Find It!
Are Size Limits Working?
by Douglas Gregory
University of Florida/Monroe County Cooperative Extension
Almost all of our popular species are managed by size limits. Size limits are an effective way to protect the reproductive potential of a fish stock.
A general rule of thumb for
management success with size limits is to give the fish a chance to spawn
at least once before being caught. Although this is not all that
scientific, it is based on a common sense understanding that a fishery
does not kill every fish that reaches legal size and some spawning is
guaranteed each year. Remember, that for a female to be successful
in helping the population to remain stable only 2 of her eggs need to
survive to adulthood and reproduce. This is why our fisheries are
resilient and, even when overfished, all populations have the capacity to
recover with proper regulations.
Many of the size limits on our local fish are very close to the size of
maturity, e.g. red and gag groupers, lane and vermillion snappers, cobia,
and lobster. However, most size limits are still smaller than the
size of maturity, e.g., mutton snapper, greater amberjack (recreational
only), and black grouper. And only a few are at sizes larger than
their size of maturity, e.g. mangrove and yellowtail snappers.
It may not be a coincidence that we are seeing less and less muttons and
amberjacks but more and more mangrove and yellowtail snappers.
But there are two complications with size limits. One problem is
that not everyone obeys the law and the other is the extent of mortality
that is suffered when an undersize is released. Clearly, not all
released fish survive, but there are release techniques for increasing
their survival. For example, an angler can change treble hooks to single
hooks, use circle hooks, crimp or remove the barb on the hook, handle the
fish with a wet towel or remove the hook or cut the leader with the fish
still in the water. For fish caught in deeper waters, the bloated stomach
cavity can be punctured to allow the fish to return to the bottom quickly.
Florida Sea Grant is expanding its fish venting education program to
inform and help anglers that fish the deeper waters to properly vent fish
with bloated bellies. It is important to vent the expanded air in
those fish you intend to release because the longer they struggle at the
surface the more likely they will be eaten by a barracuda or shark.
Tagging studies of vented fish by Mote Marine Laboratory have shown that
venting increases the survival of released fish. We have special
venting tools available to the public that minimize harm to the fish being
vented. For more information on how to acquire and use these special
venting tools, please contact our office at the address below.
Additional information on seafood safety, buying, or preparation of seafood is available from the University of Florida/Monroe County Extension Service, 5100 College Road, Stock Island or call at 292-4501; fax = 292-4415; email = Monroe@mail.ifas.ufl.edu. Our services are free and available to all without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin.
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