RESOURCE CONCERNS AND ISSUES 



FLUCTUATIONS IN CATCH 



One of the long-established characteristics of estuarine or marine fish 

 is their fluctuating abundance. Despite many years of study, there is little 

 information that points to the cause. There is speculation that unusual 

 weather changes may be partially responsible. Unusually low water tempera- 

 tures may cause high mortality among estuarine fishes. Low freshwater inflow 

 may cause excessive salinity in estuaries and poor reproduction. Low salini- 

 ties after major floods may produce the same results. 



Little is known about fish and shellfish abundance except relative meas- 

 ures reflected by commercial and sport catches. For Southwest Florida, sport 

 catch data are scarce and the only commercial catch statistics available are 

 those collected by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Changes in commer- 

 cial catches require careful analysis. For example, when statistics show a 

 decline in production for several years, it does not necessarily reflect an 

 actual decline in the abundance of the species. The decline may simply 

 reflect a change in fishing intensity or some other cause, but catastrophic 

 declines or long-term trends usually become clearly apparent. 



THE SHRIMP INDUSTRY 



The abundance of shrimp stocks (based on commercial landings) in South- 

 west Florida has been high in recent years. Although generally it is probably 

 not possible to overfish shrimp, the loss or alteration of the estuarine nur- 

 sery grounds is a sizeable threat to future production. 



Economics is the major problem currently confronting the shrimp industry. 

 Fuel costs have risen rapidly over the last several years and imported shrimp 

 constitute continuing competition, particularly those from Mexico where fuel 

 costs of production are lower. Because of the high price for shrimp, which 

 usually exceeds the price of red meat, almost 80% of all shrimp is sold to 

 restaurants. 



These economic problems are creating demands for limited entry which 

 would reduce the number of shrimpers (which now greatly exceeds the number of 

 necessary to catch the available shrimp) and increase individual catches and 

 profits. Limited entry and other controls would require major legislation. 

 In some states where limited entry is in effect, the method has not always 

 been helpful. It often creates as many problems as it solves. If limited 

 entry is not established for the shrimp industry, the results may be the same 

 because without some assistance, many of the smaller boat owners will be 

 forced out of business which would reduce the number of boats in the fishery. 

 Opponents of this "laissez faire" method feel that the shrimp industry will be 

 severely damaged. In addition, once the industry stabilizes again, and 

 becomes profitable, more ships will re-enter the fishery and the cycle will 

 start over again. Most commercial fishermen appear to favor limited entry, 

 but usually only when they think it will not affect them. In many limited 

 entry proposals, there is a grandfather clause allowing anyone already in the 

 industry to continue to fish. In effect such a scheme would only stop "new" 



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