Paul Caruso, Senior Marine Fisheries Biologist Recreational Fisheries Project Leader
Our local marine fisheries are extremely diverse Many different species Many different fishing modes And many different facets within individual modes Both directed species fishing and undirected species fishing
Diverse species MA top catch Species Catch in 000 s Scup 1,960 Mackerel 1,691 Striped bass 1,228 Atlantic cod 902 Bluefish 823 Tautog 243 Summer flounder 241 Winter flounder 127 Haddock 66
Private modes Shore fishing including Beach with/without ORV access Bank Structure jetties, docks
Private modes Private vessels Big and small Nearshore and offshore
Public modes Party boats Charter vessels
Public modes Guide boats Wade guides
Recreation?? Although we use the term recreational to imply it s an activity for pleasure we all know its much more than that!
Or more??
Why we fish! The gods do not deduct from man's allotted span the hours spent in fishing. ~Babylonian Proverb Which is very good for me given the amount of time I spend fishing I ll live to be 100!!
Why we fish! It s a family activity! Calling fishing a hobby is like calling brain surgery a job. ~Paul Scullery
Why we fish It s time outdoors! There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind. ~Washington Irving
Why we fish It s time on the boat! Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing absolutely nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
Why we fish It s the solitude!
Why we fish It s communicating with nature!
Why we fish It s carrying on a tradition! Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers. ~Herbert Hoover
Why we fish It s to catch fish big and small both for the challenge and joy of catching and sometimes for the eating pleasure. There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process. ~Paul O'Neil, 1965
Why we fish Some are entirely bag motivated!
Why we fish For some harvest is secondary to the activity! The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad. ~A.K. Best
Why we fish For many of us it s just not work! A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work. ~Author Unknown or mowing the lawn either!
Why we fish For many of us it s just not a day at home! Give a man a fish and he has food for a day; teach him how to fish and you can get rid of him for the entire weekend. ~Zenna Schaffer
Why we fish To me it s a challenge! to out wit fish and to be able to do it consistently is an accomplishment The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope. ~John Buchan
Why we fish For the love fishing! You put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end. Your imagination is under there. ~Robert Altman
Recreational Fishing is thus important on so many levels! it s not only important to us as individuals but to our communities not only our family/extended family community but also the town and regions we live in. Certainly the latter is true for all of coastal MA, RI and CT.
An economic perspective Very important economically locally, regionally, nationally and internationally!
Supports many jobs and businesses from the small mom and pop seasonal bait and tackle shops
Supports many jobs and businesses to the large chain stores selling tackle
Supports many jobs and businesses to the rod manufacturers and lure makers
Supports many jobs and businesses To marinas and boat dealers
Supports many jobs and businesses To convenience stores and supermarkets
Supports many jobs and businesses and the gas stations, some far removed from the fishing activity.
Supports many jobs and businesses To the ferry, bus, taxi and airlines transporting us or fishing tourists to our destinations here and away!
Supports many jobs and businesses Even hotels, motels and vacation rental property owners benefit from a sustainable local marine recreational fisheries. One of the primary reasons folks come to our shores in the summer.
Supports many jobs and businesses And yes even fisheries biologists benefit from having vibrant and sustainable fisheries.
Some local statistics Permit type Number s issued (2012) Angler 154,131 Charter vessel 846 Party vessel 57 Source: DMF
Some statistics Modes Number of trips For Hire 190,000 Private Boat 1,318,000 Shore 1,305,000 Total all modes 2,813,000 Source: NOAA
Some statistics Mode Jobs Sales Income Value added For Hire 815 $78,396,000 $27,484,000 $46,772,000 Private Boat 742 $86,783,000 $31,780,000 $53,208,000 Shore 958 $98,753,000 $35,342,000 $58,470,000 Total durable 2808 $726,164,000 $252,277,000 $390,731,000 Totals 5323 $990,096,000 $346,883,000 $549,181,000 Source: NOAA
Conclusions There is a staggering amount of social, cultural and economic benefits coming from our local marine recreational fisheries!!!
Conclusions In short we can t allow our local recreational fisheries to fail as we ll all pay the price mentally, socially and economically!!
Conclusions Thus we all must share in the responsibility of sustaining the fisheries and the resources that support them. I m sure that s what motivated the RISAA leadership to convene this symposium and why we need to discuss the challenges before us and reach consensus on ways to deal with those challenges!
Parting Inspirational quotes Three fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and onefourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn. ~Chuck Clark So get out and fish the Lord hath spoken!
Parting Inspirational quotes Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths. ~Author Unknown So with that I ll shut up and sit down! Thank you for your attention and patience!