Our "Conservation Debate"

[SalmonSurf]

Risk Taker and Lake:

First and foremost I'm glad I was able to spark a healthy (and friendly) debate regarding a way to help conserve our swordfishery.

I see valid points from the both posts.

As for the Risk Taker's statement that the swords are rebounding, you are absolutely correct!!!! 0123 This in a big part is due to the closing of the commercial fishery several years ago prohibiting swords from being longlined in South FL.

But..., here's a few interesting statistics I found recently:
-and I'm really trying to keep these stats in context and not as a defense to bolster my position - I am an open-minded person who does not mind being corrected when I'm wrong.

Please note most of this info. was obtained via research online from several different articles.

19th Century - Avg. Atlantic Sword weighed 300-400 with
individuals around 800-lbs
(source: Irby, Ed, 1994. "The Management of Atlantic Swordfish Under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act," in National Coalition for Marine Conservation, Conserving America's Fisheries, p.119.)

Most fish were harpooned until 1962 - then the longliners moved in and swordfish catches soared, especially in from New England to Canada. With these catches, the number of juveniles (less than 5 y/o) caught increased and there were insufficient mature fish to maintain the population. (Source: NRDC - Natural Resource Defense Council)

Heavy commercial fishing for swords continued into the late 80's and by 1995, the avg. weights for swordfish caught had dropped ~70%

RT - you have confirmed this. 15 trips, and how many swords were juveniles?

I think these statistics are pretty intersesting and I encourage anyone interested to read this report as it's insightful and interesting. http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/fish/rnasword.asp According to this article, South FLA is home to more Juvenile fish than anywhere else on the Atlantic Coast

But do not despair. The good news is recreational fishermen are not really the ones "directly responsible" for the size declines -Longliners are. But at least in my opinion, it should not be a fact to take for granted. As more and more recreational fishermen take advantage of this fishery here, more and more juveniles continue to be caught. We really should give the benefit of the doubt and "assume" that just too many juveniles are caught and should be released.

Also, consider this "potential problem": The larger fish continue to die off and we're taking the juveniles before they reproduce. The law of statistics may show a continued decline in reproduction - altough the short term statistics (10 years or less) may show an increase in poulations attributed to the lack of commercial fishing of the past several years. Does this make sense? It almost seems like a chain reaction event. Enough statistics....

THe double edge sword - the larger the fish, the greater the methylmercury content. Nuff said....

In the end, I'm not sure if there is a right or wrong answer to this. We are each entitled to our opinion, and mine is that we should realease the younger ones and give them the chance to grow, reproduce and live to fight as an adult (but of course, I respect all others opinions too). If you think a "pup" or 180-lber is a heck of a fight, imagine those same fish at 300-lbs or 400-lbs!

Now RT, the "important part" of your post - your sons chasing my daughters around the boat while waiting for the bite: Perhaps fish billies were in a roundabout way designed to stun more than just fish prior to boating.... :razz:

Best Regards,
SalmonSurf

[kai akua]

some peope say we should eat the small ones and release the bigger ones (thats my train of thought). less mercury consumed by me, the small one wont be breeding for a while. if i relase the biger ones they can breed sooner, our our curemtly breeding.

if you eat the big ones (basic logic will tell us that thier is more small ones than big ones in the water, this could be wrong though), that thier will not be a large next genertaion, becuse you are killing the females (90% of all swords over 250lbs are female, and are already experinced breeders).

this is a highly proven method of fish selecting by the south pacific fisherys and the indeginous populations that live from the ocean.

read it with a grain of salt and think about it.

IMH all swords between 50 and 65 inches are perfect for eating. any smaller and well i feel guilty, any bigger and i feel bad for killing a posiable mom ready for breeding.

soory for da bad spelling!

hanapa'a

Robbie

[RiskTaker]

Salmon Surf:

Just to let you know something more about myself since you probably don't know this yet. I have refrained from eating swordfish, probably from the early 1980s - until about 1996, purely based upon conservation reasons. I know that they taste great and freshly caught even better. I had less than a dozen portions from 1996-2003 and those were advertised as Pacific caught swordfish. I had read multiple publications about the declining fisheries, especially for the swordfish in the North Atlantic and that was my rational. So just recently in early 2004 I hear that things are STARTING to get better.

That was my queue to start becoming interested again, ever since I was in High School right here in Fort Lauderdale but had blocked it out mind.

So I am motivated to catch fish but I am also willing to do what it takes to conserve them for future generations as well.

But this is certainly a glorious time for me with respect to catching these broad-bill-fish.

[Lake]

I think any discussion about conservation is positive, as is any individual's effort to conserve the resource. I have no problem with anybody taking as many sport caught fish as they can legally take, as long as none of it is wasted. I just think that here in Florida where you can reasonably expect a chance at a fish most nights you go out you might as well keep the prebreeders since they eat better, less mercury, and you're not removing an active breeder from the population. Bigger fish just mean more to get buried in the back of the freezer.

[kai akua]

It’s just a matter of time till you guys start releasing almost all of your fish. Recreational Fishing does have a significant impact, and you will soon see in a few years.

The Hawaiian marlin fishery was severely degraded over a 10yr span, with only recreational fisherman to blame. The fish are now starting to come back about 12 yrs later, only because the boat captains realized that they needed to start releasing the fish and not killing them (at the most you could get $1.25/lb, its $.35/lb now, the marlin meat was used for opelu chum).

There are currently no size laws in Hawaii for taking billfish, but a gentleman’s agreement stands between most charter boats and Locals. However if a fish is taken for the consumption of food, they chose the smaller ones and leave the big ones (well the locals do at least).

In the meantime for FL , a 1 fish per angler, and a 2 fish (in a 24hr day) per boat regulation (in a 24hr day) is a good start towards preservation. But laws will do little, its between the captains and crews to start showing respect for the fish and, meet on a middle ground between the conservation, and putting some food on the table and having a good time , all while still being sporty.

FYI, there are center consoles that long line out their, so beware.

That’s about $.04

Hanapa’a

R