Fisheries in Berlin

Dateline: Berlin, Germany, August 2011.

Germans and Berliners are remembering the 50-year anniversary of the erection of the wall that divided a city within a divided country. Germany is now united (since 1989) and Berlin is a vibrant international city. Humboldt University of Berlin, founded in 1810, is the site of the 6th World Recreational Fishing Conference, hosting over 350 participants from 32 countries from around the world.

As part of my vacation, I was honored to represent Texas at this conference. The following is an abstract of my presentation focusing on the driving forces that have affected the evolution of Texas' great saltwater recreational fisheries.

Geography, Climate and Habitat

Texas is known for its size, and thus has a wide range of geographic, climatic and environmental features that contribute significantly to the diversity of habitat and subsequently the diversity of fish species. The span from north to south and east to west is over 300 miles each way, encompassing over 4 million acres within 8 major bay systems behind the coastal barrier islands, with jurisdiction in the Gulf of Mexico for the State out to 9 nautical miles (nm) and to 200 nm for the Feds.

The major forces of change in this arena are those of climate and anthropomorphic changes. The most significant change was the dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway in the 1930s, spanning from border to border. Increasing human population growth along the coast has brought about other alternations affecting habitat and water quality and quantity. Seemingly increasing impacts of hurricanes, harmful algal blooms, climatic changes, such as drought, and continued man-made changes are impacting the coastal fisheries.

Governance and Enforcement

Even before receiving statehood in 1845, Texans had derived consumable and economic benefit from their coast. The creation of the Oyster Commission by the Texas Legislature in 1895 was the first step in delegated authority to oversee and protect the commercial harvest of that resource and subsequently protection and management of most living coastal resources. Evolution of many name changes has resulted in what today is known as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), within which are both the Coastal Fisheries (management and research) and Law Enforcement divisions. The enforcement officers of the later division are recognized and ranked among the best educated, trained and equipped in the nation. A number of other state agencies, such as the General Land Office and the Commission on Environmental Quality, were also created to help understand, protect and regulate Texas' abundant resources.

The Federal government has created a number of agencies that have certain operational and/or jurisdictional roles in the Texas' coastal fisheries understanding and management: US Commission on Fish and Fisheries (1871), Gulf of Mexico Compact (1947), Coastal Zone Management Act (1972), Magnuson Fisheries Conservation Act (1976), US Fish and Wildlife Service (1939) and US Environmental Protection Agency (1973).

Increasing human demands on the coastal resources may require the governmental drivers to seek changes in the way issues are addressed and resolved: legislative authority and appropriations; federal jurisdictions versus states' rights; licensing and permitting; and regulations and allocations.

Recreational Fishery

Texas' earliest coastal fishery was largely commercial with some concerns published as early as 1893 regarding "those interested in developing the sporting fisheries of Texas." Today the saltwater recreational fishery exceeds the commercial fishery in both participants and value: commercial finfish fishery of 940 participants with landings valued at $1.6 million and recreational fishing with over 1.1 million participants and $18 billion in value.

The recreational fisherman profile is very complex: locals and tourist; hand liners and flying bridges; kayaks and head boats; inshore and offshore; table fare and tournaments; and amateur and professionals. Activity ranges from the always present subsistence fisherman to high profile fishing, such as tarpon catching President Roosevelt.

Numerous measurable changes have occurred since post World War II: population growth along coastal regions; increase in "disposable income"; and evolution in quality and variety of motors, boats, and fishing gears. Along with the fore-mentioned changes, there has also been an increase in educated, active, diverse recreational groups, organizations and special interests that have taken an interest in the recreational fisheries. An example of such is the Coastal Conservation Association established in 1977.

Science and Management

It has been the Coastal Fishers Division of TPWD that has had the primary responsibility for the scientific research and management of the living resources of the coast. The study activities have evolved from understanding habitat and species diversity in the early 1900s; single species life histories, spawning and harvest activities in the 1930s; understanding impacts such as pollution, pesticides and harvest impacts in the 1950s; further understanding of coastwide processes and establishing ecosystem based management practices in the 1970s; and employing stock assessments, enhancement practices, and state of the art genetics in the 1980s.

Coastal Fisheries Division has taken advantage of the use of the exponential advancement of technological tools and employed the evolution in the use of social and economic sciences. The division has collaborated well with other agencies, non-government organizations, and universities. It has always tried to maintain an understanding and dialogue with the recreational constituency via the open regulatory process, participation of various committees, and many other less formal avenues of communication. The division has remained a leader in resource research and management among comparable divisions of conservation agencies within the United States and worldwide.

Texas' saltwater recreational fishery is extremely complex and diverse. It drives a significant economic engine yet it will require continued economic input to maintain its high quality while being driven by many internal and external forces. It is all of our jobs to manage and conserve the fishery resources and provide fishing opportunities for use by present and future generations.