Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

AB Aquatic Biology Contact the journal Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections AB 11:65-76 (2010) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00290 An empirical test of the ‘shark nursery area concept’ in Texas bays using a long-term fisheries-independent data set John T. Froeschke1,4,*, Gregory W. Stunz1, Blair Sterba-Boatwright2, Mark L. Wildhaber3 1Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies and Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412, USA 2Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412, USA 3Columbia Environmental Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, Missouri 65201, USA 4Present address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Ave., Suite 1100, Tampa, Florida 33607, USA *Email: john.froeschke@gulfcouncil.org ABSTRACT: Using a long-term fisheries-independent data set, we tested the ‘shark nursery area concept’ proposed by Heupel et al. (2007) with the suggested working assumptions that a shark nursery habitat would: (1) have an abundance of immature sharks greater than the mean abundance across all habitats where they occur; (2) be used by sharks repeatedly through time (years); and (3) see immature sharks remaining within the habitat for extended periods of time. We tested this concept using young-of-the-year (age 0) and juvenile (age 1+ yr) bull sharks Carcharhinus leucas from gill-net surveys conducted in Texas bays from 1976 to 2006 to estimate the potential nursery function of 9 coastal bays. Of the 9 bay systems considered as potential nursery habitat, only Matagorda Bay satisfied all 3 criteria for young-of-the-year bull sharks. Both Matagorda and San Antonio Bays met the criteria for juvenile bull sharks. Through these analyses we examined the utility of this approach for characterizing nursery areas and we also describe some practical considerations, such as the influence of the temporal or spatial scales considered when applying the nursery role concept to shark populations. KEY WORDS: Bull shark · Nursery · Essential Fish Habitat · Gulf of Mexico Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Froeschke JT, Stunz GW, Sterba-Boatwright B, Wildhaber ML (2010) An empirical test of the ‘shark nursery area concept’ in Texas bays using a long-term fisheries-independent data set. Aquat Biol 11:65-76. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00290Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AB Vol. 11, No. 1. Online publication date: November 10, 2010 Print ISSN: 1864-7782; Online ISSN: 1864-7790 Copyright © 2010 Inter-Research.

Abstract Ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) and ecosystem restoration are gaining momentum worldwide, including in U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Ecosystem models are valuable tools for informing EBFM and restoration activities. In this paper, we provide guidance and a roadmap for ecosystem modeling in the GOM region, with an emphasis on model development and use of model products to inform EBFM and the increasing investments in restoration. We propose eight “best practices” for ecosystem modeling efforts, including (1) identification of priority management questions, (2) scenarios as simulation experiments, (3) calibration and validation needs, (4) sensitivity and uncertainty analyses, (5) ensuring transparency, (6) improving communication between ecosystem modelers and the various stakeholders, (7) documentation of modeling efforts, and (8) maintaining the ecosystem models and codes. Fisheries management in the USA adheres to a prescriptive set of calculations. Therefore, the use of ecosystem modeling in EBFM for the GOM will likely be incremental, starting with the incorporation of environmental variables into single-species assessments, the provision of background (stage-setting) information on environmental and food web effects (e.g., the impacts of lionfish Pterois spp. invasion), and strategic advice through management strategy evaluation. Management questions related to restoration in the GOM (e.g., the impacts of freshwater and sediment diversions as part of coastal restoration, habitat preservation, and rehabilitation; and measures to mitigate nutrient loading and hypoxia) have more flexibility in how they are addressed and thus are primed for immediate use of ecosystem modeling. The questions related to restoration are appropriate for ecosystem modeling, and data collection at the restoration project level can provide critical information for modeling to then scale up to regional responses. Ecosystem modeling efforts need to be initiated and advanced now in order for the tools to be ready in the near future. Addressing resource management issues and questions will benefit greatly from the proper use of ecosystem modeling.

Understanding the factors that influence species’ distributions is crucial for implementing effective management and conservation practices, yet difficult for highly vagile species like sharks. Many shark species demonstrate either spatial and/or temporal sexual segregation, further confounding accurate quantification of habitat suitability. Given the importance of understanding spatiotemporal patterns in the distribution of coastal shark assemblages, we sought to quantify sex-specific abiotic factors that influence seasonal variation in a coastal shark assemblage using data from a long-term fisheries-independent bottom longline program in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Catch data (individuals/100 hooks/hour) were coupled with a suite of potentially predictive variables: surface and bottom values for temperature (C) and salinity (psu), sea surface height (m), three-dimensional surface and bottom current velocity (u, v, w, in m/s), bottom dissolved oxygen (mg/l), depth (m), substrate grain size (mm), daylength (min), and distance from shore (km). Data were analyzed using boosted regression trees (BRT) to describe the relationships between catch data and environmental factors potentially influencing sex-specific species distribution and abundance. Between May 2006 and November 2018, we conducted 1,226 bottom longline sets and caught 13,742 individuals encompassing 67 species. The majority of the animals captured (74%) were elasmobranchs, primarily sharks. Two species from each of the following three categories were selected for further analyses: small coastal sharks (Atlantic sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon terraenovae and blacknose shark Carcharhinus acronotus), large coastal sharks (blacktip shark C. limbatus and sandbar shark C. plumbeus), and shelf-associated sharks (smoothhound sharks, Mustelus spp. and scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini). Depth and distance from shore were the strongest predictors of distribution and relative abundance, followed by longitude and bottom salinity; other factors (e.g. temperature, daylength, substrate grain size) were less predictive. For the six species examined, predictive factors were often the same for males and females, although the range of preferred values varied. Surprisingly, the importance of these predictors varied little across seasons. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that sexual segregation is the norm for sharks in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Long-term fishery-independent monitoring to further quantify these sex-based differences in habitat use should be prioritized, particularly in light of impending climate change.

Inland recreational fisheries, found in lakes, rivers, and other landlocked waters, are important to livelihoods, nutrition, leisure, and other societal ecosystem services worldwide. Although recreationally-caught fish are frequently harvested and consumed by fishers, their contribution to food and nutrition has not been adequately quantified due to lack of data, poor monitoring, and under-reporting, especially in developing countries. Beyond limited global harvest estimates, few have explored species-specific harvest patterns, although this variability has implications for fisheries management and food security. Given the continued growth of the recreational fishery sector, understanding inland recreational fish harvest and consumption rates represents a critical knowledge gap. Based on a comprehensive literature search and expert knowledge review, we quantified multiple aspects of global inland recreational fisheries for 81 countries spanning ~192 species. For each country, we assembled recreational fishing participation rate and estimated species-specific harvest and consumption rate. This dataset provides a foundation for future assessments, including understanding nutritional and economic contributions of inland recreational fisheries.

Increases in standardized catch per unit effort (CPUE) and mean length of bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) were observed in coastal estuaries over a 35-year period (1976–2010). Trends in abundance and size were examined using fisheries-independent data from a long-term monitoring survey in Texas, USA. Catch, effort, and environmental covariates that affect bull shark distribution were used to create a standardized index of abundance. Increases in abundance and mean length were detected, potentially due to the initiation of federal management and restrictions on the use of gill nets in nearby Louisiana, USA, waters in 1995. This study provides a long-term perspective of two important demographic indicators (abundance and mean size) of bull shark and provides an encouraging signal in the Gulf of Mexico for a species whose stock status is unknown yet considered near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list. Continuing research is needed to gauge effects of management and environmental impacts on shark resources as well as investigations into ecosystem effects of increasing predatory density in coastal waters.

Abstract Linking trends in fish population abundance to environmental characteristics is often difficult because fish use a variety of habitats throughout their ontogeny and may exhibit large interannual fluctuations in abundance. We developed a two-stage boosted regression tree model to investigate spatiotemporal patterns of Southern Flounder Paralichthys lethostigma abundance and distribution in Texas estuaries. We used a 36-year fishery-independent data set (1977–2012) to correlate distribution with environmental conditions and seasonal or long-term changes in abundance. Adult Southern Flounder were sampled with gill nets using a random-stratified design. Predictions of abundance were made to grids of environmental data to identify “hot spots” as well as seasonal or decadal shifts in distribution. Models were fit using cross validation, and variance was estimated using nonparametric bootstrapping. Depth, temperature, distance to a tidal inlet, and salinity were the primary environmental determinants of Southern Flounder distribution and abundance. Because distribution and response to environmental conditions can depend on population abundance, we also developed a standardized index of annual abundance using the same two-stage boosted regression tree model. The index identifies a long-term decline in abundance punctuated by recent recovery (possibly in response to management actions). Mapped results identify a coastwide decline in abundance between 1980–1984 and 2005–2009 but the magnitude varied substantially, suggesting disproportionate changes in abundance across the study area. Received April 10, 2015; accepted July 28, 2015

Abstract The ecosystem‐based fisheries management (EBFM) framework has a solid theoretical justification and has been embraced in principle by many regions; yet, systematic implementation remains a challenge. In regions with strong governance, single‐species stock assessment and management has been successful in ending overfishing and maintaining stocks near levels that produce maximum catches. However, considering species in isolation and recognizing a limited set of management objectives leads to systemic inefficiencies, incentivizes waste and generates unintended consequences. To avoid undesirable outcomes, human values and needs must be positioned at the forefront of management, system‐level objectives must be identified, and management actions must be systematically evaluated to ensure they are contributing to those larger objectives. Such processes, when implemented transparently, will lead to reduced conflict and improved stakeholder support for governance and should greatly facilitate long‐term management. We argue here that, regardless of the management framework adopted, we inherently manage at the ecosystem level—albeit sometimes “blindly”—and that increased attention to ecosystem objectives and trade‐offs will improve management outcomes.

Abstract Although current assessments of shark population trends involve both fishery-independent and fishery-dependent data, the latter are generally limited to commercial landings that may neglect nearshore coastal habitats. Texas has supported the longest organized land-based recreational shark fishery in the United States, yet no studies have used this “non-traditional” data source to characterize the catch composition or trends in this multidecadal fishery. We analyzed catch records from two distinct periods straddling heavy commercial exploitation of sharks in the Gulf of Mexico (historical period = 1973–1986; modern period = 2008–2015) to highlight and make available the current status and historical trends in Texas’ land-based shark fishery. Catch records describing large coastal species (>1,800 mm stretched total length [STL]) were examined using multivariate techniques to assess catch seasonality and potential temporal shifts in species composition. These fishery-dependent data revealed consistent seasonality that was independent of the data set examined, although distinct shark assemblages were evident between the two periods. Similarity percentage analysis suggested decreased contributions of Lemon Shark Negaprion brevirostris over time and a general shift toward the dominance of Bull Shark Carcharhinus leucas and Blacktip Shark C. limbatus. Comparisons of mean STL for species captured in historical and modern periods further identified significant decreases for both Bull Sharks and Lemon Sharks. Size structure analysis showed a distinct paucity of landed individuals over 2,000 mm STL in recent years. Although inherent biases in reporting and potential gear-related inconsistencies undoubtedly influenced this fishery-dependent data set, the patterns in our findings documented potential declines in the size and occurrence of select large coastal shark species off Texas, consistent with declines reported in the Gulf of Mexico. Future management efforts should consider the use of non-traditional fishery-dependent data sources, such as land-based records, as data streams in stock assessments. Received January 8, 2016; accepted August 17, 2016

Abstract The Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 required regional fishery management councils to implement annual catch limits (ACLs) for nearly all stocks under U.S. federal management. Since 2011, the number of stocks requiring ACLs (and monitoring) has increased nearly 10-fold, with strict accountability measures requiring either in-season quota closures or shortening of subsequent seasons to avoid ACL overages. Robust forecasts of landings can also provide a projected baseline for evaluation of proposed management alternatives. We compared generalized linear models (GLMs), generalized additive models (GAMs), and seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) models in terms of fit, accuracy, and ability to forecast landings of four representative fish stocks that support recreational fisheries in the southeastern United States. All models were useful in developing reliable forecasts to inform management. The GAMs provided the best fit to the observed data; however, the modeling approaches of the SARIMA model and GLM provided the best forecasts for most scenarios. The SARIMA model and GLM also provided the best predictions of the seasonal trend in landings, a desirable feature for in-season quota monitoring. The SARIMA model was more sensitive and the GLM was less sensitive to recent trends, providing a useful “bookend” for forecasts. The time span of input data affected forecast accuracy from all model types considered. This study suggests multiple forecasting models should be investigated and performance metrics carefully selected and evaluated, as no single model is likely to perform best for all stocks of interest. Received December 18, 2014; accepted April 20, 2015

Abstract Southern Flounder Paralichthys lethostigma supports a multimillion dollar commercial and recreational fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. Despite its economic importance, the Southern Flounder population has been declining for decades. To improve the management of this fishery, both population trends and changes in environmental conditions need to be considered. Using two different statistical modeling techniques, boosted regression tree (BRT) and artificial neural network (ANN), a 29-year fisheries-independent record of juvenile Southern Flounder abundance in Texas was examined to illustrate how environmental factors influence the temporal and spatial distribution of juvenile Southern Flounder. Boosted regression trees show the presence of juvenile Southern Flounder is closely associated with relatively low temperatures, low salinity levels, and high dissolved oxygen concentrations. Both ANN and BRT models resulted in high predictive performance with slight spatial differences in predicted distribution. Both models suggested high probability of occurrence in Galveston Bay and East Matagorda Bay. The ANN accurately predicted higher probability of occurrence in Sabine Lake compared with the BRT model. Our results will provide tools for fisheries managers to enhance management and sustainability of the Southern Flounder population. Moreover, these results also identify a predictive framework for proactive approaches to ecosystem management by providing more data to identify essential habitat features and understanding relationships between abiotic and biotic factors within those habitats. Received October 16, 2012; accepted May 22, 2013

Abstract In a derby fishery, anglers race to catch as many fish as possible during a limited season. To meet legal mandates to prevent overfishing, forecasting accuracy is paramount. Red Snapper is among the most prized species in the US Gulf of Mexico and represents a politically charged derby fishery case study. We describe the management considerations, data, methods, and specialized statistical forecasting approaches used to estimate recreational component season lengths to maximize fishing opportunities while meeting mandates to constrain catch below legal limits. Retrospective analysis of model predictions for 2013–2017 indicated mean prediction error of 2626 ± 13 231, 3014 ± 15 744, and 42 975 ± 132 032 pounds whole weight per open day for charter, headboat, and private mode catch rates, respectively. Forecasting results using generalized linear models indicated that the annual harvest for 2017 would be caught in 2 d for the private angling component with an 18% probability of exceeding the component quota. The federal for-hire (charter and headboat) component season was estimated to be 48 d, with a 5% probability of exceeding the component quota. There is a broad scientific and management interest in identifying strategies to continue rebuilding the stock while increasing stakeholder access.

Abstract Recruitment of age-0 gray triggerfish Balistes capriscus to benthic artificial reefs was documented by diver surveys from 2003 to 2007. Divers counted and estimated the sizes of all gray triggerfish that recruited to three types of artificial reefs (all in 20-m depths) ranging from 1.2 to 4.0 m2 in area. Reefs were located in the Gulf of Mexico 28 km south of Dauphin Island, Alabama. Forty artificial reefs built in June 2003 were surveyed in October–December 2003 and May 2004; 20 artificial reefs built in October 2005 were surveyed in October and December 2005 and May, August, and December 2006; 40 artificial reefs built in July 2006 were surveyed in June 2007; and 30 artificial reefs built in August 2007 were surveyed in September, October, and December 2007. Recruitment patterns were similar in the fall and winter of 2003 and 2007. In 2005 significantly lower numbers of recruits were detected than in other years, which may have been caused by a major hurricane. Peak recruitment of age-0 gray triggerfish occurred from September to December. Based on known spawning seasonality and the first appearance of recruits in September in this study, gray triggerfish spend 4–7 months in the pelagic environment before recruiting to benthic habitat.

Abstract The estuarine‐dependent brown shrimp, Farfantepenaeus aztecus , is a significant commercial fishery and important species in the Gulf of Mexico ( GOM ) ecosystem as well as being a key component in energy transfer between benthic and pelagic food web systems. Because of the economical and ecological importance of brown shrimp, we developed a spatial population model to identify places of high shrimp density under a set of spatial, environmental and temporal variables in the Northern Gulf of Mexico ( NGOM ). We used fisheries‐independent data collected by the Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program ( SEAMAP ) from 1992 to 2007 (summer and fall seasons). The relationship between the predictor variables and shrimp density was modeled using Boosted Regression Trees ( BRT ). Within the environmental variables included in the model, bottom type and depth of the water column were the most important predictors of shrimp density in the NGOM . Spatial predictions performed using the trained BRT model for summer and fall seasons showed a spatial segregation of shrimp density. During the summer, higher densities were predicted near the Texas and Louisiana coast and during the fall, higher densities were predicted further offshore. The model performed well and allowed successful prediction of brown shrimp hot spots in the NGOM . Model results allow fisheries managers to evaluate the potential impact from fisheries on the resource and to develop future fisheries management strategies, understand the biology of brown shrimp as well as assess the potential impacts of oil spills or climate change.

Abstract Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus populations support (or have supported) important commercial and recreational fisheries in Gulf of Mexico and southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean waters. Stock assessment results and related regulatory actions are contentious in both regions. We assessed the relative availability of information to support Red Snapper assessment and management between the two regions by performing a literature review and comparing the number of region-specific, Red Snapper–focused peer-reviewed publications. One hundred and ten publications (over the period 1982–2013) were identified in this search, with 94% focused on Gulf of Mexico waters. We then assessed the available information on juvenile (≤150 mm total length) Red Snapper. Twenty-eight peer-reviewed publications focused entirely or partially on juvenile Red Snapper in Gulf of Mexico waters. None documented the occurrence of juvenile Red Snapper in southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean waters. For the Gulf of Mexico, more than 50,000 records of juvenile Red Snapper were identified in a single trawl survey database. For southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean waters, a comprehensive search of fishery-independent survey databases (totaling >75,000 individual gear deployments and occurring across the range of habitats, depths, and seasons in which juvenile Red Snapper were collected in the Gulf of Mexico trawl survey) and institutional collections identified only 132 records of juvenile Red Snapper. These results highlight the need for additional information on Red Snapper in southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean waters and on the connectivity between Gulf of Mexico and southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean Red Snapper populations to support Red Snapper population assessment and fishery management. Received August 6, 2014; accepted November 13, 2014

Abstract Migration is an important component of the life history and ontogeny of reef fish. On the west coast of Florida, the interaction between ontogenetically migrating reef fish and fishing effort is an important contributor to the pattern of fishing mortality. A biased random walk model was developed to represent the movement of red grouper Epinephelus morio from the inshore nursery habitat occupied by juveniles to the offshore reef habitat inhabited by adults on the West Florida Shelf. A simulated tagging study was conducted to develop distributions of movement speed. Time at large, release location, and input movement speed from conventional tagging data were used to parameterize the simulation. Maturity at age, determined when fish began moving, and directional movement behavior were modeled as functions of preferential habitat. The results suggest that the general movement of tagged fish can be represented using simple assumptions. Comparison of the tagging study and the tagging simulation showed no statistical differences between these two in terms of movement speed, distance traveled, mean size of fish at release, and mean size of fish at recapture. Furthermore, the age distribution of the fish arriving at the reef in the model matched the observed age distribution in the commercial catch.

We report 24 new records of the Brazilian cownose ray Rhinoptera brasiliensis outside its accepted geographic range. Sequencing of a 442-base pair portion of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene for 282 Rhinoptera samples revealed eight records off the east coast of the USA and 16 from the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Both sexes of all life stages were documented in all seasons over multiple years in the Indian River and Lake Worth lagoons, Florida, indicating that their range extends further in the western North Atlantic than previously described.

FisheriesVolume 44, Issue 5 p. 239-242 Essay Effective Science-Based Fishery Management is Good for Gulf of Mexico's "Bottom Line" – But Evolving Challenges Remain Mandy Karnauskas, Mandy Karnauskas mandy.karnauskas@noaa.gov National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL, 33149Search for more papers by this authorRebecca J. Allee, Rebecca J. Allee National Ocean Service, Office for Coastal Management – Gulf Region, Stennis Space Center, MSSearch for more papers by this authorJ. Kevin Craig, J. Kevin Craig National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Beaufort Laboratory, Beaufort, NCSearch for more papers by this authorMichael Jepson, Michael Jepson National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, St. Petersburg, FLSearch for more papers by this authorChristopher R. Kelble, Christopher R. Kelble NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami, FLSearch for more papers by this authorMorgan Kilgour, Morgan Kilgour Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, Tampa, FLSearch for more papers by this authorRichard D. Methot, Richard D. Methot National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WASearch for more papers by this authorSeann D. Regan, Seann D. Regan National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Charleston, SCSearch for more papers by this author Mandy Karnauskas, Mandy Karnauskas mandy.karnauskas@noaa.gov National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL, 33149Search for more papers by this authorRebecca J. Allee, Rebecca J. Allee National Ocean Service, Office for Coastal Management – Gulf Region, Stennis Space Center, MSSearch for more papers by this authorJ. Kevin Craig, J. Kevin Craig National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Beaufort Laboratory, Beaufort, NCSearch for more papers by this authorMichael Jepson, Michael Jepson National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, St. Petersburg, FLSearch for more papers by this authorChristopher R. Kelble, Christopher R. Kelble NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami, FLSearch for more papers by this authorMorgan Kilgour, Morgan Kilgour Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, Tampa, FLSearch for more papers by this authorRichard D. Methot, Richard D. Methot National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WASearch for more papers by this authorSeann D. Regan, Seann D. Regan National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Charleston, SCSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 December 2018 https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10216Citations: 3Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume44, Issue5May 2019Pages 239-242 RelatedInformation

ABSTRACT Objective Offshore wind (OSW) farms are slated for development in the Gulf of America (also known as the Gulf of Mexico), presenting a timely need to understand the potential effects of their construction and operation on marine ecosystems. Methods To help address this need, we convened a transdisciplinary working group of scientists, managers, and representatives of commercial and recreational fisheries to identify and assess research priorities and recommendations related to the effects of OSW farms on fish and fisheries in the Gulf of America. Results Here, we share these research priorities for shrimp, reef fishes, coastal migratory pelagics, forage fishes, oceanic pelagic fishes, coastal elasmobranchs, and invasive species. We then detail OSW research needs that are related to oceanographic and ecological processes, and we provide specific recommendations for fisheries management, marine spatial planning, and detection of social and economic effects. Our synthesis highlights three overarching considerations: (1) targeted data collection is needed to disentangle the effects of OSW from those of concurrent natural and anthropogenic stressors, (2) measuring the effects of OSW will require maintaining the integrity of long-term fisheries-independent surveys and augmenting such surveys with comprehensive before-after-control-impact or before-after-gradient research designs, and (3) there are differences in public participation processes for nascent OSW development versus established fisheries management that should be considered to allow meaningful societal participation. Conclusions Scientists and natural resource managers have a unique opportunity to address these priorities and recommendations, shaping the understanding of the effects of OSW.

Abstract This research evaluated a price-adjusting methodology to update trip expenditure information annually for economic impact analysis. Historic expenditure profiles for nonlocal Texas anglers and nonresident (out-of-state) anglers were generated from 1995 angler survey data collected at Lake Fork Reservoir; these data were then adjusted over a 20-year period using price indices produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. To determine whether the price adjustment methodology was appropriate for angler expenditures, a replication of the 1995 angler survey was conducted in 2015 to compare adjusted expenditures to actual expenditures. Preliminary results concluded that expenditure profiles for nonlocal and nonresident anglers were different between the two periods but also suggested that significant differences within angler groups existed between the two angler surveys, so anglers were regrouped based on trip length rather than origin of trip. Adjusted average daily expenditure total for 1-d trips during the 1995 study (US$69.38) was similar to the average daily expenditure total of the 2015 study ($77.18), and the same conclusion was found for all item categories. For multiple-day trips, adjusted average daily expenditure ($130.48) was similar to the average daily expenditure ($128.04) in 2015. Expenditure profiles were then combined with effort data in the IMPLAN (Impact Analysis for Planning) software model to generate estimates of economic impacts. Total economic impacts of 1-d fishing trips to Lake Fork Reservoir were estimated to be $1.28 million and $1.43 million when using the adjusted and actual expenditure profiles, respectively. For multiple-day trips, economic impacts were estimated to be $10.82 million and $10.80 million for the adjusted and actual expenditure profiles, respectively. Although economic impact analysis must continue to identify where trip expenditures originate, results suggest that adjusting trip expenditures over time can be done using price indices and should be conducted based on trip length regardless of origin.

Area-based restrictions on the use of fishing gears is one of many tools to conserve ecosystems and biodiversity in U.S. waters as well as internationally. We defined the term ‘marine fisheries conservation area’ and created an inventory of areas that restrict fishing activities, most of which were established by the U.S. Fishery Management Councils under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). We identified 648 areas which currently cover 72 % of the total U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 531 areas, representing 56 % of the EEZ, were classified as Ecosystem Conservation Areas that directly provide in situ conservation of biodiversity. Bottom trawling is prohibited year-round in 56 % of the EEZ, and all bottom tending gear is prohibited year-round in 37 %. Other fishing gears are prohibited in 60 % of the EEZ year-round. Thus, a majority of the U.S. EEZ is conserved from the most environmentally adverse fishing activities. These focused geographic areas complement other management tools used to ensure sustainable fisheries and ecosystems, such as catch and bycatch limits and limitations on legal gears, which are often deployed at regional scales. Collectively, these measures meet objectives and MSA National Standards and promote the maintenance of biological productivity and biodiversity, while balancing ecosystem function with services that benefit our nation, such as access to nature through recreational opportunities and healthy, sustainable seafood for consumers. The strength of fisheries management in the U.S. is the ability to balance the diverse needs of the nation with the need for a healthy marine ecosystem. • We developed a definition of “Conservation Areas” accounting for regulatory considerations and maintenance of biodiversity. • The U.S. Regional Fishery Management Councils have designated hundreds of management areas meeting this definition. • The areas have extensive geographic coverage, e.g., the Ecosystem Conservation Areas cover over half of the U.S. EEZ. • The areas represent significant restrictions on fishing methods, with 56% of the U.S. EEZ closed to bottom trawls. • A companion database can support evaluation of these areas as Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).