Trends in the Commercial and Recreational Shark Fisheries in Florida, 1980–1992, with Implications for Management

Abstract

Florida commercial shark landings rose from 287,531 lb in 1980 to 7.3 million pounds in 1990, an increase of more than 2,400%. Two reasons for this increase in landings were the growing public acceptance of shark meat as a seafood product and the subsequent increase in prices in the Asian market for shark fins. Landings then declined in 1991 and 1992. Commercial and recreational landings data and responses to mail surveys have supplied important information regarding Florida's shark fisheries. The sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus and the blacktip shark C. limbatus accounted for 84% of the sharks landed in the commercial fishery in 1989. Commercially fished sharks are captured primarily by longline gear. After 1986, sharks were targeted much more frequently in the commercial fishery. Although catch per unit of effort steadily increased, landings and effort decreased during the 2 years before the implementation of regulations. Fewer sharks were landed in the recreational fisheries than in the commercial fisheries after 1986. Recreational landings declined considerably from 1990 to 1992, and the species of sharks landed differed from those landed in the commercial fishery. During the 1930s and 1940s, sharks were easily overexploited, so the recreational and commercial fisheries' ability to sustain elevated harvest levels is currently very much in question. Shark life history data explains this potential vulnerability to overfishing. Resource managers have used detailed fishery data and life history information to develop regulations that will help reduce the overexploitation of shark species in waters adjacent to Florida.