Fishing Impacts
Monterey Bay
Moss Landing harbor holds many commercial vessels. Recreational and commercial fishing that take place in sanctuaries are a vital part of the blue economy.
Credit: Becky Stamski/ NOAA MBNMS
Why is it a concern?
Fishing, both recreationally and commercially, is an important activity that takes place in all sanctuaries and is a vital part of the blue economy. Although many harvested stocks are at or above fisheries management targets, marine resource managers are concerned about the depressed levels of certain stocks, habitat threats from some fishing gears, by-catch of sensitive species, and potential community and ecosystem-level effects of overfishing. About 200 species are typically caught in the commercial and recreational fisheries, with the bulk of the commercial landings composed of sardine, anchovy, squid, Sablefish, Dover and Petrale Sole, mackerel, and Dungeness crab.
Recent involvement of the fishing community in research activities related to fish populations has increased in the sanctuary. Working together, we seek to increase the public’s understanding of fishes, their role in the ecosystem, the various fishing activities that occur in the sanctuary, and how they are managed. The Fishing-Related Education and Research Action Plan provides strategies to expand the knowledge base of the public about fishery management in the sanctuary and increase public education about sustainable fisheries. The sanctuary staff has also partnered with researchers to study the impact of benthic trawling on seafloor habitats and associated benthic fauna in central California. Staff is also partnering with The Nature Conservancy, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, California State University Monterey Bay, and Morro Bay fishermen to study the impacts of modified groundfish trawling practices on soft sea-floor habitats and the time it takes for seafloor habitats to recover from trawling.
Overview of Research
Science Needs and Questions
- What are the recovery rates and dynamics of community structure after trawling has occurred?
- How have the MPAs impacted the biologic and habitat resources within and outside the protected areas over different temporal scales?
Education and Outreach Material
National Marine Sanctuary Sustainable Seafood Lesson Plan
Dover sole (Microstomus pacificus) is one of 200 species that are typically caught in commercial and recreational fisheries in Monterey.
Credit: Linda Snook / NOAA MBNMS
References
de Marignac, J., J. Hyland, J. Lindholm, A. DeVogelaere, W.L. Balthis, D. Kline. 2009. A
comparison of seafloor habitats and associated benthic fauna in areas open and closed to bottom trawling along the central California continental shelf. Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series ONMS-09-02. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Silver Spring, MD. 44pp. Electronic document available here.
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. 2015. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Condition Report Partial Update: A New Assessment of the State of Sanctuary Resources 2015. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Silver Spring, MD. 133pp.
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. 2011. Monterey Bay Science Needs Bottom Trawling:
Habitat and Species Recovery U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Silver Spring, MD, Accessed: 7/22/2014
Starr, R.M., J.M. Cope, L.A. Kerr. 2002. Trends in fisheries and fishery resources associated
with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary From 1981-2000. Publication No. T-046, California Sea Grant College Program, La Jolla, California. 169pp. Electronic document available here.