TEXAS BAY AND BAIT BUYBACK PROGRAM Robin Riechers Wade Griffin Richard Woodward

History of Managment Until 1985 Texas Legislature Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission 1989 adopted Texas Shrimp Fishery Management Plan –Texas Shrimp Advisory Committee (shift to co- management) –Shrimp License Management Program for the inshore shrimp fishery

Concerned About Effort Increase Figure 2. Days fished in the bays in Texas and FL to LA.

Purpose of Buyback Program Remove licenses and fishing effort Voluntary Bay and bait shrimp fishery Through time Without excessive social and economic disruptions within coastal communities

How the Buyback Worked Reverse bid process TPWD calculates value of license –how long the license has been in the fishery –length of the vessel Shrimper submits a sale offer (bid) Each offer compared with the calculated value –Accepted if: bid < calculated value –Bids with the greatest difference from calculated value selected first

How the Buyback Worked (con’t) Vessel upgrade –One time increase in vessel length 15% with maximum length 60 ft –One time increase in horsepower 15% with maximum horsepower 400 ft 9 member Shrimp License Management Review Board –Elected from shrimp license holders –Reviewed hardship and appeal cases for initial eligibility

How the Buyback Worked (con’t) SLMP made changes in enforceability –Created category of flagrant violations

Funding of Buyback Surcharge on shrimp handling and harvesting licenses sold $1.4 million was acquired in 1997 as a three-year federal grant Private donations of $132,000 May 2000, $3.00 fee on Saltwater Fishing Stamp: estimated $1.3 mil. (expires August 2005)

Table 1. Results of the Texas Bay and Bait License Buyback Program, (Nominal Dollars). YearRound Number Bought License in Fishery/After Buyback HighLowAverage Total Spent/Round $6,000$220$3,394$101, $6,000$800$3,424$126, $6,400$1,500$3,692$217, $6,500$2,500$3,554$188, $7,000$2,500$4,632$347, $8,500$2,000$5,544$654, $8,600$1,500$6,273$658, $8,000$2,500$6,039$465, $8,500$3,000$6,255$888, $8,950$3,000$6,607$786, $9,500$2,500$6,999$601, $9,500$2,300$7,202$756,194 Grand Total 1005$5,792,615

Funk, et al. (2003) Simulation model 1998 on bay shrimping 289 excess license Only $25 surcharge on shrimp harvesters –15 years to buyback excess license Additional funds of $500,000/year –5 years to buyback excess license Reduction in bay effort caused increase in gulf effort

Other Groups Affected Reduction in bycatch of other fish and sea turtles in bays Increase in bycatch of other fish and sea turtles in gulf Cost to society w/government grants Cost to recreational fishery (increase in Salt-water Stamp)

Evaluation of Data w/ Changes Annual crop: abundance Prices of shrimp Regulations

Effort in Bay Shrimp Fisheries

Effort in Gulf Shrimp Fisheries

Landings in Bay Shrimp Fisheries

Landings in Gulf Shrimp Fisheries

CPUE in Bay Shrimp Fisheries

CPUE in Gulf Shrimp Fisheries

Profit per Day Fished in Bay Shrimp Fisheries

Profit per Day Fished in Gulf Shrimp Fisheries

Price per Pound in Bay Shrimp Fisheries

Price per Pound in Gulf Shrimp Fisheries

Strengths and Weakness Purpose: voluntary license buyback program to remove licenses without creating excessive social and economic disruptions within coastal communities Goal: effort reduction will eventually lead to long-term sustainable fishery without economic instability

Strengths and Weakness (con’t) Co-management process –Texas Shrimp Advisory Committee –Shrimp License Management Review Board –Allowed communities to take responsibility for the public’s shrimp resource Continued funding: –Shrimp fishery –Society –Recreational fishermen

Strengths and Weakness (con’t) Frame work gives opportunity when EEZ go to limited entry Restrictions on license transfer expired on September 1, 1999 –Has not affected price license –Potential buyers not in shrimping fishery –Creates a philanthropic opportunity (10 licenses retired)