Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Gulf reef fish anglers: help reef fish survive release with free gear

by NOAA Fisheries 15 May 2022 19:24 UTC
Return 'Em Right provides support and resources to anglers committed to using best release practices and helping reef fish survive release © Return 'Em Right

Return 'Em Right is a coalition of organizations committed to increasing the survival of reef fish that are caught and released in the Gulf of Mexico.

The project is now making training and gear available to interested recreational fish anglers in the Gulf. Anglers can visit returnemright.org to be one of the first to get free gear (valued at $100).

The project's goal is to increase survival of reef fish that are caught and released by providing tens of thousands of interested anglers with an opportunity to learn best release practices. In return, anglers receive a package of free release gear that will help reduce fish mortality from barotrauma, a pressure-related injury. Improving survival of reef fish that are released immediately benefits both anglers and the ecosystem.

Barotrauma: What makes fish float

Many anglers have experienced the unpleasant sight of reef fish, such as snappers and groupers, floating away on the surface after release. Floaters occur due to barotrauma, a pressure-related injury that fish experience when reeled up from depth. The change in pressure from the seafloor to ocean surface causes gas within the body and tissues of fish to expand. This displaces their organs and leaves the fish bloated and unable to return to depth.

Why do floaters hurt a fishery?

When left untreated, barotrauma leads to a high percentage of reef fish dying after release. Catch and release mortality affects millions of fish annually. Each year, more than 10 million federally managed reef fish are released, and at least 1 million of those will die after release. The fish that die are estimated and counted against the quota anglers are allowed to keep. With more people fishing than ever before, reducing catch and release mortality is a top priority for anglers and resource managers.

Anglers play a critical role in helping reef fish survive by using best release practices and taking action when fish need additional help returning to depth. Return 'Em Right focuses on emphasizing practices that will give each fish their best chance of surviving. The program offers an online training of best practices that assists anglers in:

  • Recognizing the signs of barotrauma
  • Knowing the solutions for treating it
  • Learning how to be prepared to release fish before they hit the deck

Upon completion of the training and while supplies last, Gulf of Mexico reef fish anglers will be shipped a package of free release gear to use out on the water.

How can anglers help fish return to depth?

Historically, venting fish has been the most common method to release gas in the body of fish and help them return to the bottom. Anglers can effectively vent fish by using a sharp, hollow device to penetrate the abdomen of a fish, allowing excess gas to escape. Although proper venting can save fish, some anglers might incorrectly vent fish, or use inappropriate tools such as ice picks, both of which cause additional harm to fish.

Today, research supports the use of descending devices in many cases as the preferred way to help fish suffering from barotrauma survive release. Descending devices are weighted devices that help fish overcome buoyancy and barotrauma by releasing them at depth. As a fish is descended down the water column, the gas within its body recompresses, and the fish returns to a normal state and can swim off on its own. There are several different types of descending devices including lip clamp styles, inverted hooks, and weighted boxes or crates.

What can you do? Say no to floaters

Doing your part to ensure reef fish survive release contributes to the health of the fishery and the future of the sport. For every 1 percent of landed and released fish anglers save through learning and using best release practices, more than 100,000 reef fish could survive to grow, possibly spawn, and be caught again.

Release gear is now required to be on board. The DESCEND Act, which went into effect on January 13, 2022, requires anglers to have a venting tool or descending device onboard while reef fishing in Gulf of Mexico federal waters. Knowing how and when to use the gear will provide the greatest benefit to the fishery. Return 'Em Right, which is separate from the DESCEND Act, is a great way for anglers to gain that experience. Anglers should access the Return 'Em Right online review to educate themselves on how to properly use release gear and make successfully releasing fish a positive part of their fishing experience.

Project funding and partners

This $30 million project was selected and funded by the Deepwater Horizon Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group as part of the 2019 Open Ocean Restoration Plan. Reef fish species are recreationally, commercially, and ecologically important to the Gulf of Mexico, but were substantially harmed by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Project partners include:

  • NOAA
  • Florida Sea Grant
  • University of Florida
  • Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission

They are working in collaboration with a coalition of anglers, small businesses, industry groups, state agencies, universities, government and non-government organizations committed to maintaining healthy fish stocks and fishing access in the Gulf of Mexico.

The project also will conduct post-release monitoring and studies to assess effectiveness of the work and evaluate the success of training and outreach efforts. This information will be shared with anglers at outreach events. Together, these efforts will help increase the number of fish that get back down to depth safely, enhance angler contributions to reducing reef fish mortality, and provide improved fishing experiences for anglers.

Related Articles

Washington state river restoration project
Reviving salmon habitat, supporting local jobs This spring, NOAA partner the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership broke ground on a large-scale salmon habitat restoration project on the lower East Fork Lewis River in Washington State. Posted on 17 May
Scientists estimate krill abundance in Alaska
A commonly used machine-learning algorithm was key Throughout the world, scientists engage in regular vessel surveys to produce estimates of species distribution and abundance. These estimates let scientists track species- and ecosystem-level trends over time to support ecosystem-based fishery management. Posted on 22 Feb
Oregon Coast coho sustain sportfishing seasons
Rebound of wild populations boosts productivity enough for harvest Low salmon returns have closed salmon fishing in California and limited it elsewhere on the West Coast. But Oregon anglers have enjoyed robust sportfishing on a strong wild salmon species. Posted on 23 Dec 2024
Some fish and crab may shift further north
New regional models are being developed for the Bering Sea to better anticipate climate change The eastern Bering Sea is a highly productive marine ecosystem, supporting more than 40 percent of the annual commercial fisheries landings by volume in the United States. Posted on 21 Dec 2024
How the 2024 hurricane season impacted fishing
Learn how business owners, marine ecosystems, and recreational fishing seasons were affected The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ended on November 30, showcased above-average activity. It had a profound impact on recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, causing recreational fishers to face challenges and interim closures. Posted on 20 Dec 2024
Climate, Ecosystems, and Fisheries
Climate change is impacting the nation's valuable marine and Great Lakes ecosystems The NOAA Climate, Ecosystems, and Fisheries Initiative (CEFI) is an effort to provide decision-makers with the information they need to prepare for and adapt to changing oceans and climate. Posted on 7 Dec 2024
Fifteen years of searching for smalltooth sawfish
NOAA Fisheries scientists have been studying smalltooth sawfish in South Florida since 2009 NOAA Fisheries scientists have traveled to South Florida multiple times a year for 15 years to study smalltooth sawfish. Posted on 17 Nov 2024
Harbor Seals consume up to a third of Steelhead
Unchecked predation may undermine recovery actions, study finds Harbor seals consume as many as a third of young steelhead smolts migrating out of the Nisqually River's delta in southern Puget Sound, new research shows. Posted on 21 Sep 2024
The Elwha River restoration
Elwha River restoration project offers valuable insights into the complex ecological processes Elwha River restoration project offers valuable insights into the complex ecological processes involved in dam removal and river recovery. Posted on 16 Sep 2024
Reestablishing connections for fish and tribes
North Santiam River is a high priority for the recovery of Upper Willamette River spring Chinook With $710,000 in funding from NOAA, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde will remove barriers to the passage of threatened salmon and trout species on their land. Posted on 16 Aug 2024
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo M600