Target 14.4 End destructive fishing
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
DNA Detectives and the Shark Fin Trade
FIU marine scientists are using DNA detective work to uncover the mysteries of the global shark fin trade. They have genetically analyzed more than 12,000 fin samples to determine the species most commonly found in markets in Hong Kong and China. Then, they’ve used DNA from the fins to actually track where the sharks were caught. They are using this information to pinpoint where endangered species face the highest risk of overexploitation and possible extinction from illegal fishing practices. These researchers are also investigating where smaller shark fins are coming from. Hundreds of thousands could fit in a single sack. Most of these fins — small enough to fit in the palm of a hand — come from juvenile sharks. Genetically tracking them can pinpoint nursery areas where sharks are in the gravest danger. The scientists hope their efforts can end a cycle of overexploitation of species that are targeted at multiple stages of the life cycle. To date, their efforts have resulted in the interception of illegal shipments of fins, european eels, matamata turtles and other marine species both in Asia and South America.
Global FinPrint
FIU led Global FinPrint, an international effort that has identified the last remaining stronghold of sharks and rays throughout the world. More than 120 scientists from 89 universities, aquariums and non-profits collected footage across nearly 400 reefs to survey the world’s reef shark populations. The data provides the first true assessment, showing sharks are functionally extinct along 20 percent of all reefs. The research also identified key strategies to reverse these declines. The Global FinPrint team also identified conservation measures that could lead to recovery of these iconic predators. It is a critical first step in protecting and restoring shark and ray populations all across the globe. Even before this data was released, FIU researchers provided preliminary findings from Global FinPrint to officials in Belize and the Dominican Republic, which led to Belize establishing a nationwide ray sanctuary and the Dominican Republic instituting a nationwide shark-fishing ban.
Crevalle Jack
Crevalle Jack is an important apex predator found throughout the tropical and temperate waters of the north Atlantic Ocean. The species is targeted by both commercial and recreational anglers but, in recent years, fishermen reported fewer catches of this unregulated species. Researchers in the FIU Institute of Environment are using a combination of research and angler knowledge to determine spatiotemporal patterns of Crevalle Jack abundance and assess movement and migration patterns. In partnership with the Lower Keys Guide Association, the goal is to determine where and when Crevalle Jack populations began to decline, assess possible factors that may be contributing to the decline, and determine the spatial scale of management that will be necessary to conserve and restore the population. By collaborating with recreational anglers and state management, the research team hopes to develop a sound management plan for the data-poor Crevalle Jack fishery that will successfully restore and conserve this important fish species.
Bycatch
In a study of the fishing methods used by semi-industrial tuna gillnet fisheries in Pakistan, an international team led by FIU Institute of Environment researcher Jeremy Kiszka determined dolphin bycatch was reduced by 78.5 percent when gillnets were deployed about 6 feet below the surface. Given the estimated 100,000 whales and dolphins accidentally caught each year in gillnets in the Indian Ocean, the life-saving potential is monumental. This research also showed the lower gillnets did not negatively impact the fishermen’s yield of tuna. The magnitude of bycatch is overlooked in many regions of the world, particularly in developing countries, and actions to mitigate bycatch are still rare in most fisheries. This new information provides an easy and effective solution that adds no additional costs for the fisherman.
'No-Take Zone' Advocacy
FIU researchers are advocating for a “no-take zone” off the coast of Colombia after one of the world’s smallest and most threatened hammerhead species was found to do very little traveling outside of a Marine Protected Area in the region. A team of researchers including FIU shark biologists Diego Cardeñosa and Yannis Papastamatiou, tracked the movements of scalloped bonnetheads inside a marine protected area (MPA) along the Colombian Pacific Coast, where this species still occurs in high numbers. Using acoustic telemetry, a technique that tracks underwater movements through sound signals, they determined the sharks spent a significant portion of their monitoring period within the study area. Research typically focuses on the large, iconic hammerheads, but very little research exists on the scalloped bonnethead — the smallest of the nine recognized hammerhead species — which is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List. This new study provides the first insights into the movement behavior of the scalloped bonnethead with important implications for its protection and management. The FIU scientist have conducted studies in the area and provided data to support their recommendations. The findings have been shared with the local communities and, in a joint effort, the goal is to establish a no-take zone that prohibits the capture or removal of the sharks. The no-take zone would also safeguard the needs of the community and would be under the management of local stakeholders. The researchers note that shark movement data should be incorporated with the interests of all local stakeholders for an optimal MPA to be effective. The study was a collaboration between the FIU Global Forensic and Justice Center, the Guy Harvey Research Institute and the Save our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center at Nova Southeastern University and the Centro de Investigaciones Oceanográficas e Hidrográficas del Pacífico in Colombia.