Sean Paxton
Site Admin
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 697
Location: Florida, USA
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 Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:33 pm Post subject: Important FWC Meeting - Shark Management Policies |
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As representatives of both the general, recreating public, as well as the ILSFA, attending this meeting was an invaluable opportunity to elevate our understanding of how shark fisheries are managed and policies set, regarding issues such as: bag limits, protective measures and the interplay between related state, federal and international laws. The event garnered low attendance by a handful that included my brother, Brooks, Robert Hueter and Jose Castro from Mote Marine Laboratory, Cpt. Ralph Allen and one individual from the general public. We've known Robert for several years now, but it was our first time meeting Jose Castro. Respecting his work for many years now, it was an honor. With local charter Captain, Ralph Allen, and the rest, it was ultimately a good mix of representation from all sectors.
Conducting the meeting were two representatives from the FWC: Biological Scientist II, Melissa Recks and Fisheries Management Analyst, Aaron Podey. The information presented was comprehensive and included: Basic Shark Biology, Florida's Management Strategy, Current Statewide Regulations, FWC Managed Species, FWC Prohibited Species, Stock Status, Recreational and Commercial Impacts.
The reason for the meeting was focused on The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's role in all this. Most are familiar with the FWC, NOAA and the NMFS. However, the ASMFC is another key player in the overall management picture.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission was formed by the 15 Atlantic coast states in 1942 in recognition that fish do not adhere to political boundaries. The Commission serves as a deliberative body, coordinating the conservation and management of the states shared near shore fishery resources – marine, shell, and anadromous – for sustainable use. Each state is represented by three Commissioners.
Brooks with Melissa Recks (FWC Biological Scientist II), Aaron Podey (Fisheries Management Analyst)
Back to the meeting agenda ... The ASMFC report No. 46 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission -- Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks -- August 08.
Thanks to Google, you can, and as citizens and anglers, we recommend you do, dig further into all this.
For your convenience, here's the nutshell version: The Plan lays out management measures that stats are required to adopt, however ,the ASMFC may approve alternative measures proposed by states that have similar conservation effect, thus this meeting.
The FWC put on this series of meetings to gather input on:
- The ASMFC Management Plan requirements
- Keeping consistent shark regulations on each coast
- Includes applying the ASMFC requirements to the Gulf Coast
- Keeping the commercial sector to the recreational rules
- Ideas on alternative measures regarding shark management
- Should Florida's rules be more restrictive than requirements specified in the ASMFC Plan?
L-R: Sean Paxton, Robert E. Hueter Ph.D., Dr. Jose Castro, Brooks Paxton II
Dr. Hueter joined Mote Marine Laboratory in 1988 as a Postdoctoral Scientist, was promoted to Staff Scientist and Manager of Mote's Shark Biology Program in 1990 and was appointed Director of Mote's Center for Shark Research in 1992. In 1994, he was promoted to Mote Senior Scientist. As Director of the Center for Shark Research, a national research center developed in cooperation with the National Marine Fisheries Service and other institutions, Dr. Hueter supervises research, educational projects, and international exchanges on issues dealing with sharks, skates, and rays. More here: http://www.mote.org/index.php?src=directory&view=staff&srctype=detail&id=235&category=Shark%20Research
Castro’s expertise is also called upon by researchers from all over the world when a new or rare shark is found. In 1995, Castro was invited to Brazil to study a juvenile megamouth — only the ninth ever found. But to this day, Castro’s international fame comes from the fact that he wrote the first comprehensive shark guide now found on the shelves of shark researchers across the globe. The Sharks of North American Waters even made it to the big screen in the movie The Royal Tennenbaums when Margot Tennenbaum (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) is seen reading it in the film’s opening scene. Now Castro is upstaging himself with a new “super-extended version” in the similarly titled The Sharks of North America. The book reflects 20 years of advances in shark research and covers 130 species. More Here: http://www.mote.org/index.php?src=directory&view=magazine&srctype=detail&refno=640
The 5 Key Issues Raised & Resulting Discussed Were:
Once again, it's more detailed than this and we'll provide links below for those interested in getting more involved. For now, here's the lowdown:
1) Prohibited Species List:
Potential additions to the list:
- Sandbar
- Silky
- Caribbean sharpnose
- For consideration: Should other species be included?
2) Landing Requirements:
In addition to prohibiting finning:
- Prohibit removing heads
- Prohibit removing tails
- Possible redifining of 'finning'
3) Minimum Size Limits:
Minimum size limit of 54 inches fork length proposed for all allowable species except:
- Atlantic Sharpnose
- Blacknose
- Bonnethead
- Finetooth
- Smooth Dogfish
- Should there be additional exceptions?
4) Allowable Gear:
Allow sharks to be harvested with only hook and line gear including:
- Rod and reel or pole and handline
- 10 or fewer hooks
- No treble or multiple hooks with natural bait
- No snatching (snagging)
5) Bag Limit:
No change to bag limit necessary. Florida's current bag limit meets ASMFC Plan requirement:
- Current: 1 shark per person per day and 2 maximum per vessel
OR
- More Restrictive: 1 shark per person per day and 2 sharks maximum per vessel. However, at least one of the sharks must be a sharpnose, bonnethead, or smooth dogfish.
All attending took advantage of the opportunity to discuss and provide input. For the most part, Brooks and I were in agreement with certain, but not all recommendations that included:
Slot sizes for some species that would allow for sexual maturity to be reached in certain species, while still allowing the harvest of larger, but older / out-of-prime adults. Possible closed seasons that would prevent certain species from being harvested during prime pupping phases (closures in certain known, long-established pupping areas). This would also conceivably prohibit the harvesting of females (potentially pregnant) in certain species. Ban of harvesting (temporary closure) on certain key species including: tigers and hammerheads. Banning of kill tournaments in Florida. Possible removal of blacknose from prohibited species list and addition of blacktip to exception of minimum size limits.
Specific recommendations made by us:
- Make efforts to clean up and make more accurate the data used for stock assessments. To this end, we offered the help and input of anglers representing a unified body of the LBSF community to provide highly accurate, spot-on, catch & release data -- in ongoing, large quantities. We stressed the cooperation that goes on within the sport, with the ILSFA, organized, sanctioned catch & release tournaments, clubs, and the detailed information gathered and recorded by anglers experienced in proper ID and documentation procedures in this sport that includes tagging efforts. The sport and the ILSFA were known to all in attendance and this was input and a recommendation 'of unique interest'.
- Consideration of the mandated use of circle hooks in catch & release fishing (overall or with certain species / times of year / locations, etc..). This was an instrumental factor in the successful recovery of billfish, and currently showing as a positive measure with other species, as well.
- Ban on 'Kill Tournaments'. Our position on respecting angler's rights (including our own) to harvest within legal limits is well known. At the same time, we are expanding our role and working closely with certain key individuals in the recreational angling, scientific research, tournament promotion, and shark conservation communities to develop format options for successful, exciting and innovative catch & release tournaments of the future. Changes would provide substantial cash and prize award incentives for anglers, while also promoting and supporting sustainable fisheries along with a sustainable business model for tournament promoters, marinas and city, county and state municipalities and their economies.
As we all know, this is under way in the sport of Land-Based Shark Fishing. However, there are always more ways we can work together to further promote these existing efforts, while also using our progress as a model and example for the more mainstream boat-based shark fishing tournaments to follow.
Dr. José Castro gives us a sneak peek of his upcoming book
With Cpt. Ralph Allen of 'King Fisher Fleet' out of Punta Gorda(middle)
The timeline for any policy and / or law changes extends to the end of this year, and still allows for public input. Here are some links so you can do further probing on your own. The more we know, the better informed we'll be and the better input we'll be able to provide. We invite everyone reading this that's interested in actually being a part of the ultimate decision-making process to contact me personally. The larger and more collective the voice, the more it gets heard. Important note: There's no need to agree on 100% of any issue. However, if there are a couple things we do agree on that positively affect our mutual interests, that should be our focus, not the other way around. If you read this far, thanks for taking the time. As always, all the best, Sean Paxton
Here's Some Related Links:
The September and December Meetings Are For This Topic:
http://myfwc.com/COMMISSION/Comm_2009.htm
PDF's for the handouts from this meeting should become available so try searching the site in the coming days:
http://myfwc.com/Index.aspx
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Online:
www.AdventureAndWildLife.com
www.TheUltimateSharkChallenge.com
www.LandBasedSharkFishing.com |
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