The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
Shark News 13: July 2001
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Fishery for US Atlantic spiny dogfish temporarily halted
Sonja Fordham, The Ocean Conservancy
In accordance with a federal management plan, the commercial fishery for spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias off the NE coast of the United States was closed in June as the first half of the annual quota was reached. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts also announced that their state waters (shore out to three miles) would be closed to dogfish fishing, in line with the federal closure and recent emergency action by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).
Such closures are key to the rebuilding of the overfished spiny dogfish population in the NW Atlantic, yet somewhat surprising considering Massachusetts' opposition to the federal plan's low quotas; last year Massachusetts imposed a state dogfish quota that was nearly twice that for federal waters, leading to a 67% quota overage in the first year of the plan. This overage was not deducted from the 2001 spiny dogfish quota, the second half of which will be available to the fishery in the fall.
The US Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery began about a decade ago. In 1990, landings increased to 32 million pounds, more than triple 1989 levels, then peaked in 1996 at over 60 million pounds. Landings in 1999 exceeded 32 million pounds. Massachusetts vessels have been responsible for more than half the US Atlantic dogfish landings; North Carolina has ranked second. The majority of U.S. Atlantic spiny dogfish are exported to Europe. Mature females are targeted to meet market demand for large fish.
The federal fishery management councils for the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions began developing a fishery management plan for the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the mid 1990s. Controversy over the catch cuts needed to rebuild the population, coupled with the low priority of the species led to significant management delays. In early 2000, pressure from fishermen and Massachusetts congressmen led to further postponements and a quota increase from the scientifically advised 2.9 million pounds to 4 million pounds. The first U.S. Atlantic dogfish regulations were not implemented until April 2000.
The unregulated, directed take of mature females and years of management delays have taken their toll. Mature female dogfish are now depleted and the number of pups is at record low levels. The pulse of intermediate age females that once offered hope for timely rebuilding has now also been significantly reduced. Before the 2000 quota was grossly exceeded, population rebuilding was already expected to take nearly two decades.
Although Massachusetts waters are temporarily closed to dogfish fishing, the state continues to argue for a "constant harvest" approach that would allow nearly double the federal dogfish quota and continued directed fishing on mature females. Massachusetts, supported by states such as New Hampshire and Maine, is expected to continue to push for quota increases. The ASMFC could change their dogfish management strategy as early as July, while the federal plan may take a year or more to amend.
Sonja V. Fordham
Fish Conservation Project Manager
The Ocean Conservancy
1725 DeSales Street NW; Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036, USA
fax: +1 202 872 0619
Email: sfordham@oceanconservancy.org
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