Scientist Call For Protection of Marine Fishes At Risk
Beth Tyler

in Sharks, Rays, Groupers, Snappers, and Pacific Rockfish.

BETHESDA, MD. — The American Fisheries Society (AFS), an international organization of 9,000 fisheries scientists and professionals, has adopted four policy statements calling for immediate action to protect marine fish stocks at risk of extinction.

Based on carefully considered criteria, the policy statements represent the best available scientific knowledge on the risk of extinction for stocks of these species. The statements specifically name sharks and rays, groupers and snappers, and Pacific rockfish as groups of species at high risk.

AFS analyses are based on science and not politics or emotions,” said Jack Musick of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, coordinator of the policy statement effort. “We have seen serious declines in some marine fish stocks and some have already been extirpated. We are recommending specific management measures to prevent further collapses of vulnerable fish populations.”

The first statement addresses marine fish stocks in general, calling for more research on their often poorly understood life histories. Some of their life history characteristics make them vulnerable to depletion or even extinction. Particularly at risk are species with long life spans, limited ranges, low reproductive rates, slow growth, or late maturity. For species

with these characteristics, the recovery time for collapsed stocks may be decades, if possible at all, creating a long-term economic and ecological disruption. The statement also identifies four “hot spots” of stocks at risk, including the Florida Keys; the Indian River Lagoon area of Florida;

Puget Sound, Washington, and adjacent Canadian waters; and the Gulf of California.

The second policy statement describes similar concerns for sharks and rays. In addition to their long life spans and slow reproductive rates, sharks and rays face two other threats—(1) incidental capture by fishers primarily seeking other species; and (2) “finning,” in which fins are cut off and retained while the less valuable carcass is dumped at sea. Because these species migrate throughout the world’s seas, their conservation requires international cooperation.

Reef fish, particularly snappers and groupers, are the focus of the third policy statement. Many reef fish species change sex – starting life as females and becoming males later in life. Fishing pressure can cause unbalanced sex ratios because it typically removes the larger individuals (the males) first. Fishing also takes advantage of the reef fish tendency to spawn in “aggregations” or large groups that are easily located by

fishers. In both of these events, fishing disrupts the stock’s ability to reproduce, which can have severe effects on the production of new fish.

The fourth statement discusses protection for Pacific rockfish, a poorly understood group of more than 60 species. Rockfishes mature late and are extremely long lived, ranging in adult age up to 50, some even 150 years old. However, their reproductive success is erratic and determined to a large extent by environmental conditions. Species with these characteristics

cannot withstand intensive, long-term fishing mortality. Several have already been identified as overfished and placed in rebuilding plans.

Managers are also concerned about the status of many nearshore species under pressure from recreational and developing commercial fisheries.

All four statements urge federal, regional, state, and international policy makers to increase research and assessment, protection of critical habitat, and international cooperation. They also urge improved reporting of bycatch,

consideration of less conventional fishing regulations, and immediate establishment of fully protected marine areas where some portion of the stocks are free from fishing pressures.

AFS is an objective scientific society that does not make management recommendations without justification,” said Society President Christine Moffitt, of the University of Idaho. “These statements draw upon years of research conducted by dozens of scientists. In keeping with our society’s charge, we must fulfill our mandate to conserve these fisheries resources.”

The next stage will be to use the criteria developed through this initiative to classify North American marine fish stocks into risk categories (see draft list in Fisheries, July 1998) and publish a final list of specific species at risk. The policy statements result from a two-year effort funded

by the Pew Charitable Trusts, The Homeland Foundation, The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Founded in 1870, AFS is the world’s oldest and largest professional fisheries society. Its mission is to promote the conservation, development, and wise utilization of fisheries.

Note: The full text of all four policy statements is available on the AFS web site at http://www.fisheries.org/marinestocks_index.htm.

(posted March 23, 2000)