Pete Sheridan and Ron Hill

The effects of trap fishing on essential fish habitat (EFH), particularly coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, are largely unstudied. NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center workshops on effects of fishing gear on EFH identified trap fishing as one of five priority research needs. Trap fishing occurs in coral habitats under the jurisdiction of all three fishery management councils in the southeast U.S. as well as in state and territorial waters.  

Fish trap near soft corals

Traps along transects,Florida Keys, Sombrero Light

Our project will compare and contrast the effects of trap fishing in adjoining marine reserve and open fishing areas of the Florida Keys, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Isl ands. Our objectives are 1) to develop methods for rapid, large scale surveys of the distribution of traps and potential for habitat damage in both shallow and deep waters, and 2) to document gear effects on habitat an d to suggest less destructive fishing methods, if needed. We will map the distribution of trapping effort in selected areas relative to available benthic habitat maps in a GIS system, assessing seasonal and spatial variations in effort. We will compare boat surveys of trap locations against fishery-dependent data. We will develop underwater video techniques for benthic assessment of habitat damage in deeper waters that are comparable to shallow water diver techniques. We will then compare diver and underwater video transects to locate traps and to characterize trapped and non-trapped locations, adjacent habitats, and type and extent of damage to hard and soft corals and to associated habitats. We will work with local fishers to study their trap fishing techniques in order to quantify and differentiate among habitat effects. Permanent locations for long term monitoring of habitat damage and recovery will be established in representative habitats with emphasis on marine reserve areas as controls. The project began in 2001 and will continue over several years to document seasonal and annual effects, if any.

Publications:

• Sheridan, P., R. Hill and B. Kojis. 2006. Trap fishing in the U.S. Virgin Islands: how and where effort is exerted. Proc. Gulf and Carib. Fisheries Instit., 57: 175-188.
• Sheridan, P., R. Hill, G. Matthews, R. Appeldoorn, B. Kojis, and T. Matthews. 2005. Does Trap Fishing Impact Coral Reef Ecosystems? An Update. /Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute /56:511-519