Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources’ Post

This week, total allowable catch limits have reset for the Coral Sea Fishery. The Coral Sea Fishery extends from Cape York to Sandy Cape in Queensland. It is bounded on the east by the Australian Fishing Zone and on the west by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This small but diverse fishery has a wide range of target species, across four sub-sectors including sea cucumber, aquarium fish and crustaceans. Fishing methods include hand collection, demersal longline, dropline and trotline. Table fish are refrigerated or frozen onboard vessels, landed at ports in North Queensland and supplied to domestic and international markets, in particular southeast Asia. Aquarium species are caught live and distributed around the world. To keep the Coral Sea Fishery sustainably managed, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has limited entry to the fishery to the existing 12 fishing permits and uses harvest strategies to help determine what the quota should be for the target species of the fishery. Fishing, environmental and economic information is included in the harvest strategies, which helps to monitor and maintain the sustainability of the targeted species. For more information, visit our website https://lnkd.in/gBmd3-v8 #supporttheaustralianfishingindustry #CoralSeaFishery #SeaCucumber

🎣🌏 Key WCPFC Position Update: 🐟📈 🌊 At the WCPFC meeting in Rarotonga, Cook Islands starting tomorrow, FFA members are advocating for a review of the rules for catching tropical tuna and that the interests of both fishing and coastal states must be considered to ensure a fair and sustainable outcome for all. 🌐💙 🚫 Limiting Fishing Methods in High Seas 🚫 Certain fishing methods in high seas need careful attention. Our members are advocating for limitations to safeguard the health of our oceans and fisheries. 🌊🚫  #FFA #TropicalTuna #FisheriesManagement #Sustainability #PacificTuna #PacificFisheries #sustainablefishing

Measuring your trophy fish is an essential step in documenting and commemorating your angling achievements. Our guides use a specialized fish ruler, where they can carefully lay the fish flat on its side, ensuring the Pikes safety.😎 For Lake Trout, it's common to measure the girth, which involves wrapping the tape around the widest part of the fish's body. Here at Arctic Lodges, our guides take special care to make sure that the fish is held properly and is measured by the largest part. Accurate measurements not only contribute to the joy of recalling your fishing triumphs but also play a crucial role in adhering to catch-and-release practices, promoting sustainable fisheries for future generations!🎣 #fishing #trophyfishing #fishon #trophyfish #gonefishing #catchoftheday #anglers #freshwaterfishing #reindeerlake #exploresaskatchewan #fishtales #fishingtrip #fishingislife #getoutside

Fishermen’s Finest, Inc. (FFI) recognizes our responsibility as good stewards of the North Pacific fisheries resources and our unique ability to further National and Global goals of removing derelict fishing gear and marine debris from our environment. As part of this recognition, FFI launched a Derelict Crab Pot Removal Program in 2023. https://bit.ly/3vEcV3w   Background: Derelict fishing gear, sometimes referred to as “ghost gear,” is defined as gear that has been lost, abandoned, or otherwise discarded at sea. This lost fishing gear may continue to fish, capturing and killing both target and non-target species, while also degrading and altering marine habitats. According to NOAA’s National Ocean Service, derelict fishing gear - such as traps and pots - is one of the main types of debris impacting the marine environment today[1].   Derelict Crab Pots in the Bering Sea: Historical estimates of derelict pot density in the Bering Sea range from 44,000 to 1.7 million lost pots[2]. The most recent analysis shows 592,000 lost and abandoned crab pots on the Bering Sea floor (as calculated from the area swept estimates of actual pot encounters by the trawl fleet between 2008 and 2022)[3].   Impact of Derelict Crab Pots “Ghost Fishing”: The estimate of ghost-fished crab kill over the lifetime these derelict pots is 355 million crabs[4]. Click link for complete report including citations https://bit.ly/3vEcV3w

SANDEEL FISHING TO BE BANNED IN SCOTTISH WATERS #CommercialFishing for #sandeel is to be banned in Scottish waters ahead of the 2024 fishery season, subject to Parliamentary approval. Sandeel support the long term sustainability and resilience of the ##marineecosystem and are an important food source for many species, including #marinemammals , #seabirds and predatory #fish. https://lnkd.in/eikqwhqt

Decadal characteristics of small-scale fishing livelihoods in 13 Pacific Island Countries and Territories - International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) via OUP Academic: Small-scale fisheries are cornerstones of wealth, food, and tradition for people throughout the Pacific region. Yet, their governance is plagued by a lack of relevant data. Using data collected from household income and expenditure surveys carried out in 13 Pacific Island Countries and Territories over the last decade, we bring enhanced resolution to these fisheries by describing how households engage in small-scale fishing and accounting the income generated from these activities. We find most households do not actively participate in fishing, and most that do, fish only for subsistence. Over time, however, the rates at which households participate in fishing may be declining. Further, the total income generated through aquatic foods caught for subsistence is nearly double that of foods caught for sale, but on a per household basis fishing for commercial purposes is more lucrative. Differences point to important distinctions in how households engage with and generate income from commercial and subsistence fishing, including where activities are often conducted, and the types of aquatic foods targeted. These distinctions have implications for how livelihoods-focused policies and programmes can be developed to ensure aquatic food systems continue to support Pacific Island communities as the deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals approaches. https://lnkd.in/eTPne-f6

New research okays use of solar lights for fishing https://lnkd.in/d_F_fDAF - The Cooperator News ENTEBBE – New scientific research has established that the usage of solar lights by the fishing communities on Lake Victoria and Lake Albert in fishing is safe and environmentally friendly. Fishing lights are majorly applied in fishing small pelagic fish species such as mukene [silverfish] and others. The usage of solar lights had been banned on the lakes, and fishermen only encouraged to use kerosene lanterns on the argument that the solar lights are so strong that the fishermen end up catching the unintended fish. Following the ban, the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute [NFRI] conducted research on the use …

Bottom trawling may cause damages on sensitive seabed habitats and species. A session at the World Fisheries Congress (WFC24) addressed this issue. First of all, it is fundamentally important that bottom trawl fisheries are well managed. Crucial steps towards better management are the following. Step 1: Limit the trawling footprint on habitats of high sensitivity and concern. Step 2: Reduce fishing effort to level that will maintain high target species abundance and minimize trawl impacts. Step 3: Monitor the fishing pressure and trawl footprint. Step 4: Switch to alternative fishing practices when feasible and meaningful, keeping in mind that all fishing gear have some type of ecosystem impact.

There was a shocking increase of captures in 2021 in of the critically endangered leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) around New Zealand. “Because of sparse observer coverage most captures (85.3%) were self-reported by fishers. Within the main fishery, just 9.4% of the vessels reported 94.5% of the leatherback captures, and one vessel reported 40.4% of all captures. Some non-reporting of captures seems likely.” We need all 1500 NZ fishing vessels to have cameras to ensure that endangered species by-catch is accurately recorded. We also still need to ensure there are still on-board observers who can monitor and report on fisheries operations at sea. https://lnkd.in/g7D4Q38t #EndangeredSpecies #EndangeredSpeciesNZ #EndangeredSpeciesAotearoa #ProtectEndangeredSpecies #Biodiversity #BiodiversityNZ #BiodiversityCrisis #NZAnimals #NZBirds #NZFish #LeatherbackTurtle

This species is without a doubt the Chesapeake Bay’s most iconic fish in our minds. 🎣 • Striped bass - also known as rockfish - have been one of the most popular recreational and commercial fish in the Chesapeake for decades. Through management and conservation efforts, the population had a massive bounceback from a severe decline in the 1970s and 1980s, but we are unfortunately seeing the population well below optimal levels yet again. • If you have the pleasure of chasing these beautiful fish like we do, it’s important to keep the state of the fishery in mind. There’s countless ways to target these fish in a more sustainable manner like practicing catch and release, following limits and regs, handling the fish carefully, and educating others just to name a few. Follow if you also want to conserve our amazing fisheries! • #fisherman #fish #fishing #flyfishing #fishingdaily #conservation #outdoors #fishingtrip #flyfishinglife