The Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs has released the first results from the off-shore fishing study now going on in the waters off the Turks and Caicos Islands.
On Tuesday, October 22ND, Dayboat I returned to port at South Caicos following the maiden voyage of the pelagic fisheries study.
Results from the first voyage reveal that 135 fish were caught in four hauls, totalling more than 5,000 pounds of tuna, swordfish, wahoo and mahi mahi. Of this amount 26 individual fish, including swordfish, tuna, marlin and shark species, were released live, while 9 individual fish, including shark, swordfish and marlin species were released dead. The above figures represent a total unintended by-catch rate of 19% (live) and 6.7% (dead).
While the figures for dead by-catch are higher than anticipated, the proponents are confident that once the crew has been fully trained, these numbers will decline and approach zero, DEMA Director Kathleen Wood noted. DEMA will continue to monitor the activities and will take remedial steps if necessary.
DEMA is also satisfied that no sea turtles or marine mammals have been adversely affected by activities thus far.
The pelagic fishing study is governed by rules established by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). As such, the study is subject to international quotas, and no undersized swordfish may be retained. The ICCAT rules are devised to ensure the sustainable harvest of pelagic fisheries stocks.
