Characterization of the Shark Bottom Longline Fishery: 2015

Observations of the shark-directed bottom longline fishery in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico have been conducted since 1994 (Morgan et al. 2009, Enzenauer et al. 2015 and references therein). Currently about 210 U.S. fishers are permitted to target sharks (excluding dogfish) in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and an additional 254 fishers are permitted to land sharks incidentally. Amendments to the Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan implemented a shark research fishery, which allows NMFS to select a limited number of commercial shark vessels on an annual basis to collect life history data and catch data for future stock assessments (NMFS, 2007).

Specifically, only commercial shark fishers participating in the research fishery are allowed to land sandbar sharks, Carcharhinus plumbeus, and must carry an observer on 100% of all trips (compared to a target coverage level of 5-10% outside the research fishery). Outside the research fishery, fishers are permitted to land other large coastal sharks (e.g. blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, and bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas). Herein, we report on observed fishing activities in the  shark bottom longline fishery for the 2015 fishing season, including coverage of the 2015 Shark Research Fishery.