| "Resource managers need this information to develop required management plans that ensure conservation of nearshore species." | |
| Rick Starr, California Sea Grant Extension Program |
|
The State of California is evaluating the need for more marine protected areas as a way to protect fish species in its waters. One researcher is working with volunteer fishermen to collect data on nearshore rockfish species in an effort to provide information that may help answer "if" and "where" a marine protected area might be sited.
"Tagging studies like this are an important method of understanding the health of fish populations in a given area," says Rick Starr, a marine advisor with the California Sea Grant Extension Program. "Resource managers need this information to develop required management plans that ensure conservation of nearshore species."
Researchers participating in the Duxbury Reef Tagging Study also are sharing their data with the volunteer anglers and environmental groups. As a result of the collaborative research project, communication between stakeholders has improved, and education needs have been identified.
The Duxbury Reef area has been fished extensively by commercial and recreational fishermen for many years, Starr says.
In 1999, the state passed legislation requiring the California Department of Fish and Game to evaluate the potential for establishing marine protected areas in state waters. Duxbury Reef was identified by a number of groups as an area that should be considered for a marine protected area.
But there is little information on the fish species in the area, Starr says, and emotions will run high when it comes time for resource managers to make a decision about the reef.
To design and implement the project, Starr collaborated with Roger Thomas, a charter boat captain and president of the Golden Gate Fishermen's Association, which represents commercial passenger fishing vessels and marine recreational anglers along the central coast. Starr and Thomas are conducting the study using volunteer anglers and paid charter boats.
Last year, the volunteer anglers caught about 5,000 rockfish. The fish were tagged with identifying information and a phone number for fishermen to call if the fish were caught a second time.
The study estimates fish movements and documents biological data about fish populations in the area. More then 120 rockfish have been recaptured since the study began.
Outings with the volunteer anglers continue this year, with the goal of documenting an additional 3,000 fish, Starr says. At the end of the project, public workshops will be held to share their findings.
Starr notes that he was surprised to discover that many of the anglers, while experts on locating and catching the fish, understand little of fish biology and reproduction, which has alerted the researchers to an educational need.
"This has really been a great project," Starr says. "One important lesson is to go to the people involved and interested early on and discuss the project goals and objectives."
"The result," he says, "is a better science project that meets the needs of resource managers and the needs of the fishing community."
For more information, point your browser to www.csgc.ucsd.edu/EXTENSION/StarrFishing/DuxburyReef.html. You may also contact Rick Starr at (831) 771-4442, or starr@mlml.calstate.edu.
