A closer look at trip limits

Trip limits have been proposed in the South Atlantic and across the United States as a commercial fishery management tool that places trip-based limits on fishing in order to lengthen fishing seasons, avoid complete fishing closures, reduce fishing pressure, and alleviate the hazardous effects of derby fishing. 

For the four commercial fisheries described below, trip limits mostly did not accomplish these management goals. In fact, other problems often arose such as increased discard rates and reduced fishermen revenue.

Gulf of Mexico grouper-tilefish fishery:

The Gulf of Mexico Council implemented trip limits for groupers in 2004 to reduce derby fishing, improve quota tracking, lengthen fishing seasons by spreading out landings over the year, and lower the likelihood of overfishing. However, trip limits encouraged fishermen to fish as fast as possible, like in a derby race, in order to catch as much as possible under the limit before it closed.  This oftentimes caused the season to close even earlier:

  • Trip limits were implemented in 2005, and in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, the deep water grouper season closed earlier than prior to the implementation of trip limits.

  • Tilefishes were a bycatch of the deepwater grouper fishery, and had no closures prior to implementation of grouper trip limits. By 2009, this fishery was closed six and a half months early.

New England multi-species fishery:

The New England Council implemented trip limits in the multi-species fishery in 1994 to rebuild stocks. This regulation had limited success combined with the Days at Sea regulations (a limit on the number of days a fisherman could go out and fish):

  • The haddock fishery was no longer declared "overfished" in 2010, along with Gulf of Maine cod. Trip limits had been in place for sixteen, and thirteen years respectively. However, when most of the multispecies fleet moved away from trip limit and Days at Sea regulations in 2010, the cod fishery was still classified as undergoing overfishing.

  • Fishermen reported major issues with trip limits while overfishing was addressed including excessive discarding, enforcement issues, and encouragement of derby fishing.

  • The Gulf of Maine 200 pound/day trip limit for cod was implemented on May 1, 1999, however within three weeks into the fishing season the limit was reduced to 30 pounds a day because seventy-five percent of the quota had been caught.

Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery:

The Gulf of Mexico Council implemented trip limits for red snapper in 1992to prevent derby conditions, lengthen seasons, and provide higher ex-vessel prices.  By the early 2000s the gulf red snapper fishery had monthly, ten day micro-seasons, and early closures to prevent overfishing of the resource.  Such short, concentrated harvests caused market gluts and lower dockside prices, along with higher costs, and dangerous fishing conditions.

  • A study showed that had the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery eliminated its trip limits and seasonal closures, fishermen would have earned $2.438 million to $3.977 million more in 1993.

  • Fishermen fished in high seas and storm conditions because the opportunities to catch red snapper were so limited. As a result, boat sinkings were not uncommon.

  • Costs were also higher because of the fuel and supplies needed to make the extra trips, which further reduced profitability.

West coast groundfish fishery:

The Pacific Council implemented trip limits in the West coast groundfish fishery in 1989 to control landings, avoid early closures, and to minimize the targeting of specific species while allowing for take of some incidental catch.  In reality, in order to maximize catch under trip limits, fishermen harvested greater than the trip limit amount and discarded the rest of the catch. 

  • Studies of the West coast groundfish fishery in the mid 1990s showed that discards increased as the trip limit decreased and fishermen took more trips. Plus, when fishermen limited out, they continued to target other species, and discarded the protected fish caught over the limit.

  • When trip limits in the widow rockfish fishery were reduced from 30,000 pounds to 3,000 pounds, the percentage of discards compared to catch rose from 5.7% to 52.3%.[i]

Trip limits have an inconsistent track record of extending seasons, managing discards, reducing fishing pressure, nor keeping fishermen safe, and otherwise protecting fisheries.   

[i]Branch, Trevor A., Rutherford, K, Hilborn R.  2006. "Replacing trip limits with individual transferable quotas: implications for discarding." Marine Policy, 30: 281-292

Recent article illustrates the woes of fishermen and communities in the South Atlantic

A recent post by Susan Shipman in the Atlanta Journal Constitution paints a frustrating story of the woes of fishermen and restaurant and seafood market owners.  When the Magnuson-Stevens Act was passed, its main goal was to place the decision making ability in the hands of regional councils consisting of local stakeholders.  However, with the passing of the Jones Amendment by Representative Walter Jones of North Carolina, the decision making ability of these regional councils has been stripped away and instead placed it back in the hands of Washington. 

This means that the innovative and cost effective management strategy known as catch shares or individual fishing quotas (IFQ) is off the table in regions such as the South Atlantic.  Catch shares allow for year round fishing and this is important for fishermen, restaurant and seafood market owners, and communities because it provides a continuous supply of fresh and local seafood and allows fishermen to avoid fishing in dangerous conditions. 

Click here to read the article. 

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Update

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) met Tuesday, August 9.  Two major actions on the agenda were approval of the Snapper Grouper Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Amendment and the Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 11 (deepwater closure) for submission to the Secretary of Commerce.  After much discussion, both of these amendments were approved. 

The Comprehensive ACL Amendment was approved by an 8 to 5 vote for submission to the Secretary of Commerce.  The dissenting votes were:  Burgess (NC), Hartig (FL), Phillips (GA), Daniels (NC), and Swatzel (SC).   

Regulatory amendment 11 was approved unanimously and will eliminate the 40 fathom deepwater closure implemented as part of 17B.  The Council noted that alternatives to the deepwater closure will be developed in time but did not specify what those would be.

Note: ****Elimination of the deepwater closure will not be effective until approved by the Secretary of Commerce and notice is given by NMFS of the opening date****

Click here to read the News Release from SAFMC.

New bill would keep red drum, spotted sea trout and striped bass off majority of NC dinner tables

A bill - House Bill 353 – is being heard this week in the North Carolina General Assembly. It would designate red drum, spotted sea trout and striped bass as game fish, meaning commercial fishermen could no longer catch them and groceries and markets could no longer sell them. This is important for seafood lovers and commercial fishermen to understand, and take action on, if they choose. Read an article on this proposed measure here.

Gulf Wild™ allows seafood lovers to track their fish, guarantee authenticity

Commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico launched an exciting new system that highlights one of the many benefits of well-managed fishing coastlines: guaranteed fresh, locally-caught fish!

Gulf Wild™ is the first brand of U.S.-caught seafood that allows fishermen to track in real-time who harvested their fish (and from where), and even at what port the fish landed. This type of tracking is important for consumers and guarantees authenticity of wild-caught fish in the Gulf.

You can learn more about Gulf Wild™ and the benefits it brings to both fishermen and seafood lovers here.     

Budget compromise will deal major blow to local fishermen

The following statement can be attributed to Matt Ruby, SAFA President, (843) 902-4734. 

The recent federal budget compromise included an amendment by Walter Jones that will put a stop to important programs for Southeast fishermen. Commercial fishing is an important part of the economy, and local fishing supports jobs and the seafood industry. 

Current management isn't working and with the commercial fishing industry facing so many challenges, we need all options to be available.

Unfortunately, the Jones Amendment takes away fishermen's opportunity to access one important option, catch shares (LAPPs, IFQs, Community Quotas, etc. Learn more). Taking away fishermen's access to catch shares is not going to end the loss of fishing jobsor put an end to fisheries closures or consolidation. 

This Amendment is going to lengthen the struggle for our fisheries, which we cannot afford. Fishermen already feel like they don't have a voice in the process and this is just one more step that will distance fishermen from fisheries management.

We think catch shares should be an option for commercial snapper grouper fishermen. Catch shares could stabilize our businesses and help to ensure a sustainable fishery for future generations of fishermen. 

The South Atlantic Fishermen's Association thinks all options, including catch shares, should be on the table. We're not alone. Read this letter from fishermen associations from across the country who stand strong with us. 

New England fishermen turn a corner after a year under new management

We've heard a lot in the media about the challenges facing New England fishermen after decades of declining fisheries.  A year after trying out new management, the media is reporting on the progress.  They're finding general consensus that fishermen don't want to go back to the old days-at-sea program and instead prefer the sectors program.

It's not hard to see why – many fishermen are reporting having their best years ever while catching higher quality fish, discarding less, making more money and taking fewer trips.

Check out these articles about the New England management system:

May marks more fishing for Southeast fishermen

Commercially-caught vermilion, grouper and amberjack are all open this week and that's good news.

Additionally, NOAA has also eliminated the proposed snapper-grouper area closure in the South Atlantic, preventing a closure of nearly 5,000 square miles.
 

Vote "NO" on the Jones Amendment #548, prohibiting funding for certain fishery management programs

Vote "NO" on the Jones Amendment #548, prohibiting funding for certain fishery management programs

February 17, 2011

Statement by the South Atlantic Fishermen's Association; Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance; an the Gulf Fishermen's Association.

Rep. Walter Jones has proposed Amendment #548 to H.R. 1 to prohibit funding to promote, advocate, or develop Limited Access Privilege Programs (LAPPs) in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, and New England Regional Fishery Management Councils.

LAPPs are specifically authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 2007 and are an important tool in fishery management.

For example, in the Gulf of Mexico, the creation of a LAPP has lead to the revitalization of the red snapper fishery. Most recently, the Pacific implemented a LAPP for its groundfish fishery.

Our organizations represent fishermen in two regions – the South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico – that would be adversely affected by the Jones Amendment.

The Amendment would hurt businesses by prohibiting fishermen from working with the Regional Councils to develop LAPPs that could improve the economics and conservation of a vital nation resource.

Small businesses such as commercial fishermen will not survive long under traditional management systems.

The Jones Amendment is not only bad policy – on an appropriations bill – but more importantly it could cost many fishermen their businesses, costing jobs and economic activity.

The fishermen in our organizations oppose the Jones Amendment and support the continued ability of the Regional Councils to pursue LAPPs as a management option.
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Protect fishermen and their right to development appropriate management systems for their fisheries. Vote "NO" on the Jones Amendment.