Moving the Bar on What it Means to be "Overfished"

Last year, the Council took action that, in large part, flew under the radar despite its importance. It’s not terribly surprising since the subject matter is both dry and complicated – even for seasoned participants in the Council process.

The Amendment, which was approved in December of 2017, reduced the Minimum Stock Size Threshold (MSST), which is the threshold used to determine when a stock is overfished, for seven of the reef fish species managed by the Council. In addition to reducing the likelihood that a stock is declared overfished, the amendment effectively removed two reef fish stocks from overfished status; however, they are still in a rebuilding plan. Prior to the change red snapper, gray triggerfish, and greater amberjack were all considered overfished. Now, greater amberjack is the only species that remains with overfished status.

In the Amendment, “Minimum Stock Size Threshold (MSST) Revision for Reef Fish Stocks with Existing Status Determination Criteria,” the Council set the MSST for gag, red grouper, red snapper, vermillion snapper, gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, and hogfish, at half of the spawning stock biomass that would be necessary if the stock were to be fished at maximum sustainable yield on a continuing basis (0.50*BMSY (or proxy)). Each of the stocks already had MSST levels defined by separate efforts, but the Council wanted to standardize the criteria and ensure that stocks with low natural mortality rates didn’t alternate between overfished and rebuilt status due to natural variations such as environmental factors. 

The new MSST is set as far below the biomass of a stock being fished at maximum sustainable yield as is allowed our federal fishing law, National Standard 1 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. It’s also the lowest MSST ever set by the Gulf Council. This means that the biomass of a stock must dip relatively low to be considered overfished. This also means that the likelihood of a stock being declared overfished is very low, but if it happens, a very restrictive rebuilding plan would be required to bring the stock back up to a sustainable biomass.

So, you may be wondering what this all means for red snapper and gray triggerfish, the two species who’s status’ were changed by this amendment.  Both stocks are still under rebuilding plans so, catch limits don’t automatically change. However, the most obvious change from an angler perspective is the removal of the “pay-back” provision. When red snapper or gray triggerfish are considered overfished the pay-back provision requires that any harvest over the annual catch limit must be made up for by reducing the following years harvest by the amount of the overage. In recent years, this has been a major contributor to short seasons for both species. Without pay-back provisions, we should see more consistent annual catch limits and thus fishing seasons hopefully, allowing more fishing opportunities.

While the MSST Amendment didn’t miraculously grow the size of the stocks in the Gulf, it did reduce the likelihood that one of the seven listed species is declared overfished.  In fact, a red snapper stock assessment that was completed this year showed that red snapper is not overfished and even allows for an increase in harvest.  The Council is currently working on another amendment that considers modifying status determination criteria including MSST for remaining stocks. “Status Determination Criteria and Optimum Yield for Reef Fish and Red Drum” is an amendment you may want to pay attention to since it also proves to have implications despite its dry, complicated subject matter.

More Fish, Less Fishing?

Photo: Kathy Hoak

Why does the recreational red snapper season keep getting shorter even though we are seeing more red snapper than ever before?

We know you’re seeing more snapper than ever before, and this is a great indicator that the rebuilding plan is working, but it does not mean that the stock is in good health or rebuilt.

Why not?

The health of the red snapper stock is not based only on the number of fish or biomass (weight) of red snapper in the Gulf. On the surface it may seem to be the practical way to make that judgment but, it’s really not the best indication of a fish stocks sustainability, or ability to reproduce for years to come. The red snapper stock is measured in terms of egg production, known as spawning potential. Larger, older fish produce many more eggs than smaller, younger fish; so counting egg production to predict the health and sustainability of a stock is more accurate than counting numbers of fish.

(Collins, Fitzhugh, et al. 2001)

Check out this graph. It shows how red snapper batch fecundity (the number of eggs in millions produced by each fish during a spawn) changes as the fish get older. As you can see the number of eggs produced by a red snapper really takes off at about 8 years.

To put this spawning ability into perspective:

Artwork: Dianne Rome Peebles

One 24-inch female red snapper (about a 8 year old fish) produces as many eggs as 212 17-inch females (about 5 years old).                    (FWC)

So, What Does This Mean?

Age and spawning success is a big part of why you’re seeing more and more fish. Unfortunately, the science isn’t giving the green light to dramatically increase the harvest. The average size of a red snapper harvested this year will weigh approximately 7.70 pounds, which is about a 7-year-old fish. It is great that fish are getting bigger and we need that trend to continue because the stock won’t be reproductively successful (considered healthy/sustainable) until we have more older, bigger fish around to spawn.

Photo: Mike Jennings

When will we see an increase in the amount of red snapper we can harvest?

We already have. Beginning in 2009 the science has indicated that the red snapper population is indeed rebuilding. Each year the Gulf Council has recommended an annual increase in the red snapper quota (the number of pounds of red snapper that can be harvested).

If the quota is going up every year, why does the season keep getting shorter?

There are a couple of reasons for the shrinking red snapper season. As the stock begins to rebuild we are seeing more fish than we have in recent memory, and these fish are getting bigger as time passes. Additionally, as the red snapper stock rebuilds their geographical range increases and fishermen catch them in places they have not typically been found. The more fish there are, the easier it is to catch them, and the quota is harvested faster. Even though the number of annual red snapper fishing trips has gone down, those trips are more successful, with more anglers bringing home their bag limit of big red snapper.

This year the National Marine Fisheries Service is predicting that an average of 18,922 red snapper will be landed each day during the open season, which is over three times more than the 6000 red snapper landed per day in 2007.

Photo: Mark Miller

As the stock grows, the average size of red snapper is also increasing and there are more large fish to catch. Anglers are catching more pounds of fish per trip, even though they are keeping the same number of fish. Since fish quotas are set in pounds, the quota is filled faster with fewer individual fish. The National Maine Fisheries Service predicts that average size of red snapper harvested this year will weigh 7.70 pounds, which is about twice the weight of the typical red snapper caught in 2007.

Where do we go from here?

A benchmark stock assessment is underway and expected to be completed in June of this year. Once we have the results of the assessment the Councils scientific advisors (the Scientific and Statistical Committee) will recommend harvest levels based on the new science and Council will recommend fishery management measures to achieve those harvest goals. 

Gray Triggerfish Rebuilding Plan

Ahoy,

We’re gearing up for another Council meeting that’s taking place next week (October 29 – November 1) at the Marriott Courtyard in Gulfport, Mississippi.

If you’re interested in what we plan to discuss you can find the schedule here, and all the briefing materials can be found here.

As always, Dr. Roy Crabtree, the Regional Administrator of NOAA Fisheries will host an informal question and answer session on Tuesday after the meeting concludes.

We’ll be hosting  a public comment session starting at 1:45 on Wednesday afternoon.

Below is a quick list of issues that we plan to address next week. If you have any questions or want any more information don’t hesitate to contact us.

Photo: Mark Miller

Gag and Shallow-Water Grouper

Last week we traveled the coast gathering input from anglers about a framework action that may change grouper fishing seasons and bag limits. Next week the Council will decide what the 2013 gag bag limit and season will be, and figure out whether or not it’s appropriate to change or eliminate the February – March shallow-water grouper closure.

Gray Triggerfish

After reviewing the input we gathered during public hearings the Council will take final action on Amendment 37. The amendment is being developed to end overfishing  of gray triggerfish and rebuild the overfished stock to a healthy size by the 2017 deadline. The amendment considers:

•       Changing the current rebuilding plan
•       Establishing a commercial closed season
•       Establishing a commercial trip limit
•       Establishing a recreational closed season
•       Establishing a triggerfish–specific recreational bag limit
•       Allowing NOAA Fisheries to close the recreational fishery if the Annual Catch Target is reached 

Photo: Mark Miller

For-Hire Reporting Requirements

The Council will review a scoping document that looks into the possibility of changing the method and frequency of fishery data reporting by federally permitted charter and headboat vessels.

Vermilion Snapper

The Council will look at a draft of a document that considers increasing the vermilion snapper harvest limits and changing the recreational bag limit for vermilion snapper.  The current Annual Catch Limit for vermilion snapper is set at 3,420,000 pounds. A stock assessment that was completed in 2011 suggested that the vermilion snapper harvest could increase because the stock was not overfished or experiencing overfishing.  The Council’s scientific advisors  (the Scientific and Statistical Committee) have increased the Acceptable Biological Catch for the next few years:

So, the Council is considering increasing the Annual Catch Limits so that they correspond with the newly increased Acceptable Biological Catch.

Regional Management of Red Snapper

The Council will also go over a scoping document that begins to analyze the possibility of managing red snapper regionally.  They will look at defining regions, allocating among those regions, administration of the regional management system, and possible accountability measures to help mitigate and control overages to each separate regions allocation                      

Photo: Jason Whitaker

Other Red Snapper Stuff
The Council will review the preliminary draft of the 5-year review of the Individual Fishing Quota proram. The document contains analysis of the social, economic, and biological impacts that the program has had on the fishery, and recommendations for changes to the programs that have been made by a variety of different advisory groups.

Council will review a paper that evaluates the economic efficiency of this years red snapper allocation.

Council will hear a presentation about non-compliance of the states and the 2013 red snapper season..