Atlantic Billfish Updates: Circle hooks in tournaments; possible longline move into SE closed areas; and the white marlin / roundscale spearfish story.
Circle Hooks: On again, off again? Public hearings on circle hook rule.
March 27, 2007 ; 7 – 9 p.m. Worcester County Library, Snow Hill Branch, 307 North Washington Street, Snow Hill, Maryland, 21863.
March 28, 2007; 7 – 9 p.m. Broward County Library, Main Library, 100 South Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301.
March 29, 2007 from 7 – 9 p.m. Carteret Community College, Joslyn Hall, H.J. McGee, Jr. Building, 3505 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557–2989.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has published a proposed rule that would suspend the requirement for using circle hooks with live or natural baits in all Atlantic tournaments featuring billfish categories. Curiously, the proposal states that the rule might be suspended of 2007 in order to take advantage of the conservation benefits that circle hooks afford through the increased survival of released fish. Read more about it here. This issue might be critical to the ongoing review of the status of white marlin in relation to the endangered species act. The reaction to the circle hook requirement has ranged from full support to a demand for an exception for baits trolled with artificial lures. This new rulemaking comes in reaction to the complaints about the requirement and may conflict with many tournaments that already have printed literature and rules for 2007. Public comments on the rule are being accepted through March 30 via the following means: E-mail:0648–AV25@noaa.gov Mail:NOAA/NMFS HMS Management Division, 263 13th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Fax:727–824–5398. Include the following in the subject line or envelope front: ‘‘Comments on Proposed Billfish Circle Hook Rule.’’
Another request to allow longlines into the south Atlantic closed area The NMFS has received a request from the Blue Water Fishermen’s Association for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) that would allow 13 longline vessels to fish an area now closed to longlining in federal waters 40 miles north of Fort Pierce (~ 280 N. Latitude) and east of the axis of the Gulf Stream, continuing northward and east to the 100 fathom contour and the northern boundary of the Charleston Bump closed area ( http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/breaking_news.htm ). TBF opposes the issuance of such an EFP as the intent of the permit is not scientific or experimental but is solely to allow longlines to fish in the closed area. The area closures to this gear were implemented to reduce the bycatch and mortality of juvenile swordfish, white and blue marlin and sailfish and they have succeeded at that goal. The NMFS recently allowed multi-hook bouy gear into these areas and there has yet to be an evaluation of the impacts and extent of commercial catch this gear will afford the industry. The closures have achieved the bycatch reduction goals and have created a dynamic and economically strong recreational swordfish fishery in an area previously devastated by commercial overfishing. We urge the NMFS to enjoy the success of the present closures and not to risk that positive with a mass incursion of longliners. Public comments on the EFP request will be taken though April 11 and can be made by mail to:Michael Clark, HMS Division (F/SF1), NMFS 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or by email to: SF1.030107C (including the code - I.D. o30107C in the subject line.
Discovery of roundscale spearfish in northeast Atlantic carries no implication for status of white marlin A recent press release from scientists at NOVA Southeastern University and an article on the enews site Sciencedaily.com drawing on a recent paper published in The Bulletin of Marine Science have carried an inaccuracy concerning the potential impact of the discovery that roundscale spearfish co-occur with white marlin in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. To claim this discovery means that past white marlin stock assessments have overestimated their abundance is not true. According to TBF scientists Drs. James Kitchell and Russell Nelson this discovery simply means that the existing stock assessments have actually been historically describing the two species as a complex. “Unless the proportion of roundscale spearfish has varied dramatically over time the assessment accuracy has not changed and the relative abundance of white marlin is as estimated by previous assessments,” said Nelson. Dr. John Graves of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science has analyzed 15 years worthy of dna samples taken across the north Atlantic from tournament caught ‘white marlin’. “About 2% of the samples across years have now been determined to be roundscale spearfish,” noted Graves, “and that number is insignificant from an assessment perspective.” TBF notes that it is important to place the real facts before the public, especially at a time when the NMFS is doing a status review of white marlin in relation to the Endangered Species Act.
By the way – want to identify that fish? The **** vent of a roundscale spearfish is about 5” forward of the anal fin while the distance is more like 2” in the white marlin.
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
