![]() Former South Atlantic Council member Art Sapp (2018-2021) recently summed it up pretty clearly: “We failed miserably.” Unfortunately, the very agency in charge of managing the dolphin fishery doesn’t share the same concern nor the sense of urgency. The lack of big dolphin isn’t news- anyone who has fished for dolphin off the east coast of Florida in the last five years knows there are far fewer dolphin to catch today than in the past. The number of total fishing licenses sold in Florida in 2021 are up nearly 300,000 over pre- COVID 2018. Mahi limits need to be at most 5 per person or 30 per vessel counting anglers.”Īnd on top of the growing commercial pressure, you have an increasing number of recreational anglers. “I have noted fish declines especially in recent years. And that’s with an ever-growing number of dolphin landings by dedicated dolphin fishery commercial longline boats. We still don’t have a daily trip limit for the commercial longline dolphin fishery. The Council tried again in 2016 and again in 2020. In 2004 the Council passed a 3,000-pound trip limit, only to have the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) throw out the limit based on the assertion that the dolphin were only a bycatch. You read that right-no daily limits!įor nearly twenty years, efforts by recreational anglers, and even the Council have tried, unsuccessfully, to put daily commercial trip limits in place. At present, commercial fishing boats are allowed unlimited quantities. In addition to tighter recreational limits, anglers and conservationists are advocating for a daily limit on the amount of dolphin that may be taken by commercial boats. if there aren’t other dolphin in the water. The age-old tactic of leaving a hooked dolphin in the water to attract others may no longer work. They’re asking the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and the state of Florida, to reduce the number of fish they’re allowed to catch. But reports from Islamorada to Jacksonville indicate a shortage of all fish, regardless of size.Īnglers are advocating for, even demanding, a cut back in vessel limits. Most urgently, they have been highlighting the lack of slammer dolphin (fish over 20 pounds). This program recognizes businesses that promote responsible viewing of wild dolphins.Anglers throughout Florida have been writing letters, attending meetings and making social media posts in an effort to bring attention to the noticeable decline in the dolphinfish, mahi, fishery. To help reduce disruption to dolphins in the sanctuary, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Marine Fisheries Service, the Dolphin Ecology Project, and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society created the Dolphin SMART program. Many businesses conduct dolphin tours in this area, which can stress the dolphins. They are the only mammals, other than manatees, that spend their entire lives in the water.Īn area of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is home to a resident group of bottlenose dolphins. There are 75 species of dolphins, whales, and porpoises living in the ocean. Also, like all mammals, dolphins even have a tiny amount of hair, right around the blowhole. Other characteristics of dolphins that make them mammals rather than fish are that they give birth to live young rather than laying eggs and they feed their young with milk. The blowhole on top of a dolphin's head acts as a "nose," making it easy for the dolphin to surface for air. Dolphins must make frequent trips to the surface of the water to catch a breath. Unlike fish, who breathe through gills, dolphins breathe air using lungs. Like every mammal, dolphins are warm blooded. Also, dolphins are different than "dolphinfish," which are also known as mahi-mahi. Credit: Dolphin Ecology Project – Under Authority of NOAA Fisheries Permit #911-1722-00Įven though they live in the ocean all of the time, dolphins are mammals, not fish.
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