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-- C o n s e r v a t i o n l e a d e r s h i p --
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| Q 1. | ||
| Will you please give me information on the "electric shock method" of taking census? |
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| Q 2. | ||
| If marine fish and shell fish produce millions of eggs per female, why are conservationists always asking for the protection of the spawning individuals in order to provide fish for the enjoyment of future generations? |
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| Q 3. | ||
| Who catches more fish in the sea, commercial fishermen or sports fishermen? |
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| Q 4. | ||
| Do you know if bounties are ever paid to fishermen, as they are sometimes to hunters, for catching predator species? |
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| Q 5. | ||
| What states have salt water fishing licenses for anglers? |
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| Q 6. | ||
| Is it possible to make a species of marine fish extinct by fishing? |
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| Q 7. | ||
| I read about the survey of hunting and fishing. Could you give me some particulars on it? |
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| Q 8. | ||
| Why do biologists study the spawning habits of fishes? |
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| Q 9. | ||
| If commercial fishermen and sports fishermen both fish in the same area, which group should have prior rights in catching the fish? |
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| Q 10. | ||
| Is dredging harmful to marine life? |
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| Q 11. | ||
| What is a fishery biologist? What training is required to become one? |
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| Q 12. | ||
| It is true that commercial fishing is prohibited in certain areas along the west coast of Florida? If it is, has the sports fishing improved in those areas? |
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| Q 13. | ||
| Many of us in the Virgin Islands are interested in a program to protect bonefish in this area. The Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Associations, and fishermen of the Virgin Islands want to present a bill prohibiting the seining of bonefish. Could you send us any information regarding protective laws that you may know of, or to whom we should write regarding such laws? |
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| Q 14. | ||
| Has the prohibition of stop netting affected the stocks of fish in Florida? |
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| Q 15. | ||
| I am seeking expert opinion as to the actual conservation value of releasing hooked sailfish. Do you feel that such practices help keep the total number of fish more nearly constant? Is there serious loss due to fishing and to natural causes? |
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| Q 16. | ||
| Can an area be "fished out," when it concerns huge game fish such as the marlin, especially when no agency seems to know where they come from, or where they go? |
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| Q 17. | ||
| Is it possible to fish out areas of the ocean? How long would it take such areas to restock? |
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| Q 18. | ||
| One of the most popular means of fishing in the Philippines is “blast fishing,” i.e., throwing a stick of dynamite into the water and collecting the floating fish or diving, where possible, for those that sink. Although it is against law, the miles and miles of coastline make it impossible for the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard to effectively enforce it. I would like to know if the constant blasting has any harmful effects on marine life similar to the effects of DDT. |
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| Q 19. | ||
| I am a professional gamefishing guide in the Florida Keys. I release our catches when they are not wanted for mounting purposes or food, but often wonder how many actually survive. During the netting and removal of the hook, in some instances, the protective film on the fish's body is removed from some parts of it. Does this film regenerate? Secondly, when a fish is released and the hook is left in its mouth, what is likely to take place? |
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| Q 20. | ||
| I plan to visit Florida and do some sportfishing. What are Florida's laws regarding this activity? |
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| Q 21. | ||
| What legislation did the 95th Congress pass in regard to environmental problems? |
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| Q 22. | ||
| Was the coastal zone management bill mentioned on page 9 of the September-October Sea Secrets signed by President Carter? |
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| Q&A 1. | Will you please give me information on the "electric shock method" of taking census? Marathon, Florida |
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| The principal application of electrical fishing devices in this country has been in the field of fresh water fisheries. The use of such devices is generally restricted to fishery management personnel working with conservation agencies. Both direct and alternating current are used in stream census work. The preferred system being D.C. because the fish are attracted to the positive pole and are thus congregated in a confined area. A.C. drives the fish away from the source of current and such fish must be recovered downstream by a barrier of some type. One of the more popular types of electrical units consists of a gasoline driven generator rated at 110 volts D.C. and 600 watts at 1750 r.p.m's. To operate this type the negative pole is grounded by means of a wire mesh placed in the stream bed. The positive electrode is connected to 100 yards of two conductor cable carried on the operator's back. The voltage and current capacities of many power units employed in electrical fishing are sufficient to kill a man. For further information write the U. S. Fish and Vli1d1ife Service, Division of Information, Publication Section, Washington, D. C. Request their special scientific report Fishery Leaflet No. 127. |
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| Q&A 2. | If marine fish and shell fish produce millions of eggs per female, why are conservationists always asking for the protection of the spawning individuals in order to provide fish for the enjoyment of future generations? Cleveland, Ohio |
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| Actually, recent trends in the thinking of conservationists has been away from this old idea of the protection of the spawning females, at least in marine fishes. With a single female mullet or sea trout producing several million eggs each year, it is now thought that natural conditions during the time of spawning, and the development of the young are the important factors in deciding the numbers of fish that make up the next generation. The modern trend is to believe that the fisheries can be regulated to produce more fish for the commercial or sports fisherman by taking advantage of the periods of rapid growth and to harvest the fish at a time when it is of maximum value to the fisherman. In practice this is not easy to do in marine fisheries and the trend is now towards as few restrictions on fishing as possible. |
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| Q&A 3. | Who catches more fish in the sea, commercial fishermen or sports fishermen? Miami, Florida |
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| In most countries the commercial catch is considerably greater than the sport catch. The United States catch of marine fishes by commercial fishermen probably exceeds the sport catch, but for certain local species in the United States, the angler's catch may be higher. Statistics are available for most of the major commercial fisheries, but few records are kept of catches made by anglers. In the April Bulletin of the Sports Fishing Institute, Dr. Stroud made rough calculations based on some actual observations and arrived at the figure of 16,000,000 pounds as the 1954 sport's fisherman's catch in New York State. The commercial catch was about nine times greater than the estimated sport catch. Statistics of the sport fisherman's catch are not available for Florida, but a comparison of sport fishing facilities in New York State and Florida suggests that the Florida sport catch is considerably greater than the New York figure and may approach the annual commercial catch of food fish which is about 60 million pounds. |
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| Q&A 4. | Do you know if bounties are ever paid to fishermen, as they are sometimes to hunters, for catching predator species? Miami, Florida |
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| Bounties are being offered to fishermen for catches of dogfish, a small member of the shark family, by the Department of Fisheries of Canada. The large number of dogfish in their coastal waters do great damage to fishermen's gear and also devour large quantities of va1uable fish. Requests for the bounty were made by the fishing industry, the fishermen's unions and the sport fishing clubs of British Columbia. The Department has offered to pay fishermen $10.00 a ton for whole dogfish delivered to any British Columbia reduction plant which is willing to convert the dogfish to fish meal. This process has not been economical in the past, but it is hoped that the experience gained by the reduction plants on bounty-caught fish enable them to make dogfish reduction an economical operation while at the same time reducing the number of these predators. |
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| Q&A 5. | What states have salt water fishing licenses for anglers? New York City |
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| There are two eastern states, Alabama and Louisiana, which require a salt-water license for certain anglers. California also licenses most of its salt-water anglers. |
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| Q&A 6. | Is it possible to make a species of marine fish extinct by fishing? San Francisco, California |
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| This appears to be impossible since commercial fishing on a stock of fish will stop when the stocks decline to the level at which the fishing becomes unprofitable. Even at this stage, large numbers of fish are still usually present on the fishing grounds and on grounds where fishing gears cannot be operated. The same is likely to be true in the case of sport fishing where, as catches decline, fishermen become disgruntled and go elsewhere. As most species of fish lay enormous numbers of eggs, the stock can usually be maintained by a small number of spawners. There are several well-known cases of populations of marine animals being almost wiped out by disease or unusual weather conditions, yet in the years following these catastrophes, the catches returned almost to normal. |
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| Q&A 7. | I read about the survey of hunting and fishing. Could you give me some particulars on it? Jacksonville, Florida |
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| Crossley S-D Surveys Inc. of New York under contract to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have recently completed this survey to determine the importance of fishing and hunting in the national economy. In the course of this survey, calls were made on approximately 20,000 homes. According to the published report, 18,420,000 fresh water fishermen spent about $1.425 million on their sport and 4,557,000 salt water fishermen spent about $489 million. The numbers of fresh water fishermen represented 15.6% of the national population 12 years and over and the saltwater fishermen 3.8%. Further particulars can be obtained from the report "National Survey of Fishing and Hunting" published by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, 25, D. C., price 40 cents. A survey of saltwater game fishing in Florida is being conducted by the Marine Laboratory of the University of Miami for the Florida State Board of Conservation. The results of approximately 10,000 interviews of fishermen in this state are being tabulated and analyzed. A report of this study will be prepared soon. |
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| Q&A 8. | Why do biologists study the spawning habits of fishes? Atlanta, Georgia |
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| In most species a successful spawning occurring almost every year is necessary in order that the number of fishes be maintained at a high level. If for any reason the spawning is restricted, numbers in future years may be reduced. The success of spawning and the subsequent survival of the eggs and larvae changes markedly from year to year and these changes are normally the main causes of changes in the abundance of adult fish. Under natural conditions, when subjected to little or no fishing, fish fluctuate in abundance about an average level. When the number reaches a low level due to natural fluctuations, conservation restrictions may not increase the abundance and may even be harmful. When a decline in the abundance of any species of fish is noticed, it is necessary to determine whether natural fluctuations or man's activities are the main cause. A detailed knowledge of spawning habits and the factors which affect spawning is important in this connection. While it is known that man's activities usually affect the spawning and egg survival of offshore fishes only to a limited extent, little is known about the effect of such activities on the spawning habits of coastal fishes. Studies made so farr show that many such species spawn and spend their larval life in waters adjacent to shorelines which are increasingly being subjected to land development schemes. Before the effect on the spawning habits of fishes can be ascertained, it is necessary to determine the “optimum” conditions (most desirable from the point of view of the fishes) of, for example, water temperature, salinity, etc., for spawning and the range of tolerance of the fish. If land development causes changes beyond the limits of tolerance, the spawning activity may be adversely affected. |
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| Q&A 9. | If commercial fishermen and sports fishermen both fish in the same area, which group should have prior rights in catching the fish? New Bedford, Massachusetts |
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| The aim of conservation is to manage the resources in the best interests of everyone. It is rarely desirable to stop all of one kind of fishing in favor of the other. Usually it is possible to compromise, and allow both groups to fish. Scientific studies must be conducted to determine whether or not fishing is depleting the resources of a particular area. When the need for management has been determined, further studies to determine the control which is necessary must be undertaken. Biological, economic and sociological factors influence the choice of controls. |
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| Q&A 10. | Is dredging harmful to marine life? |
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| There is no simple answer to this question. It is one which has been troubling scientists and conservationists for a long time. In general, dredging, like any other form of habitat change, is initially harmful. This may be due to direct changes such as destruction of bottom growth, leading to loss of food and shelter, or to secondary changes due to sediment or silt caused by the operations, or to changed temperature or chemical conditions, such as salt and oxygen content, caused by changes in currents. Whether it continues to be harmful depends upon local conditions. Sometimes, after the immediate effects of the dredging have dissipated, the area is more receptive to marine life than before. On the other hand, the harmful effect may be permanent. Usually it is necessary for scientific studies to be conducted in each case of a dredging operation, to determine its likely effect upon the fauna and flora. |
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| Q&A 11. | What is a fishery biologist? What training is required to become one? Tampa, Florida |
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| A fishery biologist is a scientist whose area of interest is the study of fish populations, usually of sport or commercial values. He studies the mortality rates and growth rates of fishes, their migrations, feeding habits, spawning habits and nursery grounds, with a view towards conserving the stock. A Bachelor's degree with a major in zoology and a good background in the other sciences is usually required for entrance into the field and graduate study is usually necessary for advancement. |
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| Q&A 12. | It is true that commercial fishing is prohibited in certain areas along the west coast of Florida? If it is, has the sports fishing improved in those areas? Palmetto, Florida |
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| There are some areas along the west coast of Florida which are closed to commercial fishing. The Florida State Board of Conservation can supply you with pertinent information. At the present time, there is no information which shows that closure of an area to commercial fishing improves the angler catch. If the fish resource of such an area is not being harvested fully by sports fishermen, closing the area may be a wasteful practice. |
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| Q&A 13. | Many of us in the Virgin Islands are interested in a program to protect bonefish in this area. The Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Associations, and fishermen of the Virgin Islands want to present a bill prohibiting the seining of bonefish. Could you send us any information regarding protective laws that you may know of, or to whom we should write regarding such laws? St. Croix, Virgin Islands |
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| Drs. C. P. Idyll and John Randall of the scientific staff of the Institute of Marine Science, University of Miami, have surveyed the various fisheries of the U. S. Virgin Islands. Dr. Randall is stationed at Lameshur Bay on St. John and may be reached through the National Park Office at Cruz Bay on that island. It is suggested that you contact him for advice. |
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| Q&A 14. | Has the prohibition of stop netting affected the stocks of fish in Florida? Rockport, Texas |
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| There is little data available which reliably reflects trends of fish population size in Florida. Fishermen claim fishing for trout and mullet is poorer, but in the latter case this is doubtful: mullet are underexploited in Florida because the market demand is not great enough to encourage heavier fishing pressure. Although trustworthy catch-per-unit-of-effort data are not available, there is a possibility trout catches have declined in the last few years on the east coast. However, a study of population size and fishing pressures made recently on the Florida west coast of the Lee County trout population suggests that it is not being overfished. Many fishery biologists believe that if coastal fishes like the trout are really declining it might be as much a consequence of the destruction of estuarine nursery or feeding areas as of fishing. |
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| Q&A 15. | I am seeking expert opinion as to the actual conservation value of releasing hooked sailfish. Do you feel that such practices help keep the total number of fish more nearly constant? Is there serious loss due to fishing and to natural causes? West Palm Beach, Florida |
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| We are aware of the efforts of anglers and conservationists to promote wise use of our natural resources. The sailfish is one species which has been subjected to a great deal of angling pressure by numerous tourists and residents alike and therefore public sentiment is behind the efforts to have sailfish released to conserve stocks. As far as is known, the wholesale releasing of sailfish has little actual value in conserving the species. Research has shown that most of these fish live only three or four years, and that most of those caught and tagged are at an age where they are destined to live only a short time before natural death occurs. For this reason it is suggested that anglers cooperating on this program concentrate on tagging small sailfish caught during fall and early winter. |
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| Q&A 16. | Can an area be "fished out," when it concerns huge game fish such as the marlin, especially when no agency seems to know where they come from, or where they go? Puerto Rico |
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| Any fish stock can be "overfished" if enough fishing intensity is applied. This includes the marlins. Overfishing has no relationship to the body size of the species. However, it is believed that the small fishing effort applied to those fish in the area around Puerto Rico has not had any adverse effect on the stocks nor is it likely to in the near future. |
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| Q&A 17. | Is it possible to fish out areas of the ocean? How long would it take such areas to restock? Fort Pierce, Florida |
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| It is entirely possible to overfish areas of the ocean for both pelagic and bottom-dwelling species. When very heavy fishing pressure is brought to bear on stocks of oceanic fishes the abundance may drop significantly. Yellowfin tuna, halibut and whales have all been seriously depleted, and some species of whales are almost at the point of extinction. The time required for stock to be replenished after fishing is restricted is very variable, and depends mainly upon rate of growth. |
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| Q&A 18. | One of the most popular means of fishing in the Philippines is “blast fishing,” i.e., throwing a stick of dynamite into the water and collecting the floating fish or diving, where possible, for those that sink. Although it is against law, the miles and miles of coastline make it impossible for the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard to effectively enforce it. I would like to know if the constant blasting has any harmful effects on marine life similar to the effects of DDT. Rizal, The Philippines |
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| It seems highly unlikely that dynamite would contribute any longlasting material to the sea water that would have the deleterious effects of DDT. Most of the explosive is destroyed when it is detonated and the reaction products rapidly dissipate into the surrounding sea water. The principal damage produced by this unlawful method of fishing is ecological, destroying portions of the reef environment that provide niches for a wide variety of marine animals. |
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| Q&A 19. | I am a professional gamefishing guide in the Florida Keys. I release our catches when they are not wanted for mounting purposes or food, but often wonder how many actually survive. During the netting and removal of the hook, in some instances, the protective film on the fish's body is removed from some parts of it. Does this film regenerate? Secondly, when a fish is released and the hook is left in its mouth, what is likely to take place? Islamorada, Florida |
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| In hatchery experiments with freshwater fish, it has been shown that an area devoid of the protective film is quickly susceptible to fungus and bacteria. This film is also important because it acts as a lubricant to aid in the fish's movement through the water. We do not know how long it takes for the slime to regenerate, but a simple way to prevent the removal of it when handling a fish is to wet your hands and keep them wet. Also, when handling a fish, try not to squeeze the throat region just behind the gill covers for the heart is located there and the pressure could seriously injure or kill the fish. If a hook is left in a fish's mouth, it will eventually deteriorate under the strong corrosive action of seawater. In cases where the hook has been swallowed into the stomach, the digestive juices quickly attack the metal. Thus, it is much better to leave a hook in a fish's mouth than to remove it by force with a pair of pliers or otherwise. Most anglers simply snip off the leader or cable just in front of the hook. Another consideration in the capture of a gamefish is that, if a fish is played on very light tackle for long periods of time, it tends to develop a great deal of lactic acid in its muscles. As a result, when it is released, the fish is unable to swim efficiently and becomes potential prey to sharks or other predators. From the fish conservation standpoint, therefore, it is best to avoid fighting a fish for long periods and, when it has been caught, release it as quickly as possible. |
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| Q&A 20. | I plan to visit Florida and do some sportfishing. What are Florida's laws regarding this activity? Ann Arbor, Michigan |
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| The leaflet Florida Fishing Facts: Saltwater Laws outlines state regulations regarding closed seasons, legal lengths, limits, use of traps, spearfishing, use of drugs, poisons, or explosives, and conservation of manatees, porpoises, manta rays, turtles, corals, and pelicans. A copy of this leaflet may be obtained, free of charge, by writing to the Florida Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Education and Information, Tallahassee, Florida 32304. One should also check with the Bureau and/or Florida Marine Patrol Offices (also listed in the abovenamed leaflet) for information on regulations enforced by individual Florida counties, in addition to the state laws. |
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| Q&A 21. | What legislation did the 95th Congress pass in regard to environmental problems? Los Angeles, California |
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| Among the new laws enacted during 1978 were the National Ocean Pollution Research and Development and Monitoring Planning Act, which formally establishes such a program; the National Climate Program Act, which requires establishment of a national policy/program; and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act Amendment, which provides for rational development of OCS oil and natural gas resources and environmental protection. Also enacted were the Port and Tanker Safety Act, which establishes improved federal standards governing navigation/vessel safety and protection of the marine environment, and the Antarctic Fauna and Flora Conservation law, which protects native species and polar oceans. |
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| Q&A 22. | Was the coastal zone management bill mentioned on page 9 of the September-October Sea Secrets signed by President Carter? Lansing, Michigan |
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| Yes. The Coastal Zone Management Improvement Act of 1980 (S-2622) was signed into law on October 17. Thirty-four U.S. states and territories (including states bordering the Great Lakes) are eligible to receive federal grants. The Act declares as national policy the encouragement of state-developed coastal resource programs that take into account ecological, aesthetic, historic, and cultural concerns in combination with competing needs for economic development. Local governments and private citizens are urged to participate in decision making. The 1980 Act authorizes $48 million in federal grants annually for the next five fiscal years to assist states and territories in implementing their federally approved coastal management plans. A new feature of the legislation provides $20 million to be granted to states for each of the five years to acquire coastal areas for public access and to redevelop urban waterfronts and ports. Matching grants totaling $9 million each year also have been recommended for the acquisition, development, or operation of estuarine sanctuaries and for the preservation of islands. Another $150 million has been authorized for grants under the Coastal Energy Impact Fund. These monies would be provided to states undergoing negative environmental impacts associated with offshore oil and gas development, the transport, transfer, or storage of coal, and alternative ocean energy activities. |
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Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science Library
University of Miami, FL USA 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 Phone: 305 421 4060 Fax: 305 421 9306 E-mail: libcirc@rsmas.miami.edu |
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