124 
Fishery Bulletin 1 14(1) 
Table 4 (continued) 
Sector 
Year 
Sources 
Comments 
Parameter 
Recreational (billfish 
catch from major 
tournaments) 
1951-1971 
Assumption 
Linearly interpolated total tournament 
catches for 1951-1971. 
Total catch increased at rate 
of 0.17 t/year 
Recreational (billfish 
catch from major 
tournaments) 
1972-2006 
Data from the RBS program 
Used data directly from the RBS program 
Contact the NOAA Southeast 
Fisheries Science Center for 
details 
Recreational (billfish 
catch from major 
tournaments) 
2007-2010 
Assumption based on data 
from the RBS program 
Organizers stopped reporting catches to 
the RBS program after 2007, and incom- 
plete reporting likely occurred in 2007. 
Used mean annual catch for the years 
2000-2006 for remainder of time series 
Total catch of 6.08 t/year 
Recreational (catch 
outside of tourna- 
ments — tourists) 
1950-1985 
Assumption based on visitor 
arrival data, 1980 visitor 
activities survey report and 
1986 recreational fishing 
regulations for visitors to 
The Bahamas 
Prior to 1986, there were no maximum 
catch limits for recreational fishing. As- 
sumed that visitors retained twice as 
much as the maximum per capita catch 
limits stipulated in the 1986 legislation 
Per capita recreational catch 
rate of 136 kg-person -1 -visit -1 
Recreational (catch 
outside of tourna- 
ments — tourists) 
1986-2006 
Visitor arrival data, 1980 
visitor activities survey 
report, and recreational 
fishing regulations for visi- 
tors to The Bahamas 
Catch rate represents 80% of the per capi- 
ta allowable catch limit. Assumed that 
visitors adhered to the catch limits 
Per capita recreational catch 
rate of 54 kg-person -1 -visit -1 
Recreational (catch 
outside of tourna- 
ments — tourists) 
2007-2010 
Assumption based on visitor 
arrival data, 1980 visitor 
activities survey report, and 
1986 recreational fishing 
regulations for visitors to 
The Bahamas 
Recreational fishing legislation revised 
with the aim of reducing total annual 
catch by 50%. Catch rate represents 50% 
of the per capita allowable catch limit 
based on 1986 legislation. Assumed that 
visitors adhered to the catch limits 
Per capita recreational catch 
rate of 34 kg-person -1 -visit _1 
Recreational (catch 
outside of tourna- 
ments — residents ) 
1950-1969 
Expert opinion from staff of 
the Dep. Mar. Res., resident 
population census data, and 
1986 recreational fishing 
regulations for visitors 
Assumed that 0.5% of residents of the 
Family Islands fished for recreation 
6 times a year and 1% of residents of 
New Providence and Grand Bahama 
fished for recreation 4 times a year. For 
each trip, we assumed that residents 
caught 50% of the 1986 maximum per 
capita catch limits for visitors (i.e., 34 
kg-fisherman _1 -trip -1 ). 
Recreational catch rate of 
204 kg-fisherman -1 -year -1 
for residents of the Fam- 
ily Islands and 136 
kg-fisherman -1 -year -1 for 
residents of New Providence 
and Grand Bahama 
Recreational (catch 
outside of tourna- 
ments — residents ) 
1970-2010 
Expert opinion from staff of 
the Dep. Mar. Res., resident 
population census data, and 
Assumed that recreational fishing in- 
creased with increasing economic oppor- 
tunities, particularly for residents of New 
Recreational catch rate of 
408 kg-fisherman -1 year -1 
for 0.5% of residents of the 
recreational fishing regula- Providence and Grand Bahama. Assumed Family Islands and 272 
tions for visitors that both the percentage of residents that kg-fisherman -1 -year -1 for 2% 
fished for recreation and the frequency of of residents of New Provi- 
recreational fishing doubled for residents dence and Grand Bahama 
of New Providence and Grand Bahama. 
Hence, 2% of residents of New Providence 
and Grand Bahama fished for recreation 8 
times a year. 
Assumed that the percentage of residents 
of the Family Islands that fished for rec- 
reation did not change during 1950-1969 
(i.e., 0.5%) but that the frequency with 
which they fished doubled to 12 times a 
year. 
For each trip, we assumed that residents 
of the Family Islands and of New Provi- 
dence and Grand Bahama caught 50% of 
the 1986 maximum per capita catch limits 
for visitors (i.e., 34 kg-fisherman -1 -trip -1 ). 
