Top Ten StatesU.S. Marine Recreational Fishery Economic Impacts Top Ten States
• Regional Fishery Management Councils prepare fishery management plans(FMP) for fisheries within their respective jurisdictions.
• The Secretary of Commerce approves the FMPs, and then implements them by regulation, carries them out and enforces them.
• The Councils and the Secretary each have responsibilities for ongoing monitoring of fisheries.
• Amendment of FMPs follows same pattern.
Pattern for Marine Pattern for Marine Fisheries ManagementFisheries Management
ChallangesChallanges• Marine Recreational Fishing Data• Improve Management: lack of understanding
concerning the state of the resource• Unhappy constituents: Lack of trust and low
angler participation in management process.• Allocation between users• Poor communication
NOAA’s Recreational Fisheries NOAA’s Recreational Fisheries ApproachApproach
• Improved service to the recreational community• Increase recreational participation in NOAA processes• Promote stewardship of ocean resources
• Improved management of recreational species and their habitats
• Promote recreational fishing opportunities and access
The PlanThe Plan
ScienceNeed to develop better dataNeed to include community in
science
ManagementGetting managers the data they needGetting anglers to the table
Communications2 way
Plan ImplementationPlan Implementation• Aggressive, Regional Implementation
– New coordinators, New coalitions– Regional inventory, regional priority setting
• Responsive program development• New regional scale efficiencies• Broader pressure on Congress for new
funds
Current EffortsCurrent Efforts
• MSA Reauthorization• New Federal Saltwater License
– Need for consistent data from the States
• Hiring new regional coordinators• Created 2 Regional Teams:
California and Gulf of Mexico
Challenges
• Entrenched Commercial Interests– Cultural Institution
• Diffusion of saltwater recreational community– Larger than commercial
• Data collection• Recreational or non-commercial
Development Opportunities
• Provide new opportunities for great fishing experiences in destination locations
• Recreational Fisheries Development – Assessments of appropriate regions
• Biological assessments• Economic, cultural, political assessment
– Replacing small boat traditional fisheries with recreational fleet
• Exporting technology to diminish bycatch of non-target species and post release mortality
• Improve data sharing between regions
World Recreational Fisheries Conference
International Game Fish Association
Dania Beach, Florida USA
2008
Gracias Thank You
Saugus, MANew England Fishery Management Council
Charleston, SCSouth Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Dover, DEMid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Tampa, FLGulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
Hato Ray, Puerto Rico Caribbean Fishery Management Council
Honolulu, HIWestern Pacific Fishery Management Council
Anchorage, AKNorth Pacific Fishery Management Council
Portland, ORPacific Fishery Management Council
8 Fishery Management Councils8 Fishery Management Councils
• M-S Act created 8 regional fishery management councils.
• Councils funded through Congressional appropriations.
• Council system provides primary stakeholders substantial role in managing fisheries and resources.
Fishery Management Fishery Management CouncilsCouncils
Northwest RegionRegional Office: Seattle, WA Science Center: Seattle, WA
Laboratories Seattle, WA Newport, OR
Alaska RegionRegional Office: Juneau, AKScience Center: Seattle, WA (Sand Point)
Laboratories Seattle, WA Auke Bay, AK Kodiak, AK
Southwest RegionRegional Office: Long Beach, CAScience Center: La Jolla, CA
Laboratories La Jolla, CA Santa Cruz, CA Pacific Grove, CA
Northeast RegionRegional Office: Gloucester, MAScience Center: Woods Hole, MA
Laboratories Woods Hole, MA Narragansett, RI Milford, CT Highlands, NJ Washington, DC
NOAA Fisheries Field Structure
Southeast RegionRegional Office: St. Petersburg, FLScience Center: Miami, FL
Laboratories Miami, FL Beaufort, NC Panama City, FL Pascagoula, MS Galveston, TX
HeadquartersSilver Spring, MD
Pacific Islands RegionRegional Office: Honolulu, HIScience Center: Honolulu, HI
Laboratory: Honolulu, HI
NOAA Fisheries Around the USANOAA Fisheries Around the USA
Overview:
Enacted in 1976 as Fishery Conservation and Management Act, later re-named Magnuson, then Magnuson-Stevens.
Primary law for conserving and managing fisheries resources in Federal waters (EEZ).
States still responsible for managing fishery resources within state waters.
Magnuson-Stevens ActMagnuson-Stevens Act
History:• Phase out of foreign fishing.
• Develop domestic fisheries.
• It’s worked! Percentage of fish harvested by foreign nations has declined from 71% in 1977 to near zero percent since 1992.
• Sustainable Fisheries Act amended Act in 1996. Emphasis now on conservation.
Magnuson-Stevens ActMagnuson-Stevens Act
Employment in U.S. Commercial Employment in U.S. Commercial vs. Recreational Fishing vs. Recreational Fishing
IndustriesIndustries(includes processors and wholesalers)(includes processors and wholesalers)
Recreational Sea Anglingin the U.S.
Michael Kelly, Chief
National Marine Fisheries Service
Recreational Fisheries
Recreational Fishing in the U.S.2005 Profile
• 11 Million anglers
• 93 million trips (excluding Alaska and Texas)
Applications – 50% Reduction in the Red Snapper Bag Limit
Target Species2003 Effort
Share Change
Effort Change
Average Trip Cost
Total Expenditure
ChangeGrouper 32,418 -1.05% -340 $67.20 -$22,874Red Snapper 18,891 -5.18% -979 $89.01 -$87,101King Mackerel 35,851 1.83% 656 $69.09 $45,328Dolphin 17,556 2.51% 441 $50.60 $22,297No Trip 1.90% -359 $68.98 -$24,757
-581 -$67,107
$132.28
Job Losses -1.74
Sales Impacts -$150,521.01Expenditures and
$2,498,901
-$51,052.45Income Impacts
1: Reduction in Keep from 4 to 2 Fish
Changes in Expenditures
Net Loss
Welfare EffectsCV per TripWelfare Loss
Angler Expenditures
• Total expenditures $22.6 in 2000– Total trip expenditures $3.5 billion– Total durable expenditures $19.2 billion
• Top states: – Florida $8.4 billion– California $2.5 billion– North Carolina $1.6 billion– Washington $1.4 billion– Louisiana $1.2billion
Tsunamis and Hurricanes• Tsunami of 2005
– Difficulty in assessing impacts on recreational fishing community
– Rebuilding for sustainable use
• Hurricane Katrina– Difficulty in assessing impacts on
recreational fishing community– Rebuilding for sustainable use
• Infrastructure - more than a boat and a cooler