When compared to other pelagic fish species, dolphin have not received the same management attention by domestic or international fishery management agencies over the same amount of time. Over the past decade, NOAA Fisheries has conducted between 115 to 125 stock assessments per year, but never for dolphin. Internationally, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission conducted the first modern stock assessment for dolphin in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean; while this assessment is important, there exists no comparable assessment in the Atlantic. Population assessments are crucial to prevent overfishing from occurring and help anglers to catch the maximum number of fish over the long-term. Negative signals of changes in the Atlantic dolphin fishery have been observed. Does this mean dolphin are being overfished? Scientifically, it is unknown. But, anecdotal and
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research observations over a broad area, as well as the number of unknowns with regards to the level of directed landings and bycatch of the species, raise many red flags regarding the health of the stock in our region. Recently, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) wrapped up its March meeting and identified its preferred management actions for revisions to the Dolphin/Wahoo Atlantic Coast Fishery Management Plan, which, given the rise in fishing effort over the past 2 decades in our region as well as the combination of many other compounding anthropogenic factors, does not go far enough to ensure the conservation of dolphin. In their meeting, Council members voted (11-5) in support of a reduction in the vessel limit to 48 dolphinfish per vessel for all recreational anglers along the U.S. East Coast. This would represent a 2.32% reduction in landings (or 383,477 lbs wet weight) and is the first major action the Council has considered taking to help safeguard the dolphin stock since Amendment 2 expanded the minimum size to South Carolina in 2012. When considering that NOAA Fisheries has documented a 300% increase in marine recreational trips in the Atlantic and a 150% increase in trips in the Gulf of Mexico in their most recent Fisheries of the United States reports to 140 million and 56 million
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annual trips, respectively, this reduction does not seem in line with the rise in fishing effort. Although not yet formally included, the Council did decide to initiate a framework action on developing a 20" size limit for anglers in North Carolina and any location to the
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north. Lastly, there were several conservation actions that were brought forward rather widely in public comment but the Council chose not to include. These include a minimum size increase (although the framework action may partially address this), the use of circle hooks when bailing, and a vessel limit lower than 48. Click here to read more about the SAFMC's preferred management changes to the Dolphin/Wahoo FMP and to learn about the history of major management actions for dolphin and why it is critical more action be taken now to conserve this stock for the future.
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| Participation Enables Data Collection
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Core to our mission is shipping tagging kits to anglers to enable their participation while they fish offshore. These kits contain a free pack of non-offset circle hooks provided by Bird of Prey Fishing Tackle, a tag applicator, pre-postmarked tag cards, information on proper dolphin tagging techniques, and other items from our sponsors. To date, we have shipped 186 tagging kits to 173 anglers (vessel names in image below) in 7 countries. Here, we highlight our tag kit
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distribution results to date to emphasize our drive to increase participation because enabling your cooperation in our tagging program helps us acheive several goals. A brief list is provided below:
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Above is a short list of how our tagging program utilizes your participation to advance science and conservation of dolphin. In fact, practicing the tag and release of dolphinfish is one of the most important things you can do to conserve dolphinfish for two main reasons:
- It provides an enormous amount of data that can be used for future stock assessments and management, data that scientists would never be able to procure in such mass on their own.
- Tag and release enables small dolphin to reach greater sexual maturity to increase stock spawning biomass, which contributes to future generations of fish and enables healthier ocean food webs.
To get involved, request a kit here and tag a small dolphin on your next outing. We would like to thank the 10 vessels (Killin' Time II, Southern Run, Saltwater Cowboy, Southern Eagle, Makaira, Nuri, Madatet, Reel Thunder, Weed Seaker, Fish N Pole, Desmond) that have tagged and released small dolphin so far this year.
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| Purchase Apparel to Support Our Tagging Program
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Support Ocean Conservation and Research
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We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our tagging program to fund our 2021 tagging effort. With your support, we were able to start 2021 strong and, to date, we have already shipped
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out 186 tagging kits. Our goal is to distribute 400 kits and 5,000 tags in 2021. We need your support to help us increase our tagging kit and education supplies to
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meet the growing demand for tagging kits. Our tagging program is at the forefront of educating anglers, advancing discussions and actions surrounding conservation of the species, and gathering additional data to help inform data-driven decision making at the state, federal, and international levels. Help the DRP expand in 2021. Click the icons below to shop or donate to support our program.
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