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GUAM DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 181st WESTERN PACIFIC REGIONAL FISHERY
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL MEETING ISLAND REPORT SHORE-BASED FISHERIES Report Period: October 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. Table 1 shows the top 5 shore based species harvested between October 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 in terms of total actual weight. Selar crumenophthalmus was the top shore based species harvested followed by Caranx sexfasciatus, Caranx melampygus, Acanthurus xanthopterus, and Naso lituratus. Commonly encountered methods include; Hook and line with 124 fishers and 139 gear, talaya with 20 fishers and 20 gear, gill net with 18 fishers and 14 gear, snorkel spearfishing with 17 fishers and 17 gear, and SCUBA spear with 5 fishers and 5 gear (Table 2). The total number of fishermen and gears observed was 185 and 196, respectively.
Species Total weight (actual) (kg)
Selar crumenophthalmus 67.17 kg.
Caranx sexfasciatus 24.29 kg. Caranx melampygus 20.61 kg. Acanthurus xanthopterus 12.159 kg. Naso lituratus 10.53 kg.
Table 1. Top five species caught, by weight, during the shore-based fishery during the
period October 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.
Method Number of Fishers Number of Gear Hook and Line 124 139 Throw net (Talaya) 20 20 Gill net (Tekin) 18 14 Surround net 0 0 Snorkel spear 17 17 SCUBA spear 5 5 Hooks and Gaffs 0 0 Other methods 1 1 Drag Net 0 0 Total 185 196
Table 2. Methods with numbers of fishers and numbers of gear counted during
participation surveys in the period October 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.
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BOAT-BASED FISHERIES Report Period: October 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. For boat-based surveys, approximately 42.1 metric tons was harvested in the time period (see Table 3). The method with the most landings for the last half of 2019 was trolling, which comprised 88% of the total boat-based landings for the quarter, followed by bottom fishing (8%), SCUBA spearing (2%), snorkel spearing (2%). Atulai night-light jigging and gillnetting were absent from the creel survey, and jigging comprised less than 1% of total catch. The majority of trolling participation, catch, and effort continue to be from the fleet of 19-foot boats that are manned by two fishers using hand lines and targeting schools of skipjack and yellowfin tuna that are sold for local consumption. Activity at the Agat Marina and the Agana Boat Basin were normal, with activity increasing during the weekends and calm periods. Boat-based fishing activity at the Merizo Pier continues and remains to be significantly low.
Boat-Based Method
Total landings (metric tons)
Total Persons Total Hours Total Trips Average CPUE (kg/gr-hr)
Trolling 37.0 5,524 10,331 2,114 1.0 Bottom fishing 3.2 1,431 2,678 580 0.4 SCUBA spearing 0.8 141 121 37 1.6 Snorkel spearing 1.0 499 534 154 0.7 Jigging >1% 37 34 14 0.7 TOTAL 42.1 7,632 13,698 2,899
Table 3: Total Expanded Boat-based Landings, Participation, Effort, and CPUE values
for the top five (5) boat-based methods between October 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019.
Four of the top five species caught by weight (see Table 4) were caught by trolling. These were skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis, 24.2 mt), mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus, 4.3 mt), wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri, 4.0 mt), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares, 3.3 mt). The top four species comprised 97% of total troll catch and 85% of total boat-based catch. The fifth top species, the yellowtail kali (Pristipomoides auricilla, 0.9 mt), was caught deep bottomfishing. Deep bottomfish species catch have been exceeding shallow bottomfish species catch in recent years.
Table 4: Total Expanded Boat-based Landings, Participation, Effort, and CPUE values for period between October 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. BOATING ACCESS PROGRAM:
SPECIES
TOTAL WEIGHT
(KGS) TROLLING BOTTOM ATULAI GILLNETT SNORKEL SCUBA OTHERS Katsuwonus pelamis
(skipjack tuna) 24,202 24,202 Coryphaena hippurus
(mahi mahi) 4,291 4,291 Acanthocybium solandri
(wahoo) 4,021 4,021 Thunnus albacares
(yellowfin tuna) 3,325 3,325 Pristipomoides auricilla
(yellowtail kali) 930 930
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Page 6 of 12
Introduced Bills • Bill 53-35 – Prohibition of fishing with the use of a self-contained underwater breathing
apparatus (scuba) and similar devices in the waters of Guam or in any vessel in the waters of Guam. Update: Public hearing was held on November 13, 2019. Individuals from the public testified both in favor and not in favor of the bill. The Department of Agriculture provided testimony and recommended amendments to the bill such as a temporary moratorium on night-time snorkel spearfishing.
Guam Fishing Licenses DAWR met with the Department of Agriculture (DOAG) Director and Deputy Director
and reviewed and partially revised the proposed fishing licenses in February 2020. The Department will continue the review once DAWR researches the data needed to be reported. Public Law 33-144 still needs to be repealed to allow DOAG to move forward with the regulations.
Special permits still continue to be issued for the seasonal take of: • Atulai (Big Eye Scads), • l'e' (Juvenile Jacks) • Ti'ao (Juvenile Goat Fish) • Manahak (Juvenile Rabbitfish)
Marine Conservation Plan DOAG held meetings with the community on September 25, 2019 at the Sinajana Resource Center, October 3, 2019 at the Inarajan Community Center, and October 4, 2019 at the Dededo Senior Center to obtain input and comments for Guam’s next 3-year Marine Conservation Plan. Good discussions occurred during the meetings with some project ideas and comments provided to DOAG. A draft was completed and sent to the Governor of Guam for review and action. Paseo de Susana Fishing Platform DOAG, and DAWR’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Program (WSFR) federal grantor met with the Lt. Governor and staff in January 2020 to potentially discuss further extending the length of the platform. The Lt. Governor also expressed a what if scenario of converting the platform to a multi-use facility. The WSFR grantor comments were 1) based on the lack of demonstrated use by the public for recreational fishing, and the unlikely permitting of an extension closer to the waters (into channel) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USACOE, WSFR does not see a current need or justification for approving further requests for SFR funding for an extension. If DAWR, GovGuam, or the WESPAC council finds alternative funding sources then the decision is theirs to extend, provided intended uses are consistent with original purpose of the facility; and 2) any decision to convert the use of the platform for activities other than funded purpose should be communicated to WSFR in advance of an implementation action so appropriate disposition guidance compliant with program regulations can be provided. Informally, disposal can be a) reimbursement of the program for a determined value of the facility, or b) an offer of a facility or asset of similar value and utility (as the one being disposed of) in lieu.
FADs Currently#5 is uncGuam Deforward wand deplo
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Page 8 of 12
ONLINE: GPS Coordinates
Number 5 (Unconfirmed) 13’44.7N/144’48.4E
Number 6 (Pati)
13’42.6N/144’01.6E
Facpi 13’ 20.4 N/144’36.5E
Umatac 13’17.0N/144’37.0E
Cocos 13’12.0N/144’41.7E
Agat 13’ 23.3 N/144’ 33.9E
Number 2 (Haputo)
13’ 35.6 N/144’ 45.6E
OFFLINE: GPS Coordinates
Number 1 (Adelup)
13’32.2N/144’43.1E
Number 3 (Urunao)
13’39.9N/144’46.1E
Number 4 13’43.3N/144’43.3E
Ledge 13’35.8N/144’40.4E
Facpi 2 13’19.6N/144’33.3E
9 Mile 13’ 15.1N/144’ 28.7E
Old NOAA 13’ 43.5 N/144’ 40.8E
Table 5. Current status of FADS online and offline while Figure 6 shows the FAD sites.
SWMs SWM Sy SWM De‐ 10 S
deplof nunabeyebSWM
Figure 7
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No. Site Name Coordinates Depth (ft) 1. Double Reef #1 13’36.219N / 144’50.105E 33
2. Double Reef #2 13’35.713N / 144’49.988E 39
3. Hilaan x 13’33.763N / 144’48.985E 45
4. Gun Beach x 13’31.470N / 144’48.068E 20
5. Tumon #1 13’31.032N / 144’47.162E 30
6. Tumon #2 13’30.641N / 144’47.162E 45
7. Alupat Island 13’21.608N / 144’46.026E 47
8. East Agana x 13’29.337N / 144’45.873E 35
9. West Agana x 13’29.046N / 144’44.008E 48
10. Asan 13’28.646N / 144’42.780E 49
11. Piti 13’28.602N / 144’41.833E 49
12. Amphitheater 13’27.914N / 144’40.549E 57
13. Luminao Reef 13’28.070N / 144’39.366E 45
14. Blue Hole x 13’26.177N / 144’37.589E 50
15. Sharks Pit x 13’25.260N / 144’38.372E 56
16. Rizal 13’24.666N / 144’38.953E 46
17. Haps Reef 13’23.678N / 144’39.196E 50
18. Alutom Island x 13’23.072N / 144’38.763E 53
19. Bangi Piont x 13’22.373N / 144’38.528E 50
20. Anae Island 13’21.380N / 144’38.240E 20
21. Pete’s Reef x 13’20.652N / 144’38.265E 55
22. Sella Bay x 13’19.361N / 144’39.100E 16
23. Cetti Bay 13’18.932N / 144’39.188E 35
24. Tuguan Bay x 13’17.003N / 144’39.665E 37
25. Bile Bay 13’16.600N / 144’39.700E 48
26. Cocos #1 x 13’15.900N / 144’39.258E 46
27. Cocos #2 x 13’15.061N / 144’38.715E 36
28. Navy Channel 13’14.485N / 144’38.375E 37
29. Cocos Wall 13’14.250N / 144’39.552E 45
30. Cocos #3 x 13’14.249N / 144’40.019E 55
31. Jade Shoals 13’27.189N / 144’39.720E 45
32. Western Shoals x 13’27.020N / 144’29.230E 20
33. Gabgab #1 x 13’26.694N / 144’38.729E 20
34. Gabgab #2 x 13’26.706N / 144’38.655E 60
Table 6. Current status of SWMs online and offline.
Sea TurtStrandingTotal of 2
Dnbr
JaB
Figure 8
tle g Info 2 green sea t
December 21ear Gab Gabrought to Unanuary 1, 20
Beach area, N
8. December
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anuary 31, 20argic and nothore for obseis currently.
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Page 12 of 12
Man-o-Wars and Box Jellyfish Traditionally, the summer months are when the majority of jellyfish stings occur, with a peak in July. Man-o-Wars were first reported around Christmas 2019 and have been seen consistently since. DAWR is not aware of any Box Jellyfish sightings during the last quarter of 2019 but observed Box Jellyfishes in February 2020. False Killer Whale A False Killer Whale was stranded on the beach at Guam Wildlife Refuge in Ritidian on January 9, 2020 and pushed back into the ocean.
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