Flats Fishing Literature
Literature Related to Flats Fishing and Fisheries in Belize and Elsewhere
Courtship and spawning behaviors of carangid species in Belize (Permit spawning at Turneffe Atoll)
Rachel T. Graham
Aaron Adams, Kirby Wolfe, Todd Kellison, Benjamin Victor
Funding from Turneffe Atoll Trust
Catch and Release
CATCH & RELEASE MORTALITY ANALYSIS (TURNEFFE ATOLL):
This analysis focuses on the sport fishing techniques and tackle widely utilized in Belize. It first looks at detailed data from well-known angler and author, Craig Mathews. Mathews collected catch and release data on bonefish over a 12 year period at Turneffe Atoll.
Bonefish Catch and Release Mortality Data: 1993 – 2010 (Craig Mathews)
Year Fish Landed Successfully Released Unsuccessfully Released
1993 (20 days) 115 113 2 Both taken by barracudas
1994 (20 days) 118 116 2 Both taken by barracudas
1995 (16 days) 120 120 0
1996 (20 days 174 174 0
1997 (19 days) 209 209 0
1998 (28 days) 341 341 0
1999 (12 days) 102 102 0
2000 (6 days 60 60 0
2002 (13 days) 62 62 0
2003 (9 days) 43 43 0
2009 (6 days) 45 45 0
2010 (4 days) 26 26 0
TOTALS 1415 1411 4
Percent Mortality 0.28 %
The majority of fishing guides who regularly fish Turneffe Atoll in 2011 were surveyed. Specifically, these guides were asked to recall the number of each species (bonefish, permit and tarpon) they witnessed expiring after being caught and released. In 2011, 11 guides recalled a total of 22 bonefish, 2 tarpon and 1 permit succumbing after release.
The following assumptions were made for this calculation: first, we assumed an average of 35 weeks per year worked per guide and an average of 6 fish landed per day. The great majority of fish not surviving, or 22 of the 25, were bonefish. Two tarpon could not be revived and one permit did not survive.
Estimated fish landed Estimated fish released unharmed Estimated fish unsuccessfully released
13,860 13,846 25
The majority of unsuccessful releases were related to bonefish taken by barracuda. Two tarpon, one permit and three bonefish could not be revived.
Percentage Witnessed Mortality = 0.18%
RESULTS:
Craig Mathew’s recorded 1415 bonefish caught over 12 years with 4 dying after being released due to barracuda attacks presumably facilitated by these bonefish being temporarily weakened. This post-release mortality rate of 0.28% reflects the primary sport fishing species sought in Belize and also to the techniques and tackle utilized in Belize’s sport fishing industry.
Sport fishing guides who regularly fish Turneffe Atoll were interviewed and asked to recall the number of bonefish, permit and tarpon that they witnessed not surviving after being released in 2011. They noted 0.18% of released fish not surviving which correlates with Mr. Mathews findings.
CONCLUSIONS:
To be relevant, an analysis of catch and release sport fishing must accurately reflect the species targeted and the techniques utilized in that fishery. This analysis relates directly to the fish targeted by 92% of anglers in Belize and reflects the fishing tackle and techniques widely used.
Our analysis concludes that the mortality rate for catch and release fishing in Belize is low and correlates with the low end of the studies reviewed by Reiss et al. This supports the widely held view that catch and release sport fishing is an environmentally and economically sustainable tourism sector of Belize tourism economy.
Catch and release sport fishing has been the standard practice at Turneffe Atoll for three decades. Over this period, the health of Turneffe’s sport fishery has not only been sustained, it has improved. Sport fish stocks have increased as have average fish size. This would appear to substantiate that catch and release, as it is practiced in Belize, has successfully established a sustainable sport fishery.
References:
Dr. Anthony Fedler, Economic Impact of Recreational Fishing for Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon in Belize for 2007.
Records obtained from Craig Mathew, West Yellowstone, MT
Government of Belize: Statutory Instrument No. 114 of 2009, Fisheries (Species Designation and Protection Regulations, 2009
P. Reiss, M. Reiss, J. Reiss, Phd, J. Reiss, BS: Catch and Release Fishing Effectiveness and Mortality. [http://www.acuteangling.com/Reference/C&RObserve.html#moreinfo] Accessed on March 4, 2012.