Great Barracuda Public Workshops February March, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Marine Fisheries Management

Transcription

1 Great Barracuda Public Workshops February March, 2015 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Marine Fisheries Management

2 Workshop Ground Rules All points of view are valid Behave with courtesy and respect Discuss the topic and not the person Phones off (or on vibrate) and side conversations outside Please direct questions and comments to FWC staff

3 Workshop Format 1. Purpose/Overview 2. Barracuda Status 3. Management Options 4. Questions 5. Public comment 6. Next Steps Please fill out a yellow card if you would like to comment

4 Why Are We Here? Stakeholder concerns about possible declining populations Reports of fewer fish caught by for-hire fishers in FL Bay Reports of fewer fish by both divers and fishers in the Keys and southeast Florida Anecdotal reports of increased commercial spearfishing and harvest for use as chum

5 Focus of Workshop November 2014 Commission Meeting: Staff presented known information on barracuda stock Commission directed staff to move forward with workshops Potential management options suggested to date: Size limits (minimum, maximum, or slot) Commercial and recreational bag limits Commercial harvest prohibition Spearfishing prohibition Regional regulations

6 Life History Large predators Reach 15+ in. the first year Over 23 in. by age 2 Adults can reach 6 feet, over 100 pounds Maximum age: 18 years (females); 11 years (males) Females mature between 2 and 4 years (28-39 in.), males between 1 and 2 years (25-32 in.) Spawning is believed to occur in offshore waters during the spring, summer, and early fall Photo courtesy of NOAA

7 Species Value Sport prized for their fight and excitement Bait excellent bait for many other species Often used as cut bait or chum Food recreational and commercial harvest Ecotourism popular among divers

8 Stock Status Unknown No stock assessments for barracuda in Florida Available data includes: Recreational landings Commercial landings Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) reef fish visual census (RVC) Reef Environmental Educational Foundation (REEF) recreational diver data

9 Overall Picture of Landings On average, roughly 90% of harvest is by the recreational fishery Statewide Recreational and Commercial Barracuda Landings Total Landings (pounds) 2,000,000 1,800,000 1,600,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 1,000, , , , ,000 0 commercial recreational Year

10 Recreational Catch Statewide catch and catch per trip (CPUE) Declined between mid 90s and early 2000s Has been stable over past 15 years Barracuda - Statewide Recreational Catch and CPUE Total Catch (numbers) 1,200,000 1,000, , , , ,000 0 Total Catch CPUE CPUE (Catch per Trip in numbers) Year

11 Commercial Landings Statewide commercial landings have decreased over time Recent increases in Monroe County Hook and line is the primary commercial gear Brief peak in commercial spearfishing statewide Commercial Landings Statewide Commercial Landings - Monroe County Annual Landings (lb) 250, , , ,000 50,000 0 Total Landings (pounds) 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Year Year

12 Fisheries Independent Data FWRI Research Reef Fish Visual Census (RVC): a count of all species within a given area No detectable change in barracuda density from REEF Research Volunteer-based diver monitoring program No detectable changes through time in Florida Keys Declines in the early 2000s from Palm Beach to Miami- Dade Counties

13 Summary of Available Data No formal stock assessments available Statewide recreational catch and CPUE peaked in early 90 s, lower but stable since Statewide commercial landings stable and relatively low Increase in Keys in recent years Commercial spearing occurs, but appears to have returned to low levels after a brief spike Independent RVC monitoring has revealed some declines in southeast Florida, but did not detect a trend in the FL Keys Photo courtesy of NOAA

14 Possible Management Options Minimum size limit Maximum size limit or slot limit Recreational bag limit Commercial bag limit Spearfishing prohibition Closed season Regional regulations Photo courtesy of NOAA

15 Minimum Size Limit Allows fish to grow large enough to reproduce before being harvested Very effective at increasing spawning biomass, especially when release mortality is low, like barracuda Potential minimum size limits of 25, 28, or 30 inches At 25 inches, 50% of males mature, but no females At 28 inches, all males and roughly 50% of females mature At 30 inches, all males and majority of females mature Recreationally: 59% of fish harvested are 30 in., 48% 25 in. Commercially: Unknown

16 Maximum Size or Slot Limits Protects largest individuals in the population Very effective for increasing spawning biomass, especially when release mortality is low, like barracuda Maintains a more natural population structure than minimum size limits alone, and most models show slots having best harvest potential Number and quality of eggs increase exponentially with increased size and age of fish Appealing for species that are not desirable at large sizes Part of successful management strategy for spotted seatrout, red drum, and common snook

17 Possible Maximum Size Limit: 36 inches? Barracuda growth begins to level off near 40 in. A 36-in. fish is approximately 4 ½ years old Males live to about 11 years, females 18, leaving many years of reproductive activity if the fish survives to the maximum size limit 27% of recreationally fish harvested are >36 in. Samples show a large proportion of fish >36 in. from commercial landings, but data is too limited to give an accurate % Percentage of Barracuda Harvested by Size Range 30 Recreational Harvest 25 % of Total Harvest Size Ranges (inches)

18 Recreational Bag Limit Used to reduce the overall harvest Part of many successful management strategies Recreational harvest accounts for 90% of the total harvest Size limits may be more effective at reducing harvest when fishing pressure is too high Average harvest rate is less than 2 fish per trip

19 Commercial Bag Limit Commercial trip limits and prohibition have been suggested Commercial harvest accounts for 10% of total harvest Average harvest rates over past 10 years: Hook and line 37 pounds per trip Spearing 146 pounds per trip Options: No commercial harvest Trip limit = recreational bag limit Trip limit = higher than recreational bag limit No commercial trip limit (unlimited)

20 Spearfishing Prohibition Roughly 12% of commercial harvest was from spearing over past 10 years Brief spike in Percentage of recreational harvest from spearing unknown A prohibition on the gear may discriminate unnecessarily May not provide as much benefit as size and bag limitations Statewide Commercial Harvest by Gear Landings (lb.) 140, , ,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 Hook and Line Gill or Trammel Net Gig or Spear Unknown Year

21 Closed Season Barracuda spawn offshore in deeper waters between April and Sept. Often reside in warmer backwaters during winter Recreational harvest peaks from May Oct. Commercial harvest peaks May Nov. A closed season could reduce harvest significantly and could be aligned with peak spawning Could impact other fisheries which barracuda used for bait Statewide Seasonal Harvest Trends (Average of ) Recreational Harvest (pounds) 250, , , ,000 50,000 0 Recreational Commercial JAN/FEB MAR/APR MAY/JUN JUL/AUG SEPT/OCT NOV/DEC Month Waves 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 Commercial Harvest (pounds)

22 Regional Regulations Recreational harvest greatest in southeast FL and the FL Keys Commercial harvest greatest in the FL Keys and Palm Beach County Regional regulations would address stakeholder concerns in south FL without being overly restrictive outside the region Statewide regulations would simplify the rules and be proactive

23 Questions? (Official Comment Period Will Follow)

24 We Want Your Feedback! Minimum size limit Maximum size limit or slot limit Recreational bag limit Commercial bag limit Spearfishing prohibition Closed season Regional regulations Don t forget to fill out the written survey before you leave! Photo courtesy of NOAA

25 Next Steps Based on input from stakeholders, FWC staff will determine whether additional regulations are warranted If management changes are determined to be appropriate: A draft rule will be prepared and presented to the Commission and public for comment

26 The following slides are considered backup material and are not anticipated to be part of the actual workshop presentation

27 Ciguatera Concerns The dinoflagellate (a type of algae) that produces the toxin is rarely found in Florida waters, but there have been historical cases in south Florida associated with barracuda Fort Pierce, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Outbreak prior to 1960s caused Miami to pass ordinance prohibiting sale of barracuda under other names, which resulted in a noticeable decrease in demand for barracuda No reported cases from barracuda in recent years Fishermen have expressed hesitation to consume fish >30 in. A maximum size limit alone, or a slot limit with lower-thanreproductive size minimum size limit, may protect mature individuals, while allowing stakeholders to harvest smaller fish

28 Possible Minimum Size Limit: 25, 28 or 30 inches? At 25 inches, 50% of males are mature, but no females At 28 inches, all males and roughly 50% of females are mature At 30 inches, all males and majority of females are mature Recreationally: 59% of fish harvested are 30 in., 48% 25 in. Commercially: Unknown Percentage of Barracuda Harvested by Size Range 30 Recreational Harvest 25 % of Total Harvest Size Ranges (inches)

29 Possible Max. Size Limit: 36 inches? Barracuda growth levels off near 40 in. A 36-in. fish is approximately 4 ½ years old Males live to about 11 years, females 18, leaving many years of reproductive activity if the fish survives to the maximum size limit 36 in. 4 6

30 Recreational Closed Season Barracuda spawn offshore in deeper waters between April and Sept. Often reside in warmer backwaters during winter Most harvest occurs in summer (July Aug.) Weight of Fish Harvested (lb.) 400, , , , , , ,000 50,000 0 JAN/FEB MAR/APRIL MAY/JUNE Seasonal Recreational Harvest JULY/AUG SEPT/OCT NOV/DEC JAN/FEB MAR/APRIL MAY/JUNE JULY/AUG SEPT/OCT NOV/DEC JAN/FEB MAR/APRIL MAY/JUNE JULY/AUG SEPT/OCT Season

31 Commercial Closed Season Similar to recreational landings harvest peaked in summer in past 2 years, but lasted through November, whereas recreational peak ends by September Summer-fall peak in commercial catch appears to increase over time Total Landings (lb) 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2, * Month

32 FWRI Research Reef Fish Visual Census (RVC): a count of all species within a given area Density (Bararcuda/cylinder) Barracuda Density in the Florida Keys for all RVCs ( ) Year

33 REEF Research Volunteer-based diver monitoring program Keys (Key Largo to Key West, including Florida Bay) Jupiter Inlet to Key Biscayne Estimated Abundance Estimated Abundance Year Year

34 Life History Comparisons Species Regulated with Slot Limits Species Size at 50% Maturity Min. Size Max. Size Max Age Red drum Males = 25 in. Females = 32 in. 18 in. 27 in. 40 years Spotted seatrout 11 in. (male and female) 15 in. 20 in. 12 years Snook Great barracuda Complicated. Once males mature, may transition from male to female between 9.4 and 32 in. Males = in. Females = in. 28 in in. 20 years 18 years