What better way to get at the question of recreational fishing impacts to ocean wildlife than to study historical pictures of the day’s catch on the docks at Key West, Florida? The American island paradise is legendary for fishing, frequented by Ernest Hemingway and other huntsmen since the early 1950’s.
Trends in the size and types of trophy fish landed from Key West 1957 to 2008 is the subject Loren McClenachan’s thesis research at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. The scientific results are published in Conservation Biology with the unsurprising title “loss of large trophy fish” (McClenachan, 2009). The photo below is from 1958, shall we say, back in the good old days?
To see what fishermen were catching off Key West between then and now, stop and visit Mark Powell at Blogfish, or read the interview with McClenachan by Julia Griffin from the Miller-McCune Center, also with images.
The photo survey documented major changes in the last 50 years, including large declines in fish size, and a shift from large Groupers to small Snappers. Its a great case study. Let’s hope this message gets to where it needs to be, among the fishermen.
What can be done to turn this around? First, set maximum (not only minimum) size limits. Old fish produce the most eggs. Second, secure marine protected areas around essential fish habitat. MPAs work, but too many lack no-take zones. Third, engage broad stewardship. Practice catch and release, limit destructive fishing gear, etc. There must be more. What’s your solution?
Citation:
McCLENACHAN, L. (2009). Documenting Loss of Large Trophy Fish from the Florida Keys with Historical Photographs Conservation Biology DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.01152.x
I love the suggestion of setting a maximum and minimum size limit! Unfortunately I don’t think it will happen.
I take it you are familiar with the experiments from Conover at Stoney Brook.
That is so true and not only in America!! When I’ve given talks to fishing clubs here in New Zealand, someone always asks ‘Why aren’t there the fish there use to be?’ usually seeking an answer that focuses on the activities of another sector or even (sadly) race. My response has been that if you’ve ever taken a fish home then in some small way you’re to blame, and I include myself as guilty as the next angler. Then I throw out two challenges I hope will help towards redressing the problem: 1) set yourself a lower bag limit than the one allowed and 2) release the big ones. We have got to change our mind-sets about our ‘right’ to harvest the sea whenever.