Saving Seafood

Some sharks are more likely to die after ‘catch and release,’ study finds. Here’s why

September 24, 2021 — Longlining, a commercial fishing technique that drags a main line with baited hooks through the water, is convenient when catching massive amounts of swordfish and tuna, but it also traps what experts call “bycatch” — unintended victims that may face dark fates after release back into the ocean.

Sharks are often attracted to and caught on these baited longlines; it’s one of the many culprits behind declining shark populations. Certain rules called “no-take regulations” require fishermen to release some species when accidentally hooked, but a new study of over 300 sharks found that some are much more likely to die after “catch and release” than others. The study was published Sept. 15 in the journal PLOS One.

“The assumption behind no-take regulations is that the shark will swim away and live out its normal life after it’s released, but we know that for some sharks, that’s not true,” study lead author Dr. Nick Whitney, senior scientist at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life in Massachusetts, said in a news release.

After five years of longline fishing that targeted five of the seven most commonly caught species in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Keys, the researchers learned as many as 42% to 71% of blacktip and spinner sharks will die after being caught and released alive. Others, such as sandbar and tiger sharks, were more resilient; only 3% or fewer died after release. Bull sharks were also one of the more hardy species. The animals were caught near Madeira Beach, Key West and Naples, Florida.

The team learned 90% of the post-release deaths occurred within five hours of returning to the water, and 59% occurred within just two hours. Blood samples and tracking data revealed the stress of the capture process, or injuries acquired during it, leads to the unnecessary and disproportionate demise of some sharks.

Read the full story at the Miami Herald

White shark tracking organization releases findings after tagging 3 sharks during New England research expedition

August 30, 2021 — OCEARCH has released the findings of its 41st Ocean Research Expedition in New England where they were successfully able to sample, tag, and release three white sharks. The organization says the data collected from these sharks will support 23 science projects, helping “form a complete picture of the ecology, behavior and health of the white shark in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean.”

Expedition New England departed from New Bedford on Aug. 1 and spent the first week fishing in federal waters outside of Cape Cod and Nantucket before heading to the Isle of Shoals off of New Hampshire, and ending in Gloucester on Aug. 20.

OCEARCH’s Northwest Atlantic White Shark Study is the most comprehensive research study that has ever been done on a white shark population and the data collected from the three sharks tagged and sampled on Expedition New England will support 23 different research projects including full health assessments, bacterial and microbiome studies and microplastic toxin exposure. In addition, the three tags added to each of these sharks will allow scientists to track their long-term movements as they grow into young adults.

Read the full story at WHDH

Six Ways Fishermen Keep Shark Fishing Sustainable

August 26, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

U.S. shark fisheries are among the most sustainably managed commercial and recreational fisheries in the world. Here are six things fishermen do to help help us maintain a sustainable shark fishery:

1. Have the Proper Permits

Fishermen need a federal fishing permit to fish for sharks. These permits, issued by NOAA Fisheries, help us communicate and enforce regulations and monitor how many sharks are caught.

2. Follow Bag and Size Limits

Commercial fishermen follow annual catch limits, gear restrictions, closed areas, and retention limits when fishing for sharks. The recreational shark fishery also has bag and size limits. These limits maintain the sustainability of the shark fishery by controlling the harvest. Minimum size limits protect many juvenile sharks from harvest and ensure they have the opportunity to mature and reproduce.

3. Use Circle Hooks

Fishermen use circle hooks when using their rod and reel or longline fishing gear to catch sharks. Circle hooks increase the chance of hooking a shark in the jaw instead of the gut. This reduces injury to the shark’s internal organs and increases their chance of survival when released. A shark that is hooked in the jaw is easier and safer to dehook. The only exception to using circle hooks is when recreational anglers are fishing with artificial lures or flies.

4. Fins Attached

Fishermen land sharks with their fins still attached. This prevents the cruel and wasteful practice of finning, which has been banned in the United States since 2000. Only sharks landed under the strict and sustainable commercial restrictions mentioned above may have their fins removed and sold after landing.

5. Identify Shark Species 

Commercial fishermen that use longline or gillnet gear are required to attend Handling and Release workshops where they learn which species they can keep and how to release those that are prohibited (including learning about the best ways to release sea turtles and marine mammals). Recreational fishermen are also trained in Catch and Release Best Practices so they know how to handle and safely release sharks. There are more than 20 prohibited shark species in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. If a fisherman accidentally hooks a prohibited species, they release them in a manner that enhances survival. Both commercial and recreational fishermen use shark identification guides to help identify which sharks they are catching

6. Report Catch

Fishermen report their catch through various programs, including:

Commercial landings are also reported through dealer reports.

Collecting information on catch and landings helps assure the sustainability of the shark fishery. The data from these programs are essential to support stock assessments that determine how much harvest a fishery can support and whether current harvest levels are within sustainable limits.

John “Jack” Casey: Internationally Recognized Shark Researcher, Mentor, and Narragansett Lab Co-Founder

August 24, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

John “Jack” Casey was born and raised in Turners Falls, Massachusetts. Two days out of high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served for 4 years on the destroyer escort USS Raymond. Following his military service, he returned to Turners Falls and worked at a paper mill for about 18 months. Seeking more on his horizon, Casey returned to school. He spent 2 years at the University of New Hampshire and 2 years at the University of Massachusetts, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in wildlife management in 1960.

That same year, Casey started working at the U.S. Fish and  Wildlife Service’s Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife laboratory at Sandy Hook, New Jersey. He began to study sharks of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean in 1961, when sharks were unstudied and misinformation abounded.

Realizing just how much information could be obtained by working with sport and commercial fishermen, Casey initiated the Cooperative Shark Tagging Program in 1962 with less than 100 volunteer fishermen who were eager to help science. Since then, thousands of fishermen have stepped up to join forces with NOAA Fisheries to tag sharks all over the Atlantic.

Fishermen participating in the program have tagged more than 300,000 sharks and recaptured more than 18,000 of many different species. Data gathered through the program are a font of information on the distribution, movements, and migration of more than 30 shark species. The program has resulted in numerous publications, and served as the basis for undergraduate honors projects, master’s degree theses, and Ph.D. dissertations. Most well-known, however, are the two “shark atlas” publications showing the first detailed distributions and movements of tagged Atlantic sharks.

In 1970, NOAA was created by executive order. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and the saltwater labs of its Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife were combined and moved to NOAA to form the National Marine Fisheries Service, now informally known as NOAA Fisheries. Casey was instrumental in setting up the new NOAA marine fisheries laboratory in Narragansett, Rhode Island. The Apex Predators Program he founded moved from the Sandy Hook Laboratory (which was by then also part of NOAA’s new fisheries service) to the Narragansett Laboratory. It remains there to this day.

Casey founded the Cooperative Shark Tagging Program and changed the course of knowledge on Atlantic shark movements and distribution. That alone is enough to make him a NOAA Fisheries science superhero. But Casey simultaneously started a life history program on sharks encompassing age and growth, reproduction, and food habits. His team produced groundbreaking science on all aspects of shark biology. Collaborations between Casey’s team, its successors, and experts at other institutions have led to widespread use of program data. They have exponentially increased our knowledge of sharks in the Atlantic. These lines of research continue to provide direct support for maintaining sustainability of these species.

Jack Casey is recognized nationally and internationally among his peers. He has been an invited speaker at scientific meetings around the world. He has appeared on several sportfishing shows, and authored or co-authored numerous scientific and popular articles. He has been honored with numerous awards, including the Department of Commerce bronze medal and the bronze medal awarded by the Morski Institute (Poland’s national marine fisheries service). He was also named a distinguished fellow by the American Elasmobranch Society. Through his outreach and public education work, he helped turn the public perception of sharks from “the only good shark is a dead shark” to the conservation-oriented value placed on sharks today.

As a pioneer in shark research, Jack Casey‘s influence is global and has proliferated through generations of students he has mentored and who have chosen careers in shark research. His contribution to shark science has been aided by his fighting spirit and determination. His excitement for sharks and his charismatic personality helped him forge a diverse group of volunteers into a team of collaborators dedicated to furthering shark research.

SEAN HORGAN: On Henri, a Bell, and sharks

August 23, 2021 — Sharks were back in the news last week, which should make our pal Bob Masjoan at the Crow’s Nest happy. He is all sharks, all of the time.

One time, during Shark Week, a misguided Irish soul, we’ll call him Cormac, asked Bob to turn the bar’s largest television to a European Cup soccer match instead of the shark fest. His request was rebuffed with extreme pelagic prejudice.

Anyway, no shortage of sharks last week. One viral video showed a herd of sharks — whites, blues et al — feasting on the carcass of a dead humpback whale out on Stellwagen Bank while an intrepid shark researcher on a tagging project lingered in his sea kayak mere feet away.

Us? We would have requisitioned a Los Angeles-class submarine.

Then came a fisherman’s photo — we spied it on the website of radio station WOKQ 97.5 — of a huge hammerhead shark swimming somewhere off the coast of Maine, looking for all the world like the most evil creature on the planet.

The accompanying story said hammerhead attacks on humans are rare — only 16 documented throughout the world, none fatal.

The piece also said the hammerheads are more afraid of us than we are of them. We here at FishOn are here to tell you that is not even remotely true.

Read the full opinion piece at the Gloucester Daily Times

UK Government Introduces New Ban On Shark Fin Trade

August 20, 2021 — In order to promote shark conservation, a ban has been initiated on the import and export of detached shark fins, the UK Government announced. This ban will include shark fin products like tinned shark fin soup.

Shark species are facing population decline, and shark finning is a huge force behind this. Out of over 500 species of shark, 143 are listed as ‘under threat’ under the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A key indicator and sign of ocean health is the presence and amount of sharks in marine areas. Sharks also play a major role in marine ecosystems because they help maintain healthy and normal levels of fish lower to them in the food chain.

Read the full story at Seafood News

Six Steps to Sustainable Sharks

August 11, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries ensures that United States fisheries are some of the most sustainable in the world, including sharks. Of the 479 fish stocks or stock complexes we manage, 43 are shark species in the Atlantic Ocean. Here we’ve broken down our management approach into six steps:

Step One: Research

Scientists spend months at sea and in the lab every year, collecting vital data on different marine species, including sharks. Shark research is conducted on NOAA’s fleet of research ships, or through its cooperative research programs. That’s where NOAA researchers work in conjunction with university scientists, the fishing industry, or other stakeholders to perform research activities. To see some of our shark research in the Atlantic, click below:

Step Two: Assessment

Using the data collected about shark stocks, our scientists in coordination with other scientists and partners complete a stock assessment to measure the impact of fishing on these stocks. Assessments use the best information available, which may include data from fisheries landings, scientific surveys, and biological studies. They predict catch levels that maximize the number of fish that can be caught every year while preventing overfishing (removing too many fish). These limits protect the marine ecosystem and, where necessary, rebuild overfished (depleted) stocks. Results of stock assessments are used for setting sustainable levels of fishing under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Read the full release here

Shark Sightings Off New York Coast Linked To Climate Change: Scientists

August 2, 2021 — Repeated shark sightings off New York’s Atlantic coastline are causing concerns this summer, especially after another sighting at Long Island’s popular Jones Beach State Park on Thursday morning. Scientists say warming waters, caused by climate change, are helping to drive the sharks farther north.

Just a day before a shark was spotted at Jones Beach, a neighboring beach was closed after multiple sharks were seen about 20 yards off the coast.

“Our guards spotted numerous — not just one, but numerous blacktip reef sharks,” said Hempstead town supervisor Don Clavin. “These are really unique sharks…they’re Caribbean sharks. They’re known to come close to the shoreline in feeding areas. So the concern is obviously with swimmers.”

Read the full story at WSGW

The Effects of Climate Change on Sharks

July 29, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Climate Solutions Start with Research

Understanding the effects of climate change on sharks and other fish populations is an emerging area of study and a priority for NOAA Fisheries. Climate change is causing warming seas, acidification, rising sea level, and other long-term shifts in the environment. It is already affecting numerous marine species in complex ways. Sharks are no exception. The impacts of climate change on marine life are expected to continue into the future, potentially resulting in:

  • Shifts in the distribution of fish populations
  • Changes in migratory patterns
  • Changes in the availability of suitable habitat
  • Shifts in population sizes
  • Changes in the availability of prey

We are conducting research on many species and across fisheries to find ways to characterize such ecological shifts and address climate vulnerability and resilience.

The Range of Change

A climate vulnerability assessment for 82 fish species, including some sharks, off the northeastern United States found that impacts are likely to vary by species. In general, sharks may have lower overall vulnerability than other marine organisms (e.g., shellfish, salmon, or eels). They are less likely to experience changes in abundance. However, because of their extensive range, sharks have a high likelihood of shifting their distributions or expanding into new habitats to follow preferable ocean conditions.

In Atlantic and Pacific U.S. waters, many fish species are shifting northward as the oceans continue to warm. For example, species like the thresher shark, which are common off southern California, are expected to become more common off Alaska along the Pacific coast. Along the northeastern United States, smooth dogfish may actually gain suitable habitat, whereas thorny skate (a shark relative) may lose habitat as the region warms. Some species are also shifting to deeper, cooler waters as shallow coastal environments warm.

Read the full release here

2021 Coastal Survey Catches Nearly 2,500 Atlantic Sharks

July 14, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Sandbar sharks were the most common shark caught during the 2021 Large Coastal Shark Bottom Longline Survey. This survey of large and small coastal sharks was conducted from April 12 to May 28 by scientists from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Apex Predators Program.

The survey is conducted in U.S. waters from Florida to the mid-Atlantic area every two to three years to provide relative abundance indices of coastal shark populations. Working from the contracted commercial longline vessel F/V Eagle Eye II, scientists from the center’s Narragansett Laboratory in Rhode Island and vessel crew caught 2,462 sharks of 11 species. The vessel left Port Royal, South Carolina to begin the survey just south of Fort Pierce, Florida. The survey ended at the North Carolina–Virginia border.

“We had a lot of weather delays this year, but we were still able to complete the majority of stations we cover each survey,” said Cami McCandless, who along with Lisa Natanson were the two scientists on board for the survey. Both are from the center’s Apex Predators Program based at the Narragansett Laboratory. Natanson has been the chief scientist on this survey since its inception in 1996. She retired in 2020 but returned this year to help lead the survey one last time before handing over the reins.

“The survey was designed to sample coastal sharks just prior to their northward migration along the coast,” Natanson said. “The 47-day survey consistently occurs in early to mid-April and ends at the Memorial Day weekend. Since the inception of the survey, there has been an increase in weather days. This has resulted in a decrease in the number of stations although the geographic extent of the survey has remained the same over the years.”

Read the full release here