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• 1. [Article] Testing the Cost Effectiveness of Manual Removal Strategies for the Containment of Invasive Lionfish Stocks in a Caribbean Reef

  Two species of the Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois miles and P. volitans) have rapidly expanded throughout the Gulf of Mexico, mid- and south Atlantic and the Caribbean following their introduction to Florida ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Testing the Cost Effectiveness of Manual Removal Strategies for the Containment of Invasive Lionfish Stocks in a Caribbean Reef Author: Valderrama, Diego, Fields, Kathryn Ann H. Two species of the Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois miles and P. volitans) have rapidly expanded throughout the Gulf of Mexico, mid- and south Atlantic and the Caribbean following their introduction to Florida coastal waters during the mid-1980s through releases from marine aquaria. There is overwhelming scientific agreement on the threats that this invasion poses to a wide range of native species, including grunts, snappers, and groupers. Because eradication of lionfish is unfeasible, scientists and conservationists are urging the implementation of lionfish management plans in order to reduce the environmental and economic impacts of the invasion to a manageable scale. Recent studies indicate that persistent removal of lionfish by spearheading does help control lionfish populations and help native fishing rebound. Through mathematical modeling and field tests, researchers have found that reducing lionfish stocks by about 75 to 90 percent leads to the rapid recovery of native fish numbers (Green et al. 2014). Data on prey fish and lionfish densities as well as spearheading catch rates were collected from lionfish derbies held at the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve, Belize, in 2014. These data were used to estimate reef-specific target lionfish densities leading to the recovery of native prey species in the marine reserve as predicted by the Green et al. (2014) model. The fishing costs involved in reaching the target densities were also estimated to evaluate the overall effectiveness of manual removal techniques as a management strategy for invasive lionfish stocks. Title: Testing the Cost Effectiveness of Manual Removal Strategies for the Containment of Invasive Lionfish Stocks in a Caribbean Reef Author: Valderrama, Diego, Fields, Kathryn Ann H. Two species of the Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois miles and P. volitans) have rapidly expanded throughout the Gulf of Mexico, mid- and south Atlantic and the Caribbean following their introduction to Florida coastal waters during the mid-1980s through releases from marine aquaria. There is overwhelming scientific agreement on the threats that this invasion poses to a wide range of native species, including grunts, snappers, and groupers. Because eradication of lionfish is unfeasible, scientists and conservationists are urging the implementation of lionfish management plans in order to reduce the environmental and economic impacts of the invasion to a manageable scale. Recent studies indicate that persistent removal of lionfish by spearheading does help control lionfish populations and help native fishing rebound. Through mathematical modeling and field tests, researchers have found that reducing lionfish stocks by about 75 to 90 percent leads to the rapid recovery of native fish numbers (Green et al. 2014). Data on prey fish and lionfish densities as well as spearheading catch rates were collected from lionfish derbies held at the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve, Belize, in 2014. These data were used to estimate reef-specific target lionfish densities leading to the recovery of native prey species in the marine reserve as predicted by the Green et al. (2014) model. The fishing costs involved in reaching the target densities were also estimated to evaluate the overall effectiveness of manual removal techniques as a management strategy for invasive lionfish stocks. Close

• 2. [Article] The Effects of Derelict Gear on Blue Crab Production in the Chesapeake Bay

  Several factors currently threaten blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to poor water quality, degraded habitat, and shifting environmental conditions, derelict gear has recently ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Effects of Derelict Gear on Blue Crab Production in the Chesapeake Bay Author: Bilkovic, Donna M., Scheld, Andrew M., Havens, Kirk J. Several factors currently threaten blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to poor water quality, degraded habitat, and shifting environmental conditions, derelict gear has recently been recognized as a significant source of mortality for this economically and culturally significant species. From 2008 through 2014, commercial watermen in Virginia were hired during their winter off season to locate, document, and remove derelict gear as part of a larger research effort to determine the biological impacts of marine debris in the Chesapeake Bay. Data on derelict gear removal generated by this research was subsequently paired with spatially resolved catch and effort data and entered into a translog production model used to estimate the economic effects of derelict gear on commercial blue crab production. Model results indicate removal significantly improved pot production and economic profits, a finding which had been previously confounded by concurrent blue crab management action. Our research builds on previous work through explicit acknowledgment of important spatial production differences and incorporation of derelict gear removal. Title: The Effects of Derelict Gear on Blue Crab Production in the Chesapeake Bay Author: Bilkovic, Donna M., Scheld, Andrew M., Havens, Kirk J. Several factors currently threaten blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to poor water quality, degraded habitat, and shifting environmental conditions, derelict gear has recently been recognized as a significant source of mortality for this economically and culturally significant species. From 2008 through 2014, commercial watermen in Virginia were hired during their winter off season to locate, document, and remove derelict gear as part of a larger research effort to determine the biological impacts of marine debris in the Chesapeake Bay. Data on derelict gear removal generated by this research was subsequently paired with spatially resolved catch and effort data and entered into a translog production model used to estimate the economic effects of derelict gear on commercial blue crab production. Model results indicate removal significantly improved pot production and economic profits, a finding which had been previously confounded by concurrent blue crab management action. Our research builds on previous work through explicit acknowledgment of important spatial production differences and incorporation of derelict gear removal. Close