Recreational Fishing Organizations: The Missing Link in Cooperative Fisheries Research and Management Jason Schratwieser Conservation Director

Who’s Involved?

Is everyone communicating in the management process? No Not Really Yes?

Problem: Lack of communication can lead to fishermen misunderstanding the fishery management process. Distrust in the data driving management Distrust in the data driving management Inefficient and/or incomplete data collection Inefficient and/or incomplete data collection Poor Compliance Poor Compliance Ineffective management Ineffective management

Solution Get recreational anglers actively involved in cooperative research and data collection. This will generate trust and support of science driving management

How to break the communication barrier?

Angling organizations can be the critical link in facilitating productive interaction between anglers and managers Fisheries Managers Recreational Anglers

Important Considerations Fishing organizations need to have staff that have both management and angling knowledge Fishing organizations need to have staff that have both management and angling knowledge Cooperative research must have clear objectives Cooperative research must have clear objectives Recreational anglers should be included because they have skills that contribute to the research Recreational anglers should be included because they have skills that contribute to the research Data collected should be useful and not considered “second class science” Data collected should be useful and not considered “second class science”

Cooperative Research

Three Tier Cooperation Professional Fishing Captains

Situation Most sailfish in South Florida are released Most sailfish in South Florida are released However, because of their popularity and techniques used to catch them, post release mortality can be significant However, because of their popularity and techniques used to catch them, post release mortality can be significant

Possible Solutions Implement and/or tighten traditional fisheries management tools (e.g., closed seasons) or…. Implement and/or tighten traditional fisheries management tools (e.g., closed seasons) or…. Research alternative gear (hooks) and techniques that reduce post release mortality Research alternative gear (hooks) and techniques that reduce post release mortality

Study Variables seconds; seconds; seconds; seconds; seconds; seconds; 4. >15 seconds. 4. >15 seconds. Hooks Drop Back

Results and Conclusions Eight of South Florida’s top captains, as well as their crews and clients participated Eight of South Florida’s top captains, as well as their crews and clients participated Data from a total of 2,086 sailfish Data from a total of 2,086 sailfish Hook type and drop back time can potentially affect post release survival Hook type and drop back time can potentially affect post release survival Anglers that use the “right” circle hooks improve post release survival for sailfish over a variety of drop backs and obtain comparable catch success to other hooks throughout a range of drop back times Anglers that use the “right” circle hooks improve post release survival for sailfish over a variety of drop backs and obtain comparable catch success to other hooks throughout a range of drop back times

Adopt A Billfish Program Collaboration between Federal fisheries management, NGOs, academia and recreational anglers Collaboration between Federal fisheries management, NGOs, academia and recreational anglers Project goal is to determine billfish movement patterns along the Pacific coast of Central AmericaProject goal is to determine billfish movement patterns along the Pacific coast of Central America

POP-UP SATELLITE TAG TECHNOLOGY

Levels of Participation Sponsor 1 or more PSAT ($4,000 each) Sponsor 1 or more PSAT ($4,000 each) Provide vessels for deployment of tags at project locations Provide vessels for deployment of tags at project locations Transfer fish to a PSAT tagging vessel during tagging events Transfer fish to a PSAT tagging vessel during tagging events

Results Roughly 100 PSATs deployed over the last 4 years Roughly 100 PSATs deployed over the last 4 years Billfish along Western Central America readily move between neighboring countries international waters necessitating the need for international cooperation and management. Billfish along Western Central America readily move between neighboring countries international waters necessitating the need for international cooperation and management.

Certified Observer Program Facilitates release formats in tournaments by having observers that are proficient at both IGFA angling rules and in situ billfish identification. Facilitates release formats in tournaments by having observers that are proficient at both IGFA angling rules and in situ billfish identification.

Certified Observer Program This may also be a way to collect much needed recreational catch data on highly migratory and other species caught or encountered during billfish tournaments This may also be a way to collect much needed recreational catch data on highly migratory and other species caught or encountered during billfish tournaments

Cooperativemanagement Compliance CooperativeResearch How does cooperative research and management guide each other? Cooperative Research Cooperative Management ComplianceTimeline