Bren School of Environmental Science & Management
University of California, Santa Barbara
Dividing the Gulf
An Assessment of the Biological, Economic, and Social Impacts of Sector
Separation on Gulf of Mexico Recreational Reef Fisheries
A 2013 Group Project Proposal
Researched and Produced By:
Jessi Doerpinghaus
Katie Hentrich
Aristoteles Stavrinaky
Molly Troup
Faculty Advisors:
Sarah Anderson
Christopher Costello
GoMex Project Proposal
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Table of Contents
Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Project Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Project Significance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Literature Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9
Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) Fishery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9
Gag Grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis) Fishery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9
Fisheries Management Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Economic Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Socio-Political Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Literature Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Data Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Management Plan
18
Group Structure and Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Meeting Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Responsibility of Group Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Systems to Ensure Deadlines are Met . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Conflict Resolution Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Procedure for Documenting, Cataloging, and Archiving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Guidelines for Interacting with Faculty Advisors, External Advisors, Clients, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
and Consultants
Deliverables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Milestones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
References Cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Appendix A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Appendix B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
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Abstract
The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is the second largest recreational fishery in both landings
and profit in the United States (NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, 2010).
Because of the size and importance of the GOM recreational fisheries, the Gulf of
Mexico Fishery Management Council has been under pressure to find a management
strategy that is biologically, economically, and socially optimal. One recently proposed
plan is to first divide the recreational sector into two components: for-hire and private,
and then to implement a different management strategy for each sector. Currently,
there is limited scientific literature regarding the impacts of sector separation on
recreational fisheries. Therefore, this project will produce an assessment of several
management strategies for the divided recreational sectors of the recreational reef
fishery. The proposed management alternatives will be evaluated through modeling
and surveying for two important reef fish, the red snapper and the gag grouper. An
evaluation of the biological, economic, and social impacts for each management
alternative will be performed and a recommendation will be provided based on the
optimal outcomes of the proposed management alternatives1.
1
For a list of commonly used acronyms, please refer to Appendix A.
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Executive Summary
The Gulf of Mexico is one of the largest recreational fisheries in the United States, both
economically and biologically. Due to its extensive size and substantial stakeholder
involvement, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) has been
tasked with creating a strategy that finds the most efficient trade-off between the Gulf
community economy and the biological health of the reef fishery. Our client, Ocean
Conservancy (OC), is a non-profit group that promotes the interaction of people from
various backgrounds to find solutions concerning the threats posed to the world’s
oceans. The OC has been extensively involved in trying to establish more accepted
fisheries management options for the Gulf of Mexico’s recreational reef fisheries.
Most recreational fisheries, including those in the Gulf of Mexico, are managed under a
combination of season limits, bag limits, and size limits. Corresponding commercial
fisheries have changed to other management systems in an effort to preserve fisheries
more effectively, including individual transferable quotas (ITQs). ITQs are a marketbased mechanism and are exhibiting positive results. Despite the regulations in place,
many recreational fisheries are experiencing increasingly shorter seasons as quotas are
reached sooner each year. Most stakeholders are dissatisfied with this current
situation.
One possible solution to the current situation would be to implement tailored
management plans for the various sectors within the fishery. Currently, there are only
two sectors, the commercial and recreational fisheries. Splitting the recreational fishery
further into a for-hire and private sector would allow more flexibility as each sector could
then have a management plan that would be most aligned with the goals of that sector.
Sector separation of recreational fisheries is still controversial, and there is limited
literature on the effects of its implementation. The scientific and management
communities have not established information on the consequences that sector
separation could have on the reef fish populations, economy of the region, or the social
acceptability of the proposed plan. This project will attempt to fill the information gap
surrounding sector separation and its associated impacts by using two case study
species: red snapper and gag grouper.
Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis) are
two of the most important fish species in the Gulf of Mexico. Both populations have
experienced overfishing in the past and are currently undergoing stock recovery. Using
these species as case studies, we will be able to assess the impacts of sector
separation on each species biomass as well as the associated economic
consequences.
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A final component of this project will be a survey2 of the Gulf of Mexico recreational
fishing community to determine the knowledge of sector separation as a way to provide
management flexibility and the opinion of the fishing community on various
management strategies. It is important to understand the views and concerns of the
people that management changes would affect, as acceptance is critical for the success
of management regulations.
Overall, we plan to produce an assessment of four combinations of management
strategies with the further separation of the recreational sector:
2
Case 1
Case 2
Case 3
Case 4
Commercial
Commercial
Commercial
Commercial
ITQ
ITQ
ITQ
ITQ
Recreational
For-Hire
For-Hire
TAC with
Bag/Size Limit
ITQ
ITQ
Private
Private
Status Quo
Status Quo
For-Hire
ITQ
Private
Tag System
For the current version of our survey, please see Appendix B.
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By analyzing the biological, economic, and social impacts of each of these scenarios,
we can establish whether sector separation to allow for more effectively allocated ITQs
is a viable tool and which of these management strategies will have the optimal results.
Project Objectives
Most stakeholders of the Gulf of Mexico recreational reef fishery agree that the current
management regime is not achieving optimal conservation goals, maximizing economic
profitability, or reaching maximum recreational utility. Separating the recreational
fishery further into a for-hire and private sector would allow each sector to have a
tailored management plan. However, because even the first step, sector separation,
which would allow management flexibility, is very controversial, time and resources
have been devoted to discussing sector separation among stakeholders. Thus far,
there is still much uncertainty regarding the impacts of a sector divide.
In November 2010, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council hosted a sector
separation workshop that included members from the Fishery Management Council and
the Reef Fish Advisory Panel, as well as members of the general public (GMFMC
2010). The summary report from the three-day workshop highlighted many unanswered
questions regarding sector separation as a possible management alternative including:
 How to define sector separation, and which categories of vessels to include
 What sector separation could look like if implemented, including how catch might
be apportioned among for-hire permit holders
 How individuals might be affected by sector separation, including specific
indicators such as season length under different allocation scenarios.
Due to the existing information gap, the overarching objective of this project is to
provide the missing details regarding the biological, economical, and social effects of
sector separation to the stakeholders of the Gulf of Mexico recreational reef fishery.
This includes determining season lengths, catch amounts, profits, populations of each
age class, and number of anglers under each management scenario. These details will
be determined by:
●
Developing a bio-economic model for both the red snapper and the gag grouper
●
Surveying the recreational community to determine their current level of
knowledge of sector separation, as well as their willingness to accept suggested
management alternatives
Using these tools, we will be able to provide a recommendation of the feasibility of
sector separation as a fisheries management strategy to the Gulf of Mexico’s
recreational fishing community.
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Project Significance
The Gulf of Mexico recreational fishery is the second-most important marine
recreational fishery in the United States. It produces more than $10 billion of revenue
each year, generates more than 84,000 full- and part-time jobs, and accounts for 41%
of all United States marine recreational fishing catches (NOAA National Marine
Fisheries Service, 2010). Every year, almost 3 million residents of the five Gulf states
(Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas) take part in recreational fishing
activities, accounting for more than 22 million fishing trips and approximately 147 million
fish caught (NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, 2010). These figures highlight
the economic, social and ecological importance of this fishery, as well as the challenges
associated with appropriate management.
As saltwater sport fishing grows in popularity and coastal populations continue to
increase, fishing pressure on the Gulf’s marine resources also increases, driving iconic
Gulf species, such as gag grouper and red snapper, to unsustainable catch levels.
According to recent reports from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, gag
grouper stocks are currently overfished. Similarly, even though red snapper populations
have shown slight improvements after years of stringent management, harvest levels
are still above advisable biological catch limits (Southeast Data, Assessment, and
Review, 2005-2006).
Currently, recreational fishing is managed as one sector with different permitting
requirements for members of the private-angling sector and the for-hire sector. The forhire sector is made up of charter boats and head boats / party boats. A charter boat
includes a fishing guide whose boat and services can be rented for the exclusive use of
an individual or group during a given time and typically holds four to five passengers. A
head boat/party boat involves recreational fishermen paying a per-person fee and
typically carries up to one hundred passengers. Private anglers include those
fishermen who own their own boat.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has implemented a range of
management strategies that include seasonal closures, size limits, and bag limits.
These strategies allow some fisheries to implement in-season reductions in bag limits in
combination with early closures if preliminary recreational landings projections look to
meet or exceed the seasonal quota. Additionally, some fisheries seasons may be
reduced in the following year if the prior year’s total allowable catch (TAC) is exceeded.
This scheme has generated a lot of frustration among private anglers and fishingrelated businesses, as ever-increasing restrictions lead to a lack of stability to plan their
trips.
For some species, such as the red snapper, the rebuilding plan provided under the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act in 2006 specifies that, if the fishery goes
over the TAC, there can be no quota increases in the following year; this is known as a
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permit moratorium. This has caused friction between the recreational and commercial
sectors, as the recreational sector has exceeded its quota for the majority of the fishing
years since 2000. The commercial fishermen are managed by an individual fishing
quota (IFQ) and have remained within their quotas. Moreover, because the for-hire
operators have been under a permit moratorium since the implementation of the Reef
Fish Amendment in 2002, they argue that overages in red snapper quotas are not their
responsibility.
Because of the issues of quota overages, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council has been discussing the possibility of separating the recreational fishing sector
into two, individually-managed sectors: for-hire and private. The primary motivation for
this change is the shortening length of recreational fishing seasons, which, in turn, is a
result of increased recreational landings under the current “race for fish” scheme.
Moreover, the lack of a reliable system for collecting fishing data has led to an increase
in uncertainty regarding quota allocation under a sector separation management
scenario. In addition to the exploration of sector separation, two separate for-hire pilot
projects are being developed: a charter boat “days-at-sea” pilot program and a head
boat IFQ pilot program.
Despite considerable effort for fisheries reform in the Gulf of Mexico, no one has
carefully analyzed and contrasted sector separation with the current management
scheme in order to weigh the potential outcomes. The results from this project will be
crucial to moving recreational fisheries management past the current impasse where
both fisheries biology and economics are compromised in the region.
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Literature Review
Introduction
The Gulf of Mexico is a valuable resource for both the commercial and recreational
fishing communities. To maintain local interest, the amount of fish harvested needs to
be managed and regulated. In order to reach this objective, fisheries management
plans are designed and prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
(GMFMC), one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the
Magnuson-Stevens Act in 1976. Reef fish are one of nine groups for which the GMFMC
designs management plans. Red snapper and gag grouper are two reef fish species
that were included in the original 1984 Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan (RFFMP) to
rebuild declining stocks. Since its implementation, there have been 35 amendments to
the RFFMP. Stakeholders agree that the current management strategies are not
working and that a new management scenario must be proposed for the region.
Management plans require continuous revision, including the biology of the fishery and
stock assessments to determine the current status of the fishery. To do a stock
assessment, biological data must be collected and factored into biological models.
Variables include: age structure of the stock, age at first spawning, fecundity, ratio of
males to females, natural mortality rates, fishing mortality, growth rates, spawning
behavior, critical habitats, migratory habits, food preferences, and an estimate of either
the total population or total biomass of the stock. These parameters are used in
combination with additional variables including cost of gear, amount of effort, and
harvested age structure to determine the current status and condition of the stock. The
biology of the fisheries, fisheries management options, economic impacts of the region,
and the socio-political implications are all important aspects for consideration in
fisheries management.
Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) Fishery
Red snapper is considered the most iconic fish of the Gulf of Mexico. Recently, the red
snapper recreational fishery has shifted towards an open access fishery Previous
management scenarios to limit the number of red snapper caught have failed. For
example, placing bag limits on the recreational red snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico
is harmful and costly: reducing the bag limit by one fish will cost fishermen
approximately $7.5 million (using a truncated total cost valuation method). Alternatives
to this management strategy are to implement a bycatch reduction device (BRD) on
shrimp trawls (Gillig et al., 2003).
Traditionally, recreational fishing activities are concentrated in the morning and daytime,
when larger red snapper are most active. Therefore, the recreational red snapper
fishery in the Gulf of Mexico is more biased towards large fish (Nelson & Manooch,
1982). Weather events can have serious implications on the biology of the red snapper
fishery, as well. Specifically, hurricanes (which are frequent in the Gulf of Mexico)
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impact the stock mixing dynamics for red snapper; due to the long lifespan of the
species, red snapper may experience multiple hurricanes during their lifetime and, as a
result, can move great distances throughout the Gulf of Mexico (Patterson et al., 2011).
Gag Grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis) Fishery
Unlike red snapper, gag grouper are protogynous hermaphrodites. Because of this sex
change, managing gag grouper can prove difficult when implementing traditional
management techniques (Coleman et al., 2009). In the Gulf of Mexico, smaller gag
grouper are caught closer to shore and larger gag grouper are caught farther form the
shore. Similarly, female gag grouper are caught closer to shore and a mix of female
and male gag grouper are caught further from shore. Female gag grouper reach
maximum length before males, and recreational fishing effort for gag grouper is
concentrated when the species spawns (Brule et al., 2002).
From the 1970s to the 1990s, the male gag grouper population dropped from 17 to one
percent of the gag grouper Gulf of Mexico fishery. As a result, sex ratios are femalebiased and affect when female gag grouper change sex. This is determined via a sexratio or size-ratio assessment3. The decrease in the population of male gag grouper
suggests that gag fishing is either sex selective, size selective, or a combination of the
two. This decrease also leads to a decrease in female reproductive potential (Coleman
et al., 1995).
The spawning potential ratio (SPR) of gag grouper varies amongst age classes, and is
highly varied amongst gag grouper between 4 and 8 years old (Collins et al., 1997).
Sea grass is the preferred nursery habitat for the gag grouper. Juvenile gag grouper
have an increased risk of bycatch via trawling (Koening & Coleman, 1998). Gag
grouper, a habitat-specific species, has a long life span and grows slowly (Manooch &
Haivomici, 1978).
Fisheries Management Options
A common fisheries management option is to implement gear restrictions. For example,
enforcing the regulation of a minimum fish size by increasing the size of fishing hooks
will reduce the number of fish caught that are either too small or too young. Enacting
this management strategy can lead to an increase in fish stock, but there are implied
tradeoffs between biological and economic interests within the fishing community
(Cerda et al., 2009).
Sex-ratio assessments are defined as “when males are relatively abundant, the
proportion of individuals changing sex will be low and, alternatively, when males are
rare, the proportion undergoing transition should increase” (pg. 137). A size-ratio
assessment occurs when a female changes sex after sensing an imbalanced sex ratio
in the population.
3
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Both bag and size limits are widely implemented in recreational fisheries. A bag limit
caps the number of fish a person can catch in one day. While bag limits only apply to
fishermen who catch a large amount of fish, size limits apply to everyone involved in the
fishery. The General Bioeconomic Fisheries Simulation Model (GBFSM) illustrates how
these management strategies result in an economic tradeoff between the size of the
catch and the number of fish caught. If both a bag and size limits are implemented as a
management strategy, fishermen then have to increase their effort in order to catch the
same amount of fish (Woodward & Griffin, 2003). Currently, the regulations for red
snapper are a daily bag limit of two fish per person and a 16-inch minimum size length;
the regulations for gag grouper are a daily bag limit of two fish per person (within the
four fish combined grouper total) and a 22-inch minimum size limit (Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council, 2012).
Marine reserves (MRs) are another potential fisheries management strategy. Although
there are several variations of marine reserves including mixed-use MRs, the primary
goal of no-take marine reserves is to increase marine populations and biomass by
closing certain areas to fishing and other disturbances such as diving or boating. The
optimal reserve size is dependent on age class structure and the size of the fishery. A
fishery that has the characteristics of red snapper (high percentage of adult age class,
slow maturity, and high fecundity) will benefit from a marine reserve. The population will
increase as fecundity increases. When incorporating a stock-recruitment relationship
into an economic model, marine reserves can be an effective management technique.
Marine reserves can also attract tourism to the region, further boosting the local
economy (Holland & Brazee, 1996).
Fisheries management can also be achieved through angling management
organizations (AMOs) that act as a regulatory body. AMOs that incorporate principles
from various fisheries management strategies could be an effective regulatory body, if
implemented correctly. In addition to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council,
AMOs could serve as an additional enforcement unit at a more local level. For
example, applying a standard individual fishing quota (IFQ) to a recreational fishery
would mean the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council would be responsible for
policing these regulations. AMOs could make enforcing IFQs, an effective management
strategy, a more feasible option. In addition, stakeholders in an AMO are members of
the recreational fishing community and have a more vested interest in the health of the
fishery (Sutinen & Johnson, 2003).
Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs)
Individual transferable quotas (ITQ) or individual fishing quotas (IFQ) are control
mechanisms that assign exclusive individual rights to harvest specific portions of the
overall quota of marine fish. The difference between ITQs and IFQs is that with an ITQ,
an individual right or quota is transferable. Since the mid-1970s, ITQs and IFQs have
been continuously modified as an instrument of fishery management (Liu, 2000)
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In the United States, the ITQ system was first instituted in 1990 for the Atlantic surf clam
and ocean quahog fisheries in the mid-Atlantic and New England. In 1992, ITQs were
implemented for the wreckfish fishery on the southern east coast, and, in 1995, for
Alaskan halibut and sablefish (Rose, 2002). Likewise, the United States’ fishing
legislation calls for the application of these kind of approaches and defines ITQs as "a
federal permit under a limited access system to harvest a quantity of fish, expressed by
a unit or units representing a percentage of the total allowable catch of a fishery that
may be received or held for exclusive use by a person" (Magnuson-Stevens Act, 2006).
From an economic point of view, since catch is limited under an ITQ system, decreased
competition for fish will lead to a shift in effort in order to increase profits. In some
aspects, this competition may be more intense than before but is beneficial to the
fishing industry as a whole, as it increases safety in fishing operations, improves
product quality, and encourages fishermen to be more efficient in the use of scarce
resources. Furthermore, because the ITQ system may be divisible and tradable, and
since a new entrant has to obtain fishing rights through a quota market, fish will always
be extracted by the most efficient fishermen.
Another primary objective of fisheries management, the sustainability of the resource,
can also be achieved through quota allocation. An ITQ system can successfully
eliminate the common property nature of fisheries resources. This system gives
fishermen incentives to make efficient use of the fish stock.
ITQ programs for recreational fisheries are far less common than those for commercial
fleets, therefore, there is little literature related to this topic. The work that has been
done on recreational fisheries ITQs are for the recreational for-hire sector and do not
include private anglers. Designing ITQ programs for recreational fishing requires
consideration of some special issues that are not as prominent in ITQ programs for
commercial fisheries. One issue that calls for special consideration is how preferences
and angler types affect overall fishing mortality. Recreational fishermen fish for many
different reasons. Some of them fish in order to eat their catch, fill their freezers, or give
landed fish to friends and family. Others simply enjoy the act of hooking a fish but are
not interested in keeping a substantial portion of what they catch (Abbott et al., 2009).
These kinds of issues play a fundamental role in terms of quota allocations, data
collection, and regulation enforcement.
In practice, a number of factors have the potential to detract from the usefulness of
ITQs. The most common of these include high grading and increased discards (Rose,
2002). High grading occurs when the price difference between high and low quality fish
is relatively large, the direct cost of the marginal fishing effort is small, and the
proportion of high value fish expected in future catch is high (Squires et al., 1995).
Similarly, ITQs provide an additional incentive to discard catch that is of low value
because it is small or was damaged before or during catching. Since all recorded
landings are held against an individual’s quota, it may be worthwhile to discard low
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value individuals in the expectation of catching a fish of a higher average value later.
Overcoming these obstacles will depend largely on the particular features of the fishery
(multi-species, single species, etc.) and the degree of commitment of the involved
parties.
Economic Impacts
The resources of the Gulf of Mexico are targeted by its bordering states for utilization
and development, which makes the Gulf’s waters economically significant. Recreational
fishing is an important source of economic income for the coastal communities of the
five Gulf States. The associated economic activity with recreational fishing includes
jobs, expenditures, and earning. Expenditures have been estimated to be greater than
$1.8 billion annually, contribute to over $1 billion in earnings, and support more than
56,000 full-time jobs. However, there is great disparity amongst the five states: Florida
generates more expenditures and jobs than all of the other states combined (Adams et
al., 2004).
The National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS) Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics
Survey (MRFSS) is used to determine the number of participants of the recreational
fishery by collecting information on the number of anglers and recreational fishing trips
made in the Gulf of Mexico. The 2009 results of this survey indicated that there were
over 2.8 million participants who took 22 million trips in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of
Mexico Regional Summary, 2009). Approximately half of the total participants of the
marine recreational fishery are non-residents, which bring revenue into the Gulf states’
economies (Adams et al., 2004).
The modes of recreational fishing are diverse and range from small boats to large boats
with sophisticated electronic equipment. 22 million recreational trips were taken in
2009: 59 percent of these trips were on private or rental boats, 37 percent of these trips
taken from shore, which includes pier, bridge, wade, beach (Gulf of Mexico Regional
Summary, 2009).
Although many analyses of fishery management failures focus on the economic aspects
of common pool resource exploitation, some management failures could result from not
accounting for fishing behavior. When accounting for behavioral responses to a
spawning season closure, the restriction of allowable fishing days was offset by greater
fishing effort. This implies that fishing behavior is a factor to consider when analyzing
fishery management failures (Smith et al., 2006).
Controlled access management including TACs, fishery closures, and per-trip catch
limits, is generally considered a failure. Recognizing this management failure has
spurred economic evaluations of management reform. For example, the 1993 Gulf of
Mexico commercial reef fish fishery was analyzed to determine the economic trade-off
that would have resulted from replacing controlled access with tradable harvest permits.
This study produced an economic benefit of $11 million, which suggests that property
GoMex Project Proposal
13
rights-based management can yield positive economic results. This estimation included
the forgone opportunity that occurred due to period season closures and catch limits,
which could be avoided by shifting controlled access management to property rightsbased management. Under the 1993 scenario, spreading the red snapper harvest more
evenly throughout the year would have eliminated market failures and raised dockside
revenue by approximately $3 million, which would have been a 48.6% increase over
1993 red snapper revenues (Winiger & Waters, 2003).
Socio-Political Impacts
As the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most productive ecosystems in the world, it has been
the subject of an intense policy debate, and this debate has become more heated with
talks of sector separation. The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative (JOCI), comprised of
members from the United States Committee on Ocean Policy (USCOP) and the Pew
Ocean Commission, now gives an annual United States Ocean Policy Report Card, and
the Gulf of Mexico was rated as one of the best in having strong regional framework.
National policy has had limited effect on the Gulf, but has also given it increased
attention. In December 2004, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance was formed to increase
cooperation amongst the Gulf states and develop a plan for dealing with the five
designated priority areas. Some problems with the Alliance include the lack formal
structure and funding, as well as a disagreement on issues that need attention (Cruz &
McLaughlin, 2008).
Conclusions
Currently, sector separation as step to implement different recreational fisheries
management strategies and the impacts associated with it are not present in the
scientific literature. This project will address this information gap. Filling this
information gap will inform the Gulf of Mexico recreational fishing community with a
comprehensive management strategy that will have been evaluated on a biological,
economic, and socio-political level. Furthermore, this analysis of sector separation
could be applied to other fisheries throughout the United States, as well as
internationally.
GoMex Project Proposal
14
Approach
This project will provide Ocean Conservancy with an analysis of the overall biological,
economic, and social impacts of sector separation within the Gulf of Mexico recreational
reef fishery. The evaluation of each of these impacts and the effectiveness of sector
separation in the recreational fishery will be completed through a literature review,
modeling, and surveying. Overall, this project will:
●
●
Characterize the status of the case study species, red snapper and gag grouper
Evaluate the impact of proposed management scenarios through potential
biological, economic, and social impacts
● Determine the acceptability and knowledge of the local fishing community of
sector separation
● Provide a recreational fisheries management recommendation based upon the
evaluation of sector separation
I. Literature Review
Fisheries Management Techniques
Within the concept of sector separation, each recreational sector (for-hire and private)
will be managed under a particular strategy. Through research, the possible
management techniques for each sector will be determined based on the efficiency of
the strategy.
Recreational Fishing Economy
Based on research, the project will determine the costs of boat trips, days-at-sea,
equipment costs, and other various costs associated with the recreational fishing
industry.
Modeling
We will research the use of modeling in fisheries management and use this to draw
implications for our own project.
Travel Cost vs. Contingent Valuation
We will research the use of both travel cost and contingent valuation methods in
surveys. Based on this literature review, we will decide which method would be best to
yield the desired information and how best to frame our survey.
II. Data Collection
Data for our bio-economic models will be provided by our client, Ocean Conservancy,
and requested from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and other national research organizations.
The knowledge and acceptability of sector separation as a necessary step to be able to
GoMex Project Proposal
15
develop separate management strategies tailored for the for-hire and private fishermen
in the Gulf of Mexico recreational reef fishery will be determined through surveys.
Surveys will be distributed via mail and online to private boat owners, Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council Members, charter boat/head boat captains, bait shop
owners, and charter boat/head boat fishermen. The questions within the survey will ask
about the respondents' knowledge of the concept of sector separation as a way to
develop separate management systems tailored to both the for-hire and the private
fishermen and also their willingness to participate in various suggested management
scenarios. The survey will also ask participants to rank various proposed management
scenarios based on their opinions. The survey will test the following hypotheses:
1. For-hire fishermen will be in favor of sector separation, while private fishermen
and bait/tackle shops will not be in favor of sector separation.
2. If fishermen have knowledge about sector separation, they will be in favor of it.
3. For-hire fishermen will pick the management strategy that is most economically
beneficial to them, while private fishermen will not.
We will use either a travel cost or contingent valuation method to analyze the results of
our survey. The survey results will be used to both understand the opinion of the
recreational fishing community and to determine the acceptance of various
management scenarios if sector separation occurs.
III. Modeling
Bio-economic Model
A bio-economic model will be developed based on the interaction between the biological
and economic components of the recreational reef fishery. The total allowable catch
(TAC) used will be the TAC set by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s
Scientific and Statistical Committee, which is based on the accepted biological catch
(ABC). TACs can be changed from year to year based on the previous year’s
compliance to the regulations, as well as any uncertainty associated with the fishery.
Biological Component
An age-structured model will be used to determine the total biomass and how each age
class is affected by different allocations to the commercial, for-hire, and private sectors.
Each management scenario combination will produce a level of effort, which, in turn, will
produce an overall harvest amount, numbers of fish at each age class, and the total
population. This will be accomplished using variables including maximum length,
selectivity, maturity, mortality, and steepness.
Economic Component
The outputs from the biological model will be used to determine the economic effects
would result under different management variations for each sector. These economic
impacts include number of fishing days, revenue for associated businesses including
GoMex Project Proposal
16
for-hire companies and bait shops, fishing trip expenditures, and revenues from traded
permits.
IV. Analysis
Biological
By examining the impact of the various management strategies on the stock of red
snapper and gag grouper, we can compare the forecasted results to those set by the
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council of potential of spawning potential ratio
(SPR) that needs to be retained each year. We can then evaluate the effect of each
management scenario on the stock and determine if sector separation is a viable option
for the Gulf of Mexico reef fishery.
Economic
Using data collected from the survey and the age-structured model, we can evaluate the
effect of each management scenario on the economy of the recreational reef fishery.
We can determine if sector separation will affect either the for-hire or private sector
more or if the concept negatively or positively affects the entire fishery.
Social
The survey will be pre-coded and analyzed to produce an overall view of the respondent
population’s knowledge and opinions on sector separation. By understanding the
recreational community, more comprehensive recommendations can be made.
GoMex Project Proposal
17
Management Plan
I. Group Structure and Responsibilities
Project Manager: Molly Troup
Responsibilities: Run meetings, provide meeting agendas, ensure weekly tasks are
identified and distributed for forward progress of project. Ensure the group is on track to
meet milestones and important project deadlines, facilitate client interactions.
Data Manager: Aristoteles Stavrinaky
Responsibilities: Maintain the group’s shared online information in a consistent format.
Brief the group members on the use of directory and file permissions and managing
information within the group’s information architecture. Install software on the group’s
computer as necessary.
Financial Manager: Jessi Doerpinghaus
Responsibilities: Maintain complete and detailed records of all financial activities of the
group. Track, manage, communicate, and update the group’s budget. Receive the
monthly expense report from the Bren School’s Business Officer and review and reevaluate the budget to ensure that the project can be successfully completed within the
given budgetary constraints. Ensure the outside funding provided by the client is
handled appropriately.
Web Manager: Katie Hentrich
Responsibilities: Design, create, and maintain the group’s website. Update the website
periodically to ensure the content is current.
II. Meeting Structure
Two regularly scheduled weekly meetings will occur throughout the duration of the
project. The first weekly meeting will be with the group members, while the second
meeting will include the faculty advisor(s). The project manager will provide the meeting
agenda and e-mail it to all attendees prior to the meeting. Minutes will be taken at each
meeting on a rotating basis. An electronic copy of meeting minutes will be uploaded to
a shared file on DropBox to document topics covered and important notes from each
meeting. Additional meetings will be scheduled as necessary.
GoMex Project Proposal
18
III. Systems to Ensure Deadlines are Met
It is expected that all group members contribute to the success of the project. Thus, the
expectations of all group members are as follows:
 Complete assigned work at a high quality level and submit assignments by set
deadlines.
 Provide the documents requiring advisor or client review at least one week prior
to deadlines unless extenuating circumstances arise.
 Keep schedules current on Corporate Time to facilitate scheduling of meetings
and deadlines.
 Alert group members and advisors of conflicts, uncertainties, and inabilities to
make deadlines in a timely manner. This should occur no later than 48 hours
before the deadline.
IV. Conflict Resolution Process
Should a conflict arise within the group, a resolution will first be attempted amongst the
group members. If a resolution cannot be worked out the following will occur:
 The conflict will be brought forward to the faculty advisors.
 If a resolution has still not been obtained, the group will seek assistance from the
Group Project Coordinator or the Chair of the Group Project Committee.
 In the situation that there is an issue with a group member, written
documentation of the problem will be maintained, including dates of specific
instances, efforts made to address the problem, and examples that support the
allegation.
 Administrative involvement will be limited and occur only when there are serious
issues that remain unresolved after considerable effort by the students and
advisors.
V. Procedure for Documenting, Cataloging, and Archiving Information
Group information will be cataloged and archived primarily in a shared DropBox account
for accessibility of shared documents. The shared DropBox account will be organized
through the use of subject folders for organization. The group has a shared e-mail
address. This e-mail address will be the primary contact for the client to ensure that all
communication correspondence is organized and available for future reference.
VI. Client/Advisor Guidelines
Group members will be professional through all interactions with faculty advisors,
external advisors, clients, customers, and consultants. Specific, detailed questions will
be prepared before approaching any external advisor or client. Issues will be discussed
GoMex Project Proposal
19
internally within the group prior to approaching advisors or clients to ensure
professionalism and avoid confusion.
VII. Faculty Advisors and Guidelines:
Guidelines: Attend one weekly meeting and provide feedback on documents.
Dr. Sarah Anderson, Professor of Environmental Politics, Bren School of Environmental
Science & Management, UCSB
Dr. Christopher Costello, Professor of Resource Economics, Bren School of
Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
VIII. External Advisors and Guidelines:
Guidelines: Provide critical feedback and counsel for project including the project
proposal and final report.
Dr. Charles Kolstad, Professor of Environmental Economics, Bren School of
Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Brandon Chasco, Project Researcher, Sustainable Fisheries Group, UCSB
Pamela Baker, Director of Strategic Conservation Initiatives, Gulf of Mexico and
Southeast Oceans Program, Environmental Defense Center
VIIII. Client and Guidelines:
Guidelines: Group members will provide updates to the clients at a minimum of once a
month. Clients will be involved whenever there is a change or narrowing of project
scope. Clients will be given draft documents for feedback.
Samantha Port-Minner, Policy Analyst, Ocean Conservancy
Jeff Barger, Constituent Outreach Manager, Ocean Conservancy
GoMex Project Proposal
20
Deliverables
In addition to the final report and public presentation, we will produce two other key
deliverables for our client, Ocean Conservancy:
Deliverable #1: Results presentation to Ocean Conservancy’s Fisheries Conservation
Program
Our client, Ocean Conservancy, has presented us with the problem of finding a
recreational management strategy for the Gulf of Mexico reef fisheries. By modeling the
effects of sector separation through proposed management scenarios on two of the
most important species for the recreational fishery, red snapper and gag grouper, we
will be able to provide a recommendation that includes biological, economic, and social
impacts. We intend to show our client, along with key leaders amongst regional
stakeholders, the overall impacts of sector separation concerning these controversial
species that would be the most effective for the population while still being supported by
the fishing community.
Deliverable #2: Project brief describing, in non-technical terms, management scenarios
and projected impacts of implementation
Ocean Conservancy also requested this deliverable to be understood by the general
public. We will be explaining the concept of sector separation and its associated
impacts in such a fashion. For any fisheries management strategy, it is important that
the general public understand it, especially those significantly affected by the
regulations.
GoMex Project Proposal
21
Milestones
Spring 2012
Tasks
Proposal Draft Exchange
Advisory Committee Review Meeting
Final Proposal Due
Proposal Review Summary
Website Operational
Peer/Self-evaluation Forms Due
Deadline
May 24
June 5
June 15
June 15
June 15
June 15
Summer 2012
Tasks
Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council Meeting
Port Visit
Biological Stock Models
Economic Impact Models
Development of Survey
Deadline
August 20-24
Mid-September
End of Summer
End of Summer
End of Summer
Fall 2012
Tasks
Distribution of Survey
Written Progress Report Due to Advisor
Self/Peer Evaluations Due
Deadline
October 5 (tentative)
December 14
December 14
Winter 2013
Tasks
Development of Project Defense Presentation
Project Defense
Draft of Final Proposal to Advisors
Presentation Program Abstract to GP Coordinator Due
Final Proposal Signed by Advisor and Submitted
Submit Project Brief
Self/Peer Evaluations Due
Advisor Evaluations Due
GoMex Project Proposal
Deadline
End of January
February 22 through March 1
(tentative)
February 22
March 8
March 22
March 22
March 22
March 22
22
Spring 2013
Tasks
Draft Power Point Submitted to Advisor
Poster Submitted to be Printed
Public Project Presentation
GoMex Project Proposal
Deadline
1-2 Weeks Before
Presentation
1-2 Weeks Before
Presentation
April 12
23
Budget
General (Budget=$1,300)
Item
Phone Calls
Description/Purpose
$10 set up, $1/month for 12 months, and approx 90
min calls @ $0.15/min for 9 calls
Cost
$145
Envelopes
Survey Distribution (500 surveys with return envelopes)
$25
Stamps
Survey Distribution ($0.45/stamp)
$450
Labels
Survey Distribution (500 surveys with return envelopes)
$30
Poster
Public Presentation
$200
Parking Permits
For Clients on Public Presentation (VIP @ $10/each)
$30
Miscellaneous Costs
Unknown Costs At Proposal Submission
$220
Excess Travel Costs
Reserve in case of emergency
$200
Total Costs
$1,300
Printing (Budget=$200)
Item
Final Proposal
Surveys
Labels
Final Project Paper
Miscellaneous Printing
Total Costs
GoMex Project Proposal
Description
Due at end of Spring 2012
Distribution
Survey Distribution
Due at end of Winter 2013
Samples/Mistakes
Cost
$50
$50
$1
$5
$94
$200
24
References Cited
Abbott, Joshua, Vishwanie Maharaj, and James E. Wilen. "Designing ITQ Programs for
Commercial Recreational Fishing." Marine Policy 33.5 (2009): 766-74.
Adams, C., E. Hernandez, and J. Cato. "The Economic Significance of the Gulf of
Mexico Related to Population, Income, Employment, Minerals, Fisheries and
Shipping." Ocean & Coastal Management 47.11-12 (2004): 565-80.
Annala, John H. "New Zealand's ITQ System: Have the First Eight Years Been a
Success or a Failure?" Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 6.1 (1996): 43-62.
Arnason, Ragnar. "Conflicting Uses of Marine Resources: Can ITQs Promote an
Efficient Solution?*." Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics
53.1 (2009): 145-74.
Baker, P, F Cox and P Emerson (1998). Managing the Gulf of Mexico Commercial Red
Snapper Fishery. Presented to the Committee to Review Individual Fishing
Quotas Ocean Studies Board, National Research Council (NRC). New Orleans,
LA: 28.
Brady, M., and S. Waldo. "Fixing Problems in Fisheries—integrating ITQs, CBM and
MPAs in Management." Marine Policy 33.2 (2009): 258-63.
Brule, T., C. Deniel, T. Colas-Marrufo, and X. Renan. "Reproductive Biology of Gag in
the Southern Gulf of Mexico." Journal of Fish Biology 63.6 (2003): 1505-520.
Carter, David W., Juan J. Agar, and James R. Waters. 2008. Economic Framework for
Fishery Allocation Decisions with an Application to Gulf of Mexico Red Grouper.
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-576.
Cerdà, Margalida, Josep Alós, Miquel Palmer, Antoni Maria Grau, and Francisco Riera.
"Managing Recreational Fisheries through Gear Restrictions: The Case of
Limiting Hook Size in the Recreational Fishery from the Balearic Islands (NW
Mediterranean)." Fisheries Research 101.3 (2010): 146-55.
Coleman, Felicia C., Christopher C. Koenig, and L. Alan Collins. "Reproductive Styles of
Shallow-water Groupers (Pisces: Serranidae) in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and
the Consequences of Fishing Spawning Aggregations." Environmental Biology of
Fishes 47.2 (1996): 129-41.
Collins LA, Johnson AG, Koenig CC, Baker MS. 1998. Reproductive patterns, sex ratio,
and fecundity in gag, Mycteroperca microlepis(Serranidae), a protogynous
grouper from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Fishery Bulletin (Washington DC)
96: 415–427.
GoMex Project Proposal
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Cruz, I., and R. Mclaughlin. "Contrasting Marine Policies in the United States, Mexico,
Cuba and the European Union: Searching for an Integrated Strategy for the Gulf
of Mexico Region." Ocean & Coastal Management 51.12 (2008): 826-38.
Coleman, F., Koenig, C., Huntsman, G., Musick, J., Eklund, A., McGovern, J., Sedberry,
G., Chapman, R., & Grimes, C. (2000): Long-lived Reef Fishes: The GrouperSnapper Complex, Fisheries, 25:3, 14-21.
Gillig, Dhazn, Richard Woodward, Teofilo Ozuna, Jr., and Wade L. Griffin. "Joint
Estimation of Revealed and Stated Preference Data: An Application to
Recreational Red Snapper Valuation." Agricultural and Resource Economics
Review 32.2 (2003): 209-21
Gillig, Dhazn, Teofilo Ozuna, Jr., and Wade L. Griffin. "The Value of the Gulf of Mexico
Recreational Red Snapper Fishery." Marine Resource Economics 15 (2000):
127-39.
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Recreational Fishing Regulations for Gulf
of Mexico Federal Waters. Tampa: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council,
2012.
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC). (2010). “Summary Report, Gulf
of Mexico Sector Separation Workshop.” GMFMC. 15 May 2012.
http://www.gulfcouncil.org/council_meetings/sectorseparationmaterials/Final%20
GSSW%20Summary,%20January%202011.pdf
Holland, Daniel S., and Richard J. Brazee. "Marine Reserves for Fisheries
Management."Marine Resource Economics 11 (1996): 157-71.
Koenig, C., & Coleman, F. (1998): Absolute Abundance and Survival of Juvenile Gags
in Sea Grass Beds of the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico, Transactions of the
American Fisheries Society, 127:1, 44-55.
Manooch, C.,& Haimovici, M. (1978): Age and Growth of the Gag, Mycteroperca
microlepis, and Size-Age Composition of the Recreational Catch off the
Southeastern United States, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society,
107:2, 234-240.
Nyeon, K.. Transferable Rights in a Recreational Fishery: An Application to the Red
Snapper Fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. Diss. Korea University, 2007.
Russell S. Nelson & Charles S. Manooch III (1982): Growth and Mortality of Red
Snappers in the West-Central Atlantic Ocean and Northern Gulf of Mexico,
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 111:4, 465-475.
Holland, S., Fedler, A., and Milon, J. The operations and economics of the charter and
headboat fleets of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Coasts,
GoMex Project Proposal
26
Technical Report for U.S. Department of Commerce: National Marine Fisheries
Service, 1999, p. 337.
Sherman, K., M. Sissenwine, V. Christensen, A. Duda, G. Hempel, C. Ibe, S. Levin, D.
Lluch-Belda, G. Matishov, J. McGlade, M. O'Toole, S. Seitzinger, R. Serra, H.-R.
Skjoldal, Q. Tang, J. Thulin, V. Vandeweerd, and K. Zwanenburg. "A Global
Movement towards an Ecosystem Approach to Management of Marine
Resources." Mar Ecol Prog Ser 300 (2005): 241-96.
Smith, Joy N., Stephanie M. Snyder, Jim Berkson, Brian R. Murphy, and Steve L.
McMullan. "Fisheries Management of Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico: A Case
Study." Journal of Natural Resource & Life Science Education 38 (2009): 115-27.
Smith, Martin D., Junjie Zhang, and Felicia C. Coleman. "Econometric Modeling of
Fisheries with Complex Life Histories: Avoiding Biological Management Failures."
Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 55.3 (2008): 265-80.
Sutinen, Jon G., and Robert J. Johnston. "Angling Management Organizations:
Integrating the Recreational Sector into Fishery Management." Marine Policy
27.6 (2003): 471-87.
Weninger, Quinn, and James R. Waters. "Economic Benefits of Management Reform in
the Northern Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery." Journal of Environmental
Economics and Management 46.2 (2003): 207-30.
William F. Patterson III, J. Carter Watterson, Robert L. Shipp & James H. Cowan Jr.
(2001): Movement of Tagged Red Snapper in the Northern Gulf of Mexico,
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 130:4, 533-545.
Woodward, Richard T., and Wade L. Griffin. "Size and Bag Limits in Recreational
Fisheries: Theoretical and Empirical Analysis." Marine Resource Economics 18
(2003): 239-62.
Appendix A
GoMex Project Proposal
27
Commonly Used Acronyms
GOM
Gulf of Mexico
GMFMC
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
ITQ
Individual Transferable Quota
IFQ
Individual Fishing Quota
OC
Ocean Conservancy
TAC
Total Allowable Catch
Appendix B
GoMex Project Proposal
28
GoMex Survey
This survey is for a master’s thesis project by graduate students from the
University of California, Santa Barbara. We intend to use the results of this
survey to develop a management strategy for the recreational fishing community
from the Gulf of Mexico. We want to understand the views of those involved in
the Gulf of Mexico recreational reef fishery in order to create the best possible
management strategy. We greatly appreciate your input and will consider your
thoughts and opinions when creating these management strategies. Upon
completion, simply place the survey in the enclosed self-addressed, pre-paid
envelope and return it to us.
For added convenience, you can now complete this survey online. If you would
like to fill out this survey online, please go to URL.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.
Sincerely,
The GoMex Team
University of California, Santa Barbara
Recreational Fishing Activities
1. How are you involved with the Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishery?
__private boat owner
___charter boat owner
____party boat owner
__fisher on for-hire boat (charter or party boat)
___bait shop owner
__Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council member ____other
2. Are you a member of a recreational fishing association/organization? ___yes ___no
If so, which one?
_____________________________________________________________________
3. Have you heard about the proposed sector separation of the recreational fishing
community in the Gulf of Mexico?
____yes
____no
Background Information
Sector separation is a newly proposed management strategy for the recreational reef
fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. Specifically, the recreational sector would be split into a
for-hire component (charter boats, head boats, etc.) and a private component for
management purposes. Each component would have its own set of rules and
regulations. For the purpose of our project, we will be focusing on red snapper and gag
grouper. Currently, the regulations for red snapper are a daily bag limit of two fish per
GoMex Project Proposal
29
person and a 16-inch minimum size length; the regulations for gag grouper are a daily
bag limit of two fish per person (within the four fish combined grouper total) and a 22inch minimum size length.
Our proposed management strategies could include setting a total allowable catch
(TAC) for each sector or implementing an individual transferable quota (ITQ) system,
which would allow fishermen to trade permits between sectors. A TAC is defined as a
catch limit set for a fishery for a specific period of time (yearly, seasonally, etc). An ITQ
would allow fishermen to buy, sell, and lease allocated quotas between sectors or
individuals. Proposed management plans will be described in greater detail below.
4. Would you be in support of separating the recreational fishing sector for red snapper
and gag grouper into two divisions: for-hire and private?
___yes
____no (If
no, please go to Question 6.)
5. If yes, would you change the current management plan (bag limit/season limit) for the
for-hire and/or private sector to a different management plan?
___for-hire
___private
___both
Management Strategies Preferences
6. Please rank the management strategies from 1 to 4 (1 being your most preferred, 4
being your least preferred). Each management scenario should be ranked, with only
one scenario assigned to each ranking.
Sector
Case 1
Case 2
Case 3
Case 4
Commercial ITQ
ITQ
ITQ, trading with
For-Hire Sector
ITQ
For-Hire
ITQ
ITQ, trading with
Commercial Sector
ITQ
TAC (with bag
and season
limits)
TAC (with bag and
season limits)
Tag
system
Overall TAC with
bag and season
limits
Private
Rank
7. Do you believe that there is another combination of management scenarios not listed
in Question 6 that would be feasible for Gulf of Mexico reef fisheries? ____ yes ____
no
GoMex Project Proposal
30
If yes, please explain.
______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Basic Information
8. Gender
9. Age
10. State of Residence
___Male
___Female
___ 18 or under
___19-25
___26-30
___31-35
___36-40
___41-45
___46-50
___51 or older
___Texas
___Alabama
___Louisiana
___Florida
___Mississippi
___Other
Thank you!
Please return your survey in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
If you need assistance, please contact the GoMex Team at the University of
California, Santa Barbara at gomex.bren@gmail.com.
GoMex Project Proposal
31