Red Snapper Key Issues Andy Strelcheck NOAA Fisheries

Red Snapper Key Issues Andy Strelcheck NOAA Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office

Terminology ‘Linked’ Maximum yield contingent on proportional reductions in fishing mortality across all fisheries (directed, closed season, and shrimp trawl bycatch) ‘Delinked’ Reductions in fishing mortality not proportional across all fisheries - allows conscience decisions to be made regarding bycatch

Linked/Delinked Example 50% 63% 50% 25% 50%

Red Snapper Age Distribution (Age 2 -15+) Greater than 80% of all directed fishery landings are 4 years old or less

Timeframes for Ending Overfishing All timeframes for ending overfishing are contingent on reducing F across all sources by 74%

Spawning Potential for Various Size Limits Eastern Gulf Western Gulf Source: Porch 2005

Yield per Recruit Recreational East Commercial West YPR maximized at 16” YPR maximized at 12”

Effects of Minimum Size Limits on Stock Recovery

MRFSS effort in the EEZ by mode

Spawning Potential

Percentage of Red Snapper Killed (in numbers) by Sector Shrimp trawls accounted for 81% of the total NUMBER of red snapper killed by fishing (Gulfwide) during 2001 -03. Source: Porch assessment output files

Natural Mortality vs. Shrimp Trawl Bycatch Mortality (Age 0 and 1 Red Snapper) 1. 13 (F) 1. 60 (M) 0. 57 (F) 1. 60 (M) Number of Age-0 and Age-1 Red Snapper Deaths and Survivors per 100 Fish 7 12 15 34 20 12 59 68 73 0. 30 (F) 1. 60 (M)

Red Snapper F vs. Shrimp Effort Linked F 26%SPR level and corresponding effort

SPR levels in 2032 for Various Percent Reductions in Shrimp Trawl Bycatch F 58% SPR 12% SPR 4% SPR Unless directed fishery F = 0, there is little change in SPR associated with large reductions in shrimp trawl F Source: Thompson (2005)

SPR levels in 2032 for Various Percent Reductions in Directed F 58% SPR 36% SPR 23% SPR Large increases in SPR occur if directed F is reduced by 60% or more. Source: Thompson (2005)

Fishing Mortality Rates East - recreational - comm longline West - commercial handline - shrimp trawl bycatch - closed season

CPUE of Juvenile Red Snapper by Depth Trawled Source: Galloway et al. 1999

Estimated Change in Harvest for Various Recreational Size Limits Percent Increase in Landings Size Limit 15” 14” 13” Numbers 16 -20% 31 -40% 45 -67% Pounds 8 -10% 15 -19% 19 -26%

Management Options for 4. 5 MP TAC • All options prohibit captain and crew bag limits Option Bag Limit Size Limit Fishing Season Days A. B. C. D. E. 1 2 2 3 4 16” 16” 16” May 15 – Sept 30 May 15 – Aug 15 Jun 1 – Aug 31 Jun 1 – Aug 15 May 1 – June 30 107 92 92 76 61 F. G. H. 1 2 3 15” 15” May 15 – Aug 31 May 15 – July 31 June 1 – July 31 108 77 61

Management Options for 5. 26 MP TAC • All options prohibit captain and crew bag limits Option Bag Limit Size Limit Fishing Season Days A. B. C. D. E. 1 2 2 3 4 16” 16” 16” May 1 – Oct 15 May 15 – Sept 15 Jun 1 – Sept 30 May 15 – Aug 15 June 1 – Aug 31 168 123 122 92 92 F. G. H. I. 1 2 3 4 15” 15” May 1 – Sept 15 Jun 1 – Sept 15 May 1 – July 15 May 1 – June 30 138 107 76 61

Management Options for 5. 57 MP TAC • All options prohibit captain and crew bag limits Option Bag Limit Size Limit Fishing Season Days A. B. C. D. E. 1 2 2 3 4 16” 16” 16” May 1 – Oct 31 May 15 – Sept 30 Jun 1 – Oct 15 May 15 – Aug 31 May 15 – Aug 15 184 138 137 108 92 F. G. H. I. 1 2 3 4 15” 15” May 15 – Oct 25 May 15 – Aug 31 Jun 1 – Aug 31 May 15 – July 31 163 108 92 77