Upload
velika
View
39
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Draft Fishery Management Plan for Spotted Seatrout in North Carolina. N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission New Bern November 4, 2010. FMP GOAL. Determine the status of the stock and ensure long-term sustainability for the spotted seatrout stock in North Carolina. FMP Objectives. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Draft Fishery Management Plan for Spotted Seatrout in North Carolina
N.C. Marine Fisheries CommissionNew Bern
November 4, 2010
FMP GOAL
Determine the status of the stock and ensure long-term sustainability for the spotted seatrout stock in North Carolina
FMP Objectives
1. Develop an objective management program that provides conservation of the resource and sustainable harvest in the fishery
2. Ensure the spawning stock is of sufficient capacity to prevent recruitment-overfishing
3. Address socio-economic concerns for all user groups
FMP Objectives (cont)
4. Restore, improve, and protect important habitats that affect growth, survival, and reproduction of the stock.
5. Evaluate, enhance, and initiate studies to increase understanding of spotted seatrout biology and population dynamics in North Carolina.
6. Promote public awareness regarding the status and management of the stock.
Status of the Stock
• Age based statistical model• 2009 stock assessment indicated the spotted
seatrout stock in NC/VA has been overfished and overfishing occurring throughout the entire 18-year time series (1991-2008)
• Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR) is a measurement of the spawning potential of a population after the impacts of fishing mortality
• SPRs are below the DMF benchmark threshold and ASMFC recommended criteria of 20%
FMP Purpose
Recommend or maintain management measures that prevent overfishing and provide the long-term sustainable harvest for the fishery
Areas to be addressed:• Habitat and water quality• Socioeconomic factors• Management strategies• Insufficient data and research needs
Issues Addressed in the FMP
• Achieving sustainable harvest • Impacts of cold stun events on the
population • Enforcement of size, creel limit and gear
regulations in joint, coastal or inland fishing waters
• Management measures to address user group competition
• Closing the gig fishery Dec. - March 31
Sustainable Harvest
Background• 2009 stock assessment indicated the stock in NC/VA has
been overfished and overfishing has been occurring throughout the 18-year time series.
Issue• Establish harvest reductions that achieve sustainable
harvest by rebuilding the spawning stock biomass above the threshold level and end overfishing within 10 years.
Spawning Stock BiomassOverfished Status
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
1,600,000
SSB Threshold (F20%)
YearSpa
wni
ng S
tock
Bio
mas
s (lb
)
Fishing Mortality By SectorOverfishing Status
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
0.00.20.40.60.81.01.21.41.61.8
Year
Aver
age
Fish
ing
Mor
talit
y
Sustainable Harvest
Size Bag Limit
14 " 57%
REBUILD STOCK WITHIN 10 YEARSEND OVERFISHING IMMEDIATELY
REDUCTION REQUIRED
2 fish 50 lbs
Trip Limit MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
Sustainable Harvest
28.5%
28.5%
REQUIREDREDUCTION MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
COMMERCIAL FISHERY
Minimum Size (TL)
14 "
RECREATIONAL FISHERYREDUCTION REQUIRED
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS Minimum Size (TL)
14 "
Sustainable Harvest
29.0%
29.7%• Weekend Closure- no possession on weekends November-February: all gear out of water (including RCGL)
• 6 fish bag limit
Commercial Fishery MANAGEMENT OPTIONS % REDUCTION
14-inch minimum size limit and:
Recreational Fishery MANAGEMENT OPTIONS % REDUCTION
14-inch minimum size limit and:
1/2 REDUCTION NEEDED TO END OVERFISHING - ASSESS IN 5 YRS
Sustainable HarvestDMF SST AC MFC
• ½ reduction needed, 6 fish recreational bag, 14-inch minimum size for recreational and commercial , and weekend closure for commercial gears (no possession on weekends), gear will need to be removed on weekends, November-February
• Western Albemarle Sound and Currituck Sound exempt from weekend gear removal
• Same as DMF (commercial & recreational)
• Promote the use of barbless hooks
• No use of gill nets as RCGL gear to harvestspotted seatrout
•½ reduction needed, 6 fish recreational bag, 14-inch minimum size for recreational and commercial, and weekend closure for commercial gears year-round (no possession on weekends).
• commercial gear will be allowed to remain in the water on the weekends
• A maximum of 3 fish over 24 inches for recreational fishermen
• small mesh net attendance requirement is extended to include weekends, December through February
Recreational = 29.0% Commercial = 29.7%
Same as DMF Recreational = 29.0%Commercial = 13-26%
Sustainable Harvest (cont)
DMF SST AC MFC
• Regulations need to be in place for a minimum of 3 years to assess their effectiveness. The 5 year FMP review schedule needs tobe adhered to
• The matter should be revisited within 3 years due to problems with the stock assessment model (ie., inability to account for mortality associated with cold stun, and lack of a stock recruit relationship)
•The matter should be revisited within 3 years to determine if sustainable harvest measures are working
Cold Stun Events
Background• Death of large numbers of spotted seatrout following severe cold
spells has been well documented. Periodic increases in mortality associated with cold stuns should be considered when implementing management measures.
Issue• Periodic increases in mortality associated with cold stun events can
have a negative impact on population size. Should information and quantification of cold stun events be considered for incorporation into fisheries models and/or management decisions?
Impacts of Cold Stun Events on the Population
DMF SST AC MFC
• Give the sustainable harvest options the opportunity to work in rebuilding the stock to 20% SPR
• Status quo with the assumption that the director will intervene in the event of a catastrophic event and do what is necessary in terms of temporary closures by water body, but the director’s proclamation needs to be an informed decision based on quantifiable data and the outcome needs to be quantified post the closure
• Remain status quo with the assumption that the director will intervene in the event of a catastrophic event and do what is necessary in terms of temporary closures by waterbody
Impacts of Cold Stun Events on the Population (cont)
DMF SST AC MFC
• More extensive research on cold stun events (DMF, universities, etc)
• Same as DMF • Same as DMF
Enforcement
Background• MFC is responsible for managing, protecting,
preserving and enhancing marine and estuarine resources, while WRC is responsible for regulating fishing activities in inland waters.
Issue• Improving compliance with and agency
enforcement of management measures in joint and coastal or inland fishing waters
Enforcement of Size, Creel Limit and Gear Regulations in Joint, Coastal or Inland Fishing
WatersDMF SST AC MFC
• Development of a mutual aid agreement between DMF Marine Patrol and WRC enforcement officers for inland fishing waters.
• Same as DMF • Same as DMF
User Group Competition
Background• Commercial gill net and recreational hook and line
fishermen have been in competition for seatrout, and in some instances, competition has escalated to conflict.
Issue• Determine management measures to reduce conflicts
between recreational and gill net fisheries
Management Measures to address User Group Competition
DMF SST AC MFC
• Move forward with the mediation policy process to resolve conflict between spotted seatrout fishermen
• Same as DMF • Same as DMF
Closing the Gig Fishery December 1 – March 31
Background• Operates in areas where water is clear during
the cold winter months and fish are lethargic Issue• AC voted for a closure of the commercial gig
fishery Dec. 1 – March 31
Use of Gigs to Harvest Spotted Seatrout December-March
DMF SST AC MFC
• Status quo. DMF to continue to track contributions of gigs to overall landings
• Same as DMF • Same as DMF
Research Needs
1. Develop juvenile abundance index for better understanding of stock recruitment relationship
2. Research the feasibility of including measures of temperature or salinity into stock-recruitment relationship
3. Determine batch fecundity estimates for NC4. Conduct area-specific spawning surveys5. Investigate relationship of temperature with juvenile and
adult mortality
Research Needs
6. Define overwintering habitat requirements7. Study impacts of cold stun events 8. Develop model to predict/estimate the impact of
cold stun events on local and statewide abundances9. Investigate distribution in nursery and non-nursery
areas10. Further research on possible influences of salinity
on release mortality
Research Needs
11. Microchemistry, genetic, or tagging studies to verify migration patterns, mixing rates, or origins between NC & VA
12. Tagging studies to verify estimates of natural and fishing mortality
13. Tagging studies to determine if there are localized populations within NC
14. A longer time series and additional sources of fishery independent information
Research Needs
15. Increased observer coverage in a variety of commercial fisheries, and over a wider area
16. Continue collecting fishery dependent information to describe the size and age structure of harvested population
17. Investigate the distribution in Inland Fishing Waters 18. Survey of fishing effort in creeks with conflict
complaints19. Determine targeted species in nursery areas and
creeks with conflict complaints
Comments/Recommendations?