COMMERCIAL FISHERIES EXTENSION PROGRAM REDUCING BYCATCH AND INCREASING

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APPLICATION DISCOVERY FORM KLOEHN PUMPS COMMERCIAL BACKGROUND FOR

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NORTHEAST EXTENSION DIRECTORS’


Commercial Fisheries Extension Program:

Reducing Bycatch and Increasing Size Selectivity in the

Northern Shrimp Fishery


University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension


Dr. Kenneth J. La Valley

Assistant Extension Professor of Biological Sciences

Water Resources, 131 Main Street, 219 Nesmith Hall

Durham, NH 03824

603-862-4343 (p)

603-862-0107 (f)

[email protected]


Abstract


Since 2004, the UNH Cooperative Extension Commercial Fisheries program has worked collaboratively with fishing industry members, researchers at UNH and the Maine Department of Marine Resources to enhance the selectivity and reduce bycatch in the northern shrimp fishery. Several strategies or devices have been developed that will significantly enhance size selectivity of shrimp and have been shown to reduce the catch of non-target species. Two strategies in particular, the dual-grid system and the non-parallel grate have been identified for transfer to the industry. From 2005 to the present, adoption of the gear has increased to twenty fishing vessels, representing approximately 15% of the total regional shrimp fleet. Struggles with consistent market demand and importation of Canadian shrimp, limited opportunities to use the gear during the current fishing season. This program fits into the Cooperative Extension and vision of engagement by bringing research originating from UNH to targeted users, in order that they can make research-based decisions that will directly benefit their livelihood.

1. ISSUE & SITUATION


The reappearance of robust northern shrimp stocks, believed to be the result of strong 2003 and 2004 shrimp year-classes, has resulted in significant harvesting opportunities for the Gulf of Maine commercial fishing industry. An industry that has been repeatedly subjected to conservative management measures that have significantly reduced fishing opportunities through limitation of fishing days as well as seasonal and area closures. The strong shrimp stocks first appearing in 2005 could translate into increased economic benefits and stability for harvesters and processors. However, due to the prolonged period of intense management and reduced New England shrimp landings during the period of low stock abundance, the shore side infrastructure (i.e. processing facilities) was reduced and regional markets were forced to import northern shrimp to maintain their markets. To compete in such a diluted market, fishermen have tried to improve quality and consistency to both increase local demand for fresh product and obtain higher prices for their catch. Shrimp are marketed by the count per pound, with the highest value given to the lowest count (larger shrimp). One feasible method for fishermen to enhance their quality and value would be to target larger shrimp catches, while eliminating the bycatch and discard of non-target fish.


Since 2004, the UNH Cooperative Extension Commercial Fisheries program has worked collaboratively with fishing industry members, researchers at UNH and the Maine Department of Marine Resources to enhance the selectivity and reduce bycatch in the northern shrimp fishery. Several strategies or devices have been developed that will significantly enhance size selectivity of shrimp and have been shown to reduce the catch of non-target species. Two strategies in particular, the dual-grid system and the non-parallel grate have been identified for transfer to the industry (Figure 1). Since this time, we (industry, science and extension partners) have been working to transfer these technologies to regional shrimp fishermen (ME, NH and MA).


This program fits into the UNH Cooperative Extension and UNH mission/vision of engagement by bringing research originating from UNH, a land and sea-grant institution, to the general public and targeted users, in order that they can make research-based decisions that will directly benefit their livelihood.

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES EXTENSION PROGRAM REDUCING BYCATCH AND INCREASING

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES EXTENSION PROGRAM REDUCING BYCATCH AND INCREASING


Figure 1. Dual-grid (left) and Non-parallel bar grate (right) bycatch reduction and shrimp size selectivity fishing gear devices.


2. STAKEHOLDERS & INPUT


The program targeted commercial fishermen participating in the northern shrimp fishery, primarily in ME and NH. Both gear designs that were identified for technology transfer were developed through a collaborative research process. In this case, members of the fishing community were interested in eliminating bycatch of fish and targeting larger shrimp. By partnering with scientists funds were acquired from the Northeast Consortium to begin investigating innovative gear designs. Through field-testing alternatives were identified. The role of the extension program was to provide opportunities for the fishing industry to learn about the gear, offer their opinions and use the technology aboard their own vessels. This was accomplished through workshops, conference sessions, articles published in trade publications and at-sea demonstrations.


3. EXTENSION FOCUS & RESEARCH BASE.


The over-all program goal was to increase the economic value of landed northern shrimp by increasing the size selectivity and reducing deck sorting time through enhanced bycatch elimination.


The research and outreach objectives for this program were to first, increase fishery stakeholders knowledge of available innovative technology that would increase the size selectivity of shrimp (thus increasing the economic value), and second, provide at-sea demonstrations to interested industry members, that would provide hands-on opportunities to evaluate the gear.


Since 2004, the extension program has increased fishery stakeholders knowledge and awareness of available technology by; 1) hosting gear sessions at the annual ME Fishermen’s Forum to give fishermen the opportunity to see the gear, discuss its operation and recruit potential users, 2) providing local workshops to present the gear and recruit early adopters of the technology and 3) publishing UNH extension technical “fact sheets” and articles in regional trade journals to more broadly reach the target audience.


In addition, prototype dual-grid and non-parallel grates were manufactured for use by early adopters. These early users of the technology are critical to the use of the technology by additional fishermen. Successful use of the shrimp size sorting systems will be communicated between fishermen which will result in increased demand for the technology and its incorporation by the regional shrimp fleet. Not only are the initial industry partners a critical component of communicating the technology to additional fishermen but they are important for the continued design refinement and enhanced performance.


4. MULTIDISCIPLINARY & COLLABORATIVE COMPONENTS


The program was a collaboration from the very beginning. First, through the collaborative research efforts of industry, Maine Department of Marine Resources and UNH research faculty to design and evaluate the performance of several conservation engineered innovations for the shrimp fishery. It was critical that extension played a role from the start through partnering science and industry and by developing workshops and outreach mechanisms that gave the research partners opportunities to discuss their gear designs.


Once the non-parallel bar grate and dual-grid system had been identified as mechanisms that would essentially eliminate bycatch and select for the larger more valuable shrimp, it was the extension programs role to work with industry partners to identify early adopters of the technology and to continue increasing awareness within the fishing community.


Lastly, extensions role continues to be one of promoting the success early adopters have experienced and acting as a conduit for the fishing community to access the gear. In addition, the extension program identified funding sources and acquired the necessary resources to have additional grates manufactured.


Industry - Real world experience and commercial applicability of gear technologies.

Research - Gear design evaluation and expertise.

Outreach - Outreach programming and communication expertise as well as design evaluation.


5. INNOVATIVE APPROACHES IN FUNDING SOURCE & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

DELIVERY.


The program used an innovative approach to inform and connect the fishing industry with the new technology. A trade journal (Commercial Fisheries News) with a readership of more than 10,000 individuals was used to inform the broader industry of the gear, prototypes were manufactured to provide at-sea demonstration opportunities for fishermen to use the gear, a video was produced to illustrate the operation of the gear and provide early adopter feedback and website (http://extension.unh.edu/Marine/ShrimpSize.htm) plus technical fact sheets were developed to allow easy access to information. It was central that extramural funds be obtained so that prototypes could be provided to the industry. Below is a list of the funds that were attained.


Development and Transfer of Fishing Technologies to Increase Size Selectivity in the Northern Shrimp Fishery. UNH Outreach Scholarship Program $750.00

Shrimp Gear Technology Transfer Project. ME Sea Grant and NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service. $5,000.00


6. IMPACTS ACHIEVED


Since 2005, the non-parallel grate and dual-grid have been transferred to the seasonal northern Shrimp fishery in ME and NH. During the 2005-2006 season, two (2) fishermen initially used the technology. Through word-of-mouth exchanges between fishermen, extension workshops and extension publications interest in the technology increased. During the 2007- 2008 season, four (4) commercial fishermen used size selectivity gear developed through cooperative research, instead of traditional fishing gear. Continued outreach efforts and early adopter results created high demand for the technology for the 2008-2009 season. The extension program was able to acquire external funding to have (10) non-parallel grates and (6) dual-grid sets manufactured for the industry. In total, twenty (20) industry members acquired the gear for the 2008-2009 season. Not all fishermen were able to use the gear during the current fishing season. Due to high shrimp imports from Canada, market demand was low for U.S. shrimp which resulted in fewer opportunities for the ME/NH fleet to fish.


In 2008, there were 121 vessels from Maine, 5 from Massachusetts, and 14 from New Hampshire, for a total of 140 using shrimp trawls. Of those vessels approximately 15% have acquired the conservation gear. The commercial fisheries extension program anticipates that as the market demand for local shrimp increases, shore-side processing facilities will return and adoption by the regional shrimp fishery will continue to increase.


7. SCHOLARLY PRODUCTS DEVELOPED


Scholarly products that have been produced in support of this project were designed to reach the greater fishing community during the shrimp fishery (December through April) via trade journal articles, provide technology summary documents through Sea Grant publications that could be handed out during workshops and meetings, and to provide an at-sea demonstration of the technology in practice aboard a commercial fishing vessel through a short documentary video.


La Valley, K.J. 2007. Dual Grid Design Reduces Catch of Small Shrimp. Commercial Fisheries News. Page 2B, March Issue.

La Valley, K. J. 2007. Science and Industry Collaborate to Reduce Small Shrimp Catch. NH Sea Grant publication UNHMP-IS-SG-07-03

La Valley, K. J. 2006. Size Sorting in the Shrimp Fishery. NH Sea Grant publication (DVD).

La Valley, K. J. 2005. Cooperative Research Aids Shrimp Grate Advance. Commercial Fisheries News. Page 2B, March Issue.

La Valley, K. J. 2005. Refinements to Nordmore Grate May Increase Shrimp Selectivity. NH Sea Grant publication UNHMP-IS-SG-05-08


8. MULTI-STATE AND/OR INTEGRATED EXTENSION/RESEARCH COMPONENT(S).


Multi-State partners included; Dan Shick and Lessie White, ME DMR; Dana Morse, UMaine Cooperative Extension; Kelo Pinkham and Vincent Balzanno, ME Fishermen; Glen Libby, Porte Clyde Fisherman’s Association; Dr. Pingguo HE, UNH, Carl Bouchard and David Goethel, NH Fishermen, Bob Campbell, Yankee Fisherman’s Cooperative (Seabrook, NH); and John Hoey, National Marine Fisheries Service.

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