Ongoing Research
The following is a listing of on-going research projects that the Foundation has undertaken. Copies of Final Reports of completed projects are available for all projects that have been completed. We will happily provide copies of any reports that are noted as "Final Report Available". Visit the completed research page for more information.
“Development and Assessment of Bycatch Reduction Devices within the Southeastern Shrimp Trawl Fishery” – NA08NMF4330406 (#105)
This project involves field testing of up to three new or promising bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) for certification following the NMFS BRD Certification Testing Protocol for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. Devices are being field tested aboard commercial fishing vessels with onboard observers collecting data outlined within the Testing Protocols. Collected data will be analyzed to identify the reduction in fishing mortality achieved by BRDs. The Ricky BRD (double-fisheye array), the Modified Composite and the Nested Cylinder are slated to be tested by Iindustry.
“Social Impacts of the Allocation/Reallocation of Marine Fisheries Resources on Communities in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic: Development of an Empirical Predictive Model” – NA09NMF4330149 (#108/112)
The purpose of this research is to develop a quantitative model for predicting the social impacts of allocation or reallocation schemes on fishing communities. This model will specifically predict changes in social well-being as shifts in Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and how commercial and recreational allocations are made. In addition, the model will be carefully examined and validated by ground-truthing and triangulation techniques that will ensure the model corresponds to actual feedback from the fishing industry. This information could be used in the future by management councils to determine how regulations are affecting the health of fishing communities.
“Continuation of a Project to Augment the Data Collection of an Electronic Logbook System used within the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery” – NA09NMF4540135 (#109)
The dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery are complex, and various user groups are thought to impact the stock. As such, disagreement has existed regarding the mortality, age composition and monthly distribution of juvenile trawl-caught red snapper. This program is examining these issues by augmenting a previously funded electronic logbook (ELB) project that utilized fishery observers. Fishery observers are placed aboard shrimp trawl vessels in the Gulf that have been randomly selected and have an ELB installed. Observers collect data on total penaeid shrimp, red snapper and small coastal shark catch. Data collected during this project will be used to compute mortality estimates for all Foundation collected red snapper bycatch data (both past and present). Results will be used to validate ELB landings estimates by region, to quantify red snapper and small coastal shark bycatch rates, and to assist fisheries managers in the assessment of both stocks.
“Continuation of the Catch Characterization and Discards within the Snapper-Grouper Vertical Hook-and-Line Fishery of the South Atlantic United States” – NA10NMF4540102 (#113)
Many species within the snapper-grouper fishery management unit are data poor. As a result, many of the species-specific stock assessments have a high level of uncertainty associated with the models, including catch characterization, effort and quantity of discards. To enhance the universe of data that are available to stock assessment scientists, the Foundation received funding to continue a fishery observer program within the snapper-grouper vertical hook-and-line (bandit rig) fishery of the South Atlantic United States. The Foundation has solicited the participation of the commercial fishing industry to voluntarily assist in the performance of this project. An observer is placed onboard cooperating vessels to collect a variety of data quantifying the participation, gear, effort, catch and discards within the fishery. The intent of this project is not to form a standalone dataset, but to augment the dataset used by the previous two Foundation Bandit Reel projects, #99 and #107. The information derived from this project will assist industry, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries, to better assess the impact of current fishing effort and discards on the data-poor snapper-grouper fishery.
“The Role of Shrimp Imports in the Decline of Shrimp Reliant Communities in the Gulf of Mexico” – NA10NMF4540104 (#114)
Shrimp imports have risen steadily since the 1970’s, and the market share for wild caught shrimp has been eroded to about 20 percent. The substitution of imported product for locally harvested product has contributed to low dockside prices, causing concern among both harvesters and processors. Although decreased prices for wild caught shrimp appear to be correlated with the rise of imports industry-wide, we do not have a clear idea of the impact that imports have on local communities that are reliant on the shrimp fishery. This project will build on earlier research conducted by the Foundation in the realm of socio-economic indicators. It will rely on both existing data sets and ethnographic ground-truthing. The model IMPLAN will be used to trace the economic importance of the shrimp industry on specific communities and to assess the economic impact on these communities should the industry decline.
“Continued Development and Assessment of Bycatch Reduction Devices within the Southeastern Shrimp Trawl Fishery” – NA10NMF4540108 (#115)
This project will field test new or promising bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) for certification following the NMFS BRD Certification Testing Protocol for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. Bycatch reduction device designs will be solicited from shrimp fishermen, industry gear innovators, Sea Grant Extension agents and NMFS Harvesting Branch Personnel. Devices will be field tested aboard commercial fishing vessels with onboard observers collecting data outlined within the Testing Protocols. Collected data will be analyzed to identify the reduction in fishing mortality achieved by BRDs. This project represents a continuation of GSAFFI #105, which is ongoing.
"An Expanded Outreach Program and Technology Transfer of Updated Bycatch Reduction Devices and Turtle Excluder Devices to the Southeastern U.S. Shrimp Industry" – NA11NMF4330127 (#118)
This project involves the networking of gear specialists throughout the Southeast. Gear experts from the NMFS Harvesting Branch will collaborate with Foundation/Sea Grant specialists to disseminate TED and BRD information to the shrimp industry in the southeast. Meetings and workshops will be conducted from North Carolina to Texas. Comprehensive educational thrusts will be directed toward TED/BRD technology transfer through informal workshops as well as individual, one-on-one assistance. Technology transfer and outreach efforts will maximize industry participation and compliance with TED/BRD regulations.
"Pilot Study to Characterize Fishing Effort of the South Atlantic Penaeid Shrimp Trawl Fishery through the use of Electronic Logbooks" – NA11NMF4540115 (#119)
Coastal shrimp trawl fisheries have long been the focus of government regulations to reduce bycatch of sea turtles and commercially/ecologically important species in the GOM and the U.S. Atlantic. In order to accurately measure bycatch, and thus protect both the fishermen and the resource, fishing effort estimates must be accurate. This proposal seeks to use the knowledge garnered from a successful ELB project conducted in the GOM and institute the same methodology and protocols in the SA penaeid shrimp trawl fishery. Because this is a pilot study, only minimal observer coverage is necessary, and the results will determine the feasibility of expanding the project. The benefits from this project will be to: (1) improve bycatch estimates, (2) identify traditional fishing grounds for use in designation of marine protected areas (MPA), (3) thwart the potential requirement for vessel monitoring systems, and (4) collect data that will improve stock assessments.
"Continuation of a Project to Augment the Data Collection of an Electronic Logbook System used within the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery" – NA11NMF4540118 (#120)
The dynamics of the red snapper fishery are complex and various user groups are thought to impact the stock. To alleviate the confusion surrounding the bycatch of juvenile trawl-caught red snapper and blacknose shark in the Gulf shrimp fishery, the Foundation proposes the continuation of a program to augment an electronic logbook (ELB) project with fishery observers. Fishery observers will be placed aboard shrimp trawl vessels that have been randomly selected and have an ELB installed. Observers will collect catch and bycatch data on total penaeid shrimp, red snapper, and small coastal sharks. Data collected during this project will be used to update the formal cohort analysis (VPA) and compute mortality estimates for all Foundation collected red snapper bycatch data (both past and present). Results will be used to validate ELB landings estimates by region (statistical zone) and quantify red snapper and small coastal shark bycatch rates.