Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
While data collection and analysis related to highly migratory fisheries (e.g. tunas, billfish, swordfish, and sharks) were not addressed specifically in the National Research Council review, these valued, highly valued fisheries are important to many anglers. Highly migratory species also present unique data collection challenges and require different survey approaches. For these reasons, the agency is investing in projects to assess current programs, develop new methodologies as needed, and expand the data collection efforts to meet new management and science needs.
Characterize Recreational Fisheries in the South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico
The initial step toward improving data collection for highly migratory species is to better understand the nature of current fisheries. Reliable catch and effort data for several important highly migratory species is lacking in these regions. This project will characterize the HMS private boat fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic, and the HMS charter boat fishery off Texas.
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Evaluate Sampling Distribution of Tournament Versus Non-Tournament Trips
Tournaments are an important part of the total directed fishery for highly migratory species. The catch rates and fish sizes from tournament trips typically differ from those associated with non-tournament trips. As either over-sampling or under-sampling tournament trips could affect the accuracy of catch rates and size distributions, it is important that HMS surveys sample tournament trips in proportion to their occurrence. This study will evaluate the sampling distribution of tournament trips in NOAA Fisheries’ Large Pelagic Survey. If tournaments are not being sampled proportionately, recommendations will be made for correcting this potential bias and implementing new approaches for sampling HMS tournament in the future.
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Non-Tournament Landings Reporting for Private Boats in the Caribbean
Outside of information gathered at tournaments, scientists and managers have little reliable data of HMS fishing in Puerto Rico. Working in cooperation with local recreational fishermen and industry leaders, the project will first characterize the make-up of the fishery and from that, develop a new data collection system to provide a clearer, more complete picture of highly migratory species fishing in Puerto Rico.
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Florida Private Angler Telephone Survey
Reliable recreational catch and effort data for several important highly migratory species caught in Florida are lacking. This project employs a targeted telephone survey of highly migratory species private angler permit holders to estimate and characterize the state’s total private boat-directed fishery for highly migratory species. Information obtained from this study will help fishery managers understand the magnitude and characteristics of this fishery and will be used to develop future highly migratory species catch and effort surveys in Florida.
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Florida For-Hire Pilot Survey
A companion study to the “Private Angler Telephone Survey”, this project seeks a more complete picture of the for-hire fishery for highly migratory species in Florida. Both dockside and telephone interviews will be conducted with HMS captains in an effort to characterize the for-hire HMS fishery throughout Florida and estimate total for-hire HMS catch and directed effort in southeast Florida and the Florida Keys. As with its companion survey, project results will be used to develop future surveys that provide more precise and accurate information.