Near Real-Time Bycatch Avoidance in the Sea Scallop Fishery

Greg DeCelles, Cate O’Keefe, and Steven CadrinSchool for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST)

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Statement of the Problem• The access area scallop fishery is often constrained by

the bycatch of yellowtail flounder– 325 vessels with 18,000 pound trip allocations– Single TAC of yellowtail flounder for the entire fleet

• Economic losses to the scallop fleet• Derby style fishing

2010

2011

Data Reporting• Emails exchanged through VMS • Daily email reporting format:

– Grid cell– # of tows– Pounds of yellowtail flounder

• C, 5, 8• H, 2, 0

•Data is analyzed in near real-time, and daily email advisories are sent to the scallop fleet while they are fishing

oMultiple people perform data entry and analysis for quality control

Data Classification

YT UPDATE FOR THURSDAY 8/4:

CLOSED AREA 1: 51 boats reported 501 tows from 8/3 thru 8/4YT catch was:MEDIUM: T1,U1LOW: All other cellsNO DATA: G1,H1,L1,R1,X1,Y1,EE1,LL1,KK1Cell U1 is no longer a YT hotspot. Cell T1,U1 had some high YT catch.

CLOSED AREA 2: 6 boats reported 55 tows from 8/3 thru 8/4YT catch was:MEDIUM: EE2,FF2,GG2LOW: L2,Q2,R2,T2,Z2,LL2,MM2,QQ2,SS2NO DATA: All other cellsCell EE2,FF2,GG2 had some high YT catch. Next Report 8/5.Thank You!

• Low: areas with low bycatch rates that are expected to allow the scallop target to be harvested

• Medium: areas with variable bycatch rates that may result in an early closure of the fishery

• High: areas with high bycatch rates that would lead to an early closure of the fishery

Project Results

• Fishermen have actively used the information to modify their behavior and avoid yellowtail flounder bycatch

• Economic and conservation success

2010 •122 vessels participated• Fleet caught 100% of their scallop allocation and only 32% of the yellowtail flounder TAC

2011 •213 vessels participated• Fleet has caught 61% of their scallop allocation and only 4.7% of their yellowtail flounder TAC

Near Real-Time Bycatch Avoidance in the Sea Scallop Fishery

Catherine O’Keefe, Greg DeCelles and Steven CadrinSchool for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST)

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Statement of the Problem• The access area scallop fishery is often constrained by

the bycatch of yellowtail flounder– 325 vessels with 18,000 pound trip allocations– Single TAC of yellowtail flounder for the entire fleet

• Economic losses to the scallop fleet• Derby style fishing

2010

2011

Implementation of Bycatch Avoidance SystemOur Idea: Use fishermen collected information to provide the fleet with spatially specific, real-time information on the distribution of yellowtail flounder

•Encourage participation•Develop a standardized reporting method

Fleet SMAST SMAST Fleet

•Method for data transmission•Appropriate spatial scale for reporting•Data confidentiality

Data Transmission

• The bycatch advisory utilizes VMS communication systems– Boatracs– Skymate

• SMAST sends emails through a single account:

scallops@umassd.edu• Cost-effective and simple to use• Vessels using Boatracs needed to

sign email authorization worksheet

Grid Maps- Development

• Tradeoff between number and size of grid cells– Cells needed to be large enough for a commercial tow– If cells were too large, it may limit ability to detect and avoid

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2010Nantucket Lightship Access Area

Original Grid Map

2010Nantucket Lightship Access Area

Final Grid Map

Grid Maps- 2011Closed Area 1 Closed Area 2

Gradient grid•Larger cells in regions where there were few scallops and little effort was expected•Smaller cells in regions where fishing effort was expected to be higher

Data Confidentiality

• Ensuring that data would remain confidential was a priority

• Our Concern: vessels would not report high bycatch rates if their data was not confidential

• Their Concern: they would be held accountable for their individual bycatch

Fleet Outreach and Participation• 2010: Several meetings with New Bedford, MA scallop fleet• Informational mailings sent to entire fleet• Results presented at management meetings and academic

conferences

• 2011: Meetings with scallop fleet in MA, NJ, and VA• Informational mailing sent to scallop fleet• Outreach through media

– Radio, newspapers and web

Development of Data Reporting Protocols

• Tradeoffs between ease of data collection, data utility, and participation

• Daily email reporting format:– Grid cell– # of tows– Pounds of yellowtail flounder

• C, 5, 8• H, 2, 0

Date

CELL # TOWS IN CELL YELLOWTAIL LBS IN CELL

SMAST-Industry Nantucket Lightship Yellowtail Bycatch Avoidance

2011: Some members of fleet agreed to provide scallop catch information

User-Friendly Classification System

• Low: areas with low bycatch rates that are expected to allow the scallop target to be harvested

• Medium: areas with variable bycatch rates that may result in an early closure of the fishery

• High: areas with high bycatch rates that would lead to an early closure of the fishery

Daily Bycatch Advisories: Fleet EmailsYT UPDATE FOR THURSDAY 8/4:

CLOSED AREA 1: 51 boats reported 501 tows from 8/3 thru 8/4YT catch was:MEDIUM: T1,U1LOW: All other cellsNO DATA: G1,H1,L1,R1,X1,Y1,EE1,LL1,KK1Cell U1 is no longer a YT hotspot. Cell T1,U1 had some high YT catch.

CLOSED AREA 2: 6 boats reported 55 tows from 8/3 thru 8/4YT catch was:MEDIUM: EE2,FF2,GG2LOW: L2,Q2,R2,T2,Z2,LL2,MM2,QQ2,SS2NO DATA: All other cellsCell EE2,FF2,GG2 had some high YT catch. Next Report 8/5.Thank You!

• Data is analyzed, quality control checks are run, and emails sent daily• Reporting accomplished in near real-time

Daily Bycatch Advisories: SMAST Website

www.smast.umassd.edu/Bycatch_Avoidance/Yellowtail/flounder_bycatch_update.pdf

Project Results

• Fishermen have actively used the information to modify their behavior and avoid yellowtail flounder bycatch

• Economic and conservation success

2010 •122 vessels participated• Fleet caught 100% of their scallop allocation and only 32% of the yellowtail flounder TAC

2011 •213 vessels participated• Fleet has caught 61% of their scallop allocation and only 4.7% of their yellowtail flounder TAC

Discussion

• Real-time transmission of fishery dependent data has helped the scallop fleet avoid yellowtail flounder bycatch– Simplicity as an asset

• Critical to involve fishermen at each stage of development and implementation

• Data confidentiality is very important• Next step: apply the advisory system to other fisheries

and species– One size does not fit all. The system and the solution will need

to be tailored to meet the needs and concerns of the fishery.

Acknowledgments• Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute• SMAST Fishermen’s Steering Committee• Boatracs and Skymate• Saving Seafood Radio, Commercial Fisheries News

and the Standard TimesAll of the participating vessels

Abracadabra, Act III, Adrianna, Adventuress, Alexandra L, Amanda Ashley, Ambassador, Amber Nicole, Ambition, Amy Marie, Andrea Jean, Ann M, Araho, Arcturus, Ashley Gail, Atlantic Bounty, Avenger, Barbara Anne, Barbara Pauline, Bay Star I, Bay Star II, Bay Star III, Bay Star IV, Bay Star V, Bay Star VI, Bay Star VII, Beachcomber, Bella Rose, Beth Anne, Bountiful 2, Brittany Eryn, Capt. Bob, Capt. Jeff, Capt. Kenny, Captain Lyman, Carolina Boy, Carolina Queen II, Celtic, Challenge, Chaz's Toy, Chelsea Girl, Chief & Clyde, Chrismar, Christian & Alexa, Christopher's Joy, Collin & Warren III, Concordia, Contender, Cool Change, Corsair, Courageous, Courageous, Crystal & Katie, Decisive, Defiant, Defiant, Determination, Dictator, Diligence, Discovery, Discovery II, Donny C, Edgartown, Eileen Marie, Elise G, Elizabeth, Elizabeth & Niki, Elizabeth Amber, Endeavor, Eva Marie, Expectation, F Nelson Blount, Fair Wind, Fjord, Foremost, Fortune Hunter, Francis M Lee Sr, Freedomlv, Friendship, Frontier, Furious, Gaston BeII, Generation, Georges Banks, Grand Larson III, Guidance, Harvester, Hawk, Hear No Evil, Helen Louise, Heritage, Horizon, Hunter, Huntress, Ian Nigel, Incentive, Inspiration, Instigator, Italian Princess, Jane Elizabeth, Jeffrey Scott, Jersey Cape, Jersey Girl, John & Nicholas, Justice, K.A.T.E., K.A.T.E. II, Karen Elizabeth, Karen L, Karen Nicole, Karina, Kathy & Jackie, Kathy Ann, Kathy Marie, Kathy Rose, Kayla Rose, Kris & Amy, Lady Deborah, Lady Evelyn, Lady Roslyn, Leader, Legacy, Let It Ride, Liberty, Linda, Lindsay L, Little Gull, Little Jesse, Madi J, Majestic, Margaret Rose, MaryAnne, Master Braxton, Master James, Michigan, Mirage, Miss Crockett, Miss Georgie, Miss Maddy, Miss Maude, Miss Sue Ann, Miz Alma B, Monomoy, Ms Manya, Mt Vernon, Nadia Lee, Nancy Elizabeth, Nashira, Navigator, Neskone, Nordic Pride, Norreen Marie, Norseman, North Queen, Ocean Boy, Ocean Gold, Ocean Pride, Ocean Princess, Ocean Prowler, Ocean Wave, Pacer, Pamela Ann, Patience, Patriots, Patty Jo, Polaris, Predator, Pursuit, Raeleen Michelle, Raiders, Ranger, Regulus, Relentless, Relentless, Resilient, Resolute, Resolution, Rost, Santa Barbara, Sea Quest, Sea Ranger, Settler, Sharon K, Silver Sea, Sovereign Star, Stacy Lee, Stephanie B II, Stephanie Vaughn, Stonington Jo, Susan L, Susan Marie, Susan Marie II, Suzee Q, Tenacious, The Chief, Thor, Thunder Bay, Tina Lynn, Tradition, Tropico, Venture, Vila Do Conde, Virgina Dare, Virgina Wave, Virginia Lynn, Warrior, Westport, William & Laura, William Lee, Wisdom Yankee Pride, Zibet