FISHING IMPACTS
An important step in the management plan review is the process of characterizing priority issues. "Harvesting impacts from fishing" was identified as one of six priority issues through the public scoping process and by the sanctuary advisory council and sanctuary staff. In response, the sanctuary advisory council formed a working group to address this issue. Through a series of public meetings and workshops, the working group developed their final recommendations on management activities and strategies to be considered by the full council and the sanctuary superintendent. The following summarizes the work done by members of the subcommittee or working group and presents an overview of the issue and suggested action strategies.
Working Group Members:
- Irby Basco, Chairperson, Council Recreational Fishing Representative
- G.P. Schmahl, FGBNMS Superintendent
- Joe Hendrix, Council Commercial Fishing Representative
- John Stout, Council Recreational Fishing Representative
- Page Williams, Council Conservation Representative
The Issue:
Fishing activities may negatively impact and threaten the natural living resources of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). The influence of fishing and associated fishing activities on the FGBNMS are not well documented, but concerns are mounting about the impacts on the marine ecosystems in a variety of ways, both directly (reduced fish biomass) and indirectly (secondary impacts on species interactions, habitat alteration/damage, marine biodiversity impacts, economic impacts). Specific concerns include: targeted fishing efforts that could impact snapper, grouper and wahoo populations; focused fishing during spawning aggregations; injury to corals and other organisms by lost and discarded fishing gear (photo by Joyce & Frank Burek); and discarded fishing byctach.
The Strategy:
- Develop a process to establish an experimental approach to determine the effects of fishing and diving on resources of the Flower Garden Banks.
- In order to establish the extent of potential impacts of fishing and other activities, establish areas under sanctuary management as: No fishing; No diving; or No activity, except permitted research. Allow research in all areas of the sanctuary.
- A Research Area Monitoring workshop was held April 23-24, 2008. See the Fishing Workshops page for details.
- Ensure that sanctuary regulations regarding fishing activities are clear and concise.
- Clarify Sanctuary regulatory language relating to long line fishing to include all long line fishing activity (not only “bottom long lines”)
- Request inclusion of FGBNMS regulations in Gulf of Mexico FMC (GMFMC) materials.
- Protect fishing populations from the use of inappropriate fishing gear.
- Identify gear compatible with primary objective of resource protection and HAPC designation.
- Ensure compatibility among applicable fishing regulations.
- Work with the Gulf of Mexico FMC to ensure compatibility between HAPC and sanctuary regulations.
Download a copy of the Fishing Impacts Fact Sheet (376kb pdf).
Visit Fishing Workshops web page.
Questions or comments? Email fgbmanagmentplan@noaa.gov.
