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Bailout for Sagging Fishery
In my December 2008 column I spoke of the flounder dilemma. TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division does a remarkable job of keeping track of our fisheries and their numbers point to a steady decline in flounder stocks dating to 1982. Recreational and commercial landings declined approximately 90% between 1985 and 2007. Several changes in harvest regulations have been enacted along the way to reduce pressure on the resource.
In 1996 the minimum length for flounder was increased from 12 to 14 inches. In that same move, more conservative limits were enacted. The recreational daily bag was reduced from 20 fish to 10 and the commercial limit was clipped to 60. Captains of shrimping vessels could retain only a recreational bag limit from their nets. The goal of these measures was to increase spawning biomass and reserve young fish from harvest until they had at least one chance to spawn.
Along these same lines, a limited entry/buyback program for commercial finfish licenses was created in 1999 to further reduce pressure from the commercial side. Next came BRD requirements (by-catch reduction devices) for trawl nets and nursery area protection (off limits to trawlers) in 2000 to reduce the number of flounder being scooped by shrimper's nets. Most recently, in 2006, the possession limits for flounder were reduced from the traditional two day bag limit to one day's bag limit.
It is a fact that shrimp nets catch finfish; flounder and other flat fishes are especially vulnerable. Seeing a large fleet of shrimping vessels plying inshore waters, recreational anglers pointed the finger at shrimpers. Well- as I said in December- we now understand that we might have assigned more blame than was deserved, at least as regards the flounder decline.
Shrimp License Buyback, rising cost of operation, and the market effect of imported and farmed product have teamed to all but eliminate shrimping effort as we once knew it. Reaching an historic peak in 1994, TPWD says bay brown shrimping effort decreased 97% by 2006. Bay white shrimping effort decreased 94%.
Despite all of the above, flounder stocks are headed to the cellar almost as fast as our 401Ks. Mother Nature, along with the managers and fishermen, has her fingers in the pie. Seawater temperatures are rising, not so much in summer, but definitely in winter. Warm water in winter brings reduced spawning success, a disproportionate number of males, and increased predation. Add fishing pressure and you get a sagging fishery.
Seawater temperatures are what they are. The only practical tool left is further reduction of harvest pressure. So here's what appears to be in the works.
Coastal Fisheries staff have conducted a series of meetings to scope public opinion. While some attendees felt no action should be taken, most agreed the flounder population is decreasing and something needs to be done.
At their January meetings, TPWD commissioners directed Coastal Fisheries staff to conduct another round of meetings to scope the following changes to flounder regulations.
-Reduce recreational daily bag to five fish, five in possession.
-Reduce commercial daily bag to thirty fish, thirty in possession.
-November closure of flounder fishery to all users.
Population estimates suggest we will see spawning biomass increase by 202.5% over six years.
Given growing support from stakeholders of all walks and conservation groups, especially CCA Texas, I believe these proposals will be enacted into regulation for the license year that begins September 1, 2009.
Bailouts seem to be in fashion. I urge Texas anglers to support this bailout for our flounder. We cannot save this fishery for future generations if we do not use it wisely today.
In 1996 the minimum length for flounder was increased from 12 to 14 inches. In that same move, more conservative limits were enacted. The recreational daily bag was reduced from 20 fish to 10 and the commercial limit was clipped to 60. Captains of shrimping vessels could retain only a recreational bag limit from their nets. The goal of these measures was to increase spawning biomass and reserve young fish from harvest until they had at least one chance to spawn.
Along these same lines, a limited entry/buyback program for commercial finfish licenses was created in 1999 to further reduce pressure from the commercial side. Next came BRD requirements (by-catch reduction devices) for trawl nets and nursery area protection (off limits to trawlers) in 2000 to reduce the number of flounder being scooped by shrimper's nets. Most recently, in 2006, the possession limits for flounder were reduced from the traditional two day bag limit to one day's bag limit.
It is a fact that shrimp nets catch finfish; flounder and other flat fishes are especially vulnerable. Seeing a large fleet of shrimping vessels plying inshore waters, recreational anglers pointed the finger at shrimpers. Well- as I said in December- we now understand that we might have assigned more blame than was deserved, at least as regards the flounder decline.
Shrimp License Buyback, rising cost of operation, and the market effect of imported and farmed product have teamed to all but eliminate shrimping effort as we once knew it. Reaching an historic peak in 1994, TPWD says bay brown shrimping effort decreased 97% by 2006. Bay white shrimping effort decreased 94%.
Despite all of the above, flounder stocks are headed to the cellar almost as fast as our 401Ks. Mother Nature, along with the managers and fishermen, has her fingers in the pie. Seawater temperatures are rising, not so much in summer, but definitely in winter. Warm water in winter brings reduced spawning success, a disproportionate number of males, and increased predation. Add fishing pressure and you get a sagging fishery.
Seawater temperatures are what they are. The only practical tool left is further reduction of harvest pressure. So here's what appears to be in the works.
Coastal Fisheries staff have conducted a series of meetings to scope public opinion. While some attendees felt no action should be taken, most agreed the flounder population is decreasing and something needs to be done.
At their January meetings, TPWD commissioners directed Coastal Fisheries staff to conduct another round of meetings to scope the following changes to flounder regulations.
-Reduce recreational daily bag to five fish, five in possession.
-Reduce commercial daily bag to thirty fish, thirty in possession.
-November closure of flounder fishery to all users.
Population estimates suggest we will see spawning biomass increase by 202.5% over six years.
Given growing support from stakeholders of all walks and conservation groups, especially CCA Texas, I believe these proposals will be enacted into regulation for the license year that begins September 1, 2009.
Bailouts seem to be in fashion. I urge Texas anglers to support this bailout for our flounder. We cannot save this fishery for future generations if we do not use it wisely today.