Recreational Fishing Organizations: Recreational Fishing Organizations: The Missing Link in Cooperative The Missing Link in Cooperative

Fisheries Research and ManagementFisheries Research and Management

Jason SchratwieserJason SchratwieserConservation DirectorConservation Director

Who’s Involved?Who’s Involved?

Is everyone communicating in Is everyone communicating in the management process?the management process?

NoNo

Not Not ReallReall

yy

YeYess

??

Problem: Lack of communication can Problem: Lack of communication can lead to fishermen misunderstanding lead to fishermen misunderstanding

the fishery management process.the fishery management process.

• Distrust in the data driving Distrust in the data driving managementmanagement• Inefficient and/or incomplete data Inefficient and/or incomplete data collectioncollection• Poor CompliancePoor Compliance• Ineffective managementIneffective management

SolutionSolution

Get recreational anglers actively Get recreational anglers actively involved in cooperative research involved in cooperative research and data collection.and data collection.This will generate trust and support This will generate trust and support of science driving managementof science driving management

How to break the How to break the communication barrier?communication barrier?

Angling organizations can be the Angling organizations can be the critical link in facilitating productive critical link in facilitating productive

interaction between anglers and interaction between anglers and managersmanagers

Fisheries ManagersFisheries Managers

Recreational AnglersRecreational Anglers

Important ConsiderationsImportant Considerations• Fishing organizations need to have Fishing organizations need to have

staff that have both management and staff that have both management and angling knowledgeangling knowledge

• Cooperative research must have clear Cooperative research must have clear objectivesobjectives

• Recreational anglers should be Recreational anglers should be included because they have skills that included because they have skills that contribute to the researchcontribute to the research

• Data collected should be useful and Data collected should be useful and not considered “second class science”not considered “second class science”

Cooperative ResearchCooperative Research

Three Tier CooperationThree Tier Cooperation

Professional Fishing Professional Fishing CaptainsCaptains

SituationSituation• Most sailfish in South Most sailfish in South

Florida are releasedFlorida are released• However, because of However, because of

their popularity and their popularity and techniques used to techniques used to catch them, post catch them, post release mortality can release mortality can be significantbe significant

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500

1000

1500

2000

2500

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3500

4000

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YEARS

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RELEASED

Possible SolutionsPossible Solutions

• Implement and/or tighten traditional Implement and/or tighten traditional fisheries management tools (e.g., fisheries management tools (e.g., closed seasons) or….closed seasons) or….

• Research alternative gear (hooks) Research alternative gear (hooks) and techniques that reduce post and techniques that reduce post release mortalityrelease mortality

Study VariablesStudy Variables

• 1. 0-5 seconds;1. 0-5 seconds;• 2. 6-10 seconds;2. 6-10 seconds;• 3. 11-15 3. 11-15

seconds;seconds;• 4. >15 seconds.4. >15 seconds.

HooksHooks Drop BackDrop Back

Results and ConclusionsResults and Conclusions• Eight of South Florida’s top captains, as Eight of South Florida’s top captains, as

well as their crews and clients well as their crews and clients participatedparticipated

• Data from a total of 2,086 sailfishData from a total of 2,086 sailfish• Hook type and drop back time can Hook type and drop back time can

potentially affect post release survivalpotentially affect post release survival• Anglers that use the “right” circle hooks Anglers that use the “right” circle hooks

improve post release survival for sailfish improve post release survival for sailfish over a variety of drop backs and obtain over a variety of drop backs and obtain comparable catch success to other hooks comparable catch success to other hooks throughout a range of drop back timesthroughout a range of drop back times

Adopt A Billfish ProgramAdopt A Billfish Program• Collaboration Collaboration between Federal between Federal fisheries management, fisheries management, NGOs, academia and NGOs, academia and recreational anglersrecreational anglers•Project goal is to Project goal is to determine billfish determine billfish movement patterns movement patterns along the Pacific coast along the Pacific coast of Central Americaof Central America

POP-UP SATELLITE TAG TECHNOLOGYPOP-UP SATELLITE TAG TECHNOLOGY

Levels of ParticipationLevels of Participation• Sponsor 1 or more Sponsor 1 or more

PSAT ($4,000 each)PSAT ($4,000 each)• Provide vessels for Provide vessels for

deployment of tags deployment of tags at project locationsat project locations

• Transfer fish to a Transfer fish to a PSAT tagging PSAT tagging vessel during vessel during tagging eventstagging events

ResultsResults• Roughly 100 PSATs deployed over Roughly 100 PSATs deployed over

the last 4 yearsthe last 4 years• Billfish along Western Central Billfish along Western Central

America readily move between America readily move between neighboring countries international neighboring countries international waters necessitating the need for waters necessitating the need for international cooperation and international cooperation and management.management.

Certified Observer ProgramCertified Observer Program

• Facilitates release Facilitates release formats in formats in tournaments by tournaments by having observers having observers that are proficient that are proficient at both IGFA at both IGFA angling rules and angling rules and in situ billfish in situ billfish identification.identification.

Certified Observer ProgramCertified Observer Program• This may also be a This may also be a

way to collect much way to collect much needed recreational needed recreational catch data on highly catch data on highly migratory and other migratory and other species caught or species caught or encountered during encountered during billfish tournamentsbillfish tournaments

Cooperative Cooperative managementmanagement

Compliance

Cooperative Cooperative ResearchResearch

How does cooperative research How does cooperative research and management guide each and management guide each

other?other?

CooperativCooperative Researche Research

CooperativCooperative e ManagemeManagementnt

ComplianceCompliance

TimelineTimeline