P.O. Box 86, Port Lavaca, Texas 77979 (512) 552-9747

EXOTIC DISEASE FOUND IN WILD SHRIMP NEAR BROWNSVILLE

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has reported the first confirmed occurrence of a shrimp disease known as "White Spot" in a native shrimp found near Brownsville. This is the first time the "White Spot" virus has been found in the wild. While this virus isn't a threat to public health it is a concern to the commercial shrimping industry. The Texas shrimp industry provides jobs for 15,000 people and is worth about $600 million to the states economy.

There has been two previous reports of viruses in cultured shrimp along the Texas coast. In 1995, native white shrimp Penaeus setiferus were diagnosed with lesions "suggestive of" Yellow Head Virus (YHV) and a "White Spot-like Virus" from a single pond in South Texas. This could not be fully determined at the time because researchers did not have an accurate test for these viruses. Until then, reports of YHV and WSSV only came from Asia and there was no reason to look for it in U.S. shrimp farms. In 1997 another case of "White Spot-like" virus was found in a Texas research facility in wild captive P. setiferus. The White Spot-like virus did not infect non-native shrimp (P. vannamei and P. stylrostris) in the facility and it was thought to have come from the wild caught animals. Further testing of the shrimp using a test developed by Dr. Don Lightner in Arizona did confirm it to be White Spot or White Spot Syndrome Virus as it was later called.

To date only one shrimp infected with this virus has been collected during an intensive monitoring program conducted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Dr. Larry McKinney, TPWD senior director for aquatic resources, urges all to put this in careful perspective to avoid undue alarm. According to Dr. Larry Mckinney, one wild shrimp infected with this virus is significant, but is not a crisis. Additional shrimp collected from the same area were not infected. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will continue to monitor the situation and is prepared to protect the native shrimp population.

In other locations around the world shrimp viral diseases are widespread, both in wild and cultured shrimp. For instance, Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV) and Taura Syndrome Virus (TSV) are indigenous in wild populations of shrimp throughout much of Central and South America. While White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) and Yellow Head Virus (YHV) are indigenous throughout Asian shrimp populations.

In the Gulf of Mexico, the naturally occurring baculovirus was commonly found in native pink shrimp (hoppers) and other shrimp species during the 1970's. The development of screening techniques for this particular virus by researchers made this discovery possible. But not before this virus impacted shrimp farms in Texas and abroad during the late 1970's and early 1980's. In some cases, shrimp were destroyed at Texas shrimp farms as a result of disease checks and directives from State regulatory agencies. The virus was controlled largely through the control measures implemented in shrimp hatcheries to recognize the virus in wild caught brood stock. It soon was no longer considered a problem in either wild caught shrimp or hatchery animals.

There are four viruses known to cause high death rates in farm raised shrimp."White Spot" is one of these diseases that could be transmitted to native shrimp. The other three diseases are Taura Syndrome Virus, Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV), and Yellow Head Virus. Shrimp farms in Texas are some of the largest, producing five times more than South Carolina shrimp farms which are ranked second. The reason non-native shrimp are used in aquaculture production is because they tend to grow faster and do better in mariculture

Shrimp farmers and biologists alike are concerned because "White Spot" can be an extremely virulent disease causing high mortality. TPWD began to monitor native population of shrimp for signs of viral infection last October. The Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed on March 11, 1998, that a small lesion found on a pink shrimp to be WSSV. The shrimp was collected from the Brownsville area last December. Further lab work has not confirmed anymore shrimp infected with this disease.

A series of shrimp disease management rules have been adopted by the TPWD Commission. These rules should reduce the risk of accidental disease transmission from exotic farm raised shrimp into wild populations of native shrimp. Texas shrimp farmers are cooperating fully with TPWD and supportive of the new measures.
Source: TPWD News, April 20, 1998

BYCATCH REDUCTION DEVICES NOW REQUIRED IN FEDERAL WATERS

In last month's Calhoun County Marine Advisory Newsletter, Calhoun Currents, it was stated that on May 14, 1998 shrimp trawls fishing in federal waters out to 100 fathoms, from Cape San Blas, Florida to the Texas/Mexico boarder will be required to use a bycatch reduction device (BRD.) The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has certified the fisheye and Jones Davis BRDs.

A BRD will be required in any trawl rigged for fishing. A trawl is considered rigged for fishing when it is in the water or connected to a door, sled or some other spreading device or attached to any type of rope, cable, or other connector. In addition, a BRD will be required in try nets with a headrope length greater than 16 feet. Currently, The only exemptions to this rule are:

Royal Red Shrimp Trawlers

Try nets with a 16 ft. Headrope length or smaller

Rigid-Frame Roller Trawls

BRDs will be required in shrimp trawls is because NMFS data shows that about 88% of the juvenile red snapper population is being removed by shrimp trawls. Since, red snapper is considered to be overfished. Therefore, the targeted recovery date of 2019 would not be met without bycatch reduction.

The Social Impact Assessment (SIA) concluded that Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishermen were experiencing a high level of work-related stress in 1994 versus 1987 due to a variety of factors, including the required use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) and additional regulations. Requiring shrimp fishermen to use BRDs would further increase their stress level. However, this additional stress would be offset by increased efficiency and time required to cull the catch, according to the SIA findings.

National Marine Fisheries Service will be sending BRD installation instructions. If you have not received this information from NMFS, you may call me at (512) 552-9747 for the installation instructions.

Source: Federal Register: Vol. 63, No. 71, April 14, 1998

RED SNAPPER RECREATIONAL BAG LIMIT REDUCED TO
FOUR PER PERSON IN GULF OF MEXICO FEDERAL WATERS

Effective April 29, 1998, the recreational bag limit for red snapper was reduced from 5 to 4 fish. The reason for the reduction is to prevent a closure of the recreational red snapper fishery. Last November, such a closure took place. The recreational red snapper fishery reopened in January 1998 following the closure. If no reduction in the bag limit occurred it was projected that another closure would be necessary between mid October and mid December.

Currently, the Total Allow Catch (TAC) for red snappers is 9.12 million pounds. This has been the TAC since 1996. The proposal to keep the TAC at this level exceeds the allowable biological catch (ABC) as recommended by Councils's Reef Fish Stock Assessment Panel (RFSAP) by 3 to 6 million pounds. The recommendation of the RFSAP is based on the level of juvenile red snapper that would be excluded when BRDs were implemented.

A reduction of 44% of red snapper from shrimp trawls is the minimum legal requirement. At this exclusion rate a TAC of 3 million pounds would allow the stock to recover by 2019. At a 60% reduction in red snapper bycatch the stock would recover by 2019 with a TAC of 9 million pounds. The RFSAP felt that a 60% reduction could not be achieved and set the ABC at 6 million pounds.

If the TAC were to be reduced from the current level of 9.12 million pounds to 6 million pounds recreational red snapper fishermen could expect this:

5 fish bag limit - closure by mid to late August

4 fish bag limit - closure by mid-September to early October

3 fish bag limit - closure by late October to late November

2 fish bag limit - no closure

One other way NMFS hopes to extend the recreational red snapper season is to take away the bag limit from charter boat captains and crew.

Source: Gulf Fishery News, Vol. 20, No. 1&2

NEW MINIMUM SIZE LIMITS FOR ATLANTIC BILLFISH

The National Marine Fisheries Service has set new minimum size limits for the Atlantic blue marlin Makaira nigricans and the Atlantic white marlin Tetrapturus albidus for the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. For blue marlin, the new size limit is 96 inches and for white marlin it is 66 inches. Marlin are measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork in the tail.

NMFS identified both species of marlin to be overfished in September 1997. Estimated stocks for blue marlin and white marlin are at 24 and 23 percent, respectively, of the levels needed for maximum sustainable yield^* (MSY). The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) recommended this change at it's meeting in November 1997 in an effort to reduce the landings of blue and while marlin by 25 percent to begin in 1998.

Currently, only recreational landings are allowed for U.S. fishermen. All commercial bycatch must be returned to the water. And no Atlantic billfish may be purchased, bartered, traded, or sold in any state.

This regulatory action also requires mandatory registration of all billfish tournaments. Regardless, of whether the fish is retained or caught and released. To register your tournament contact: NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center: Attn: Tournament Registration, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149. Registration must be in writing and completed four weeks prior to the start of the tournament. A tournament registration form is available by writing the above address or by requesting it via fax (305) 361-4219.

NMFS will be selecting some tournament operators to submit catch and effort records. Tournament operators who are selected are required to comply under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. If selected, the completed forms are to be mailed to: Southeast Fisheries Science Center, attn: Eric Prince, postmarked no later than the seventh day after the close of the tournament and a copy of tournament rules must be included.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting Buck Sutter at the MNFS Southeast Regional Office (813) 570-5447.
Source: Gulf Fishery News, Vol, 20, No. 1&2.

^* Maximum Sustainable Yield - The largest average catch that can be taken continuously from a stock under average environmental conditions.

LIMITED ENTRY IN THE RECREATIONAL FOR-HIRE BEING CONSIDERED

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) is considering whether there is a need to impose additional management measures limiting entry into the recreational for-hire fisheries in the Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Council is considering this measure because the recreational red snapper and king mackerel fisheries, including head/charter boat, frequently exceed their quota. To prevent this from happening the Council can either reduce the bag limits or take other measure to reduce effort and/or landings, e.g. seasonal closures, increased size limits, etc. Reducing a bag limit is the most effective way to control landing. However, for the head/charter boat business the economic impact is unfavorable. When bag limits are reduced, people stop paying for the opportunity to catch less fish. Therefore, the Council is considering limited entry, which is being supported by a portion of the recreational for-hire industry. The first step, will be the publishing of control dates.
Control dates are used to discourage new entry into a fishery.

The Council has asked the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) if highly migratory species (sharks, billfish, swordfish, and tuna) can be included in the control date notice. If NMFS indicates that they can not be included, then the Council, if it proceeds, will release a control date for the fisheries it manages.
Source: Gulf Fishery News, Vol. 20, No. 1&2.

NEW I.R.S. REPORTING REQUIREMENT

Congress recently passed a new law that requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to enforce new recording-keeping procedures for seafood buyers. The law is not complex but has some specific requirements.

The law requires that beginning January, 1998, that any person in the business of buying fish for resale and who purchases fish by cash from any commercial fishermen must keep records showing the date of purchase, the fishermen's name, address, and Tax Payer Identification Number (for most fishermen this is his social security number).

Also the amount of each cash purchase for each and every purchase must be recorded.

Cash is defined as U.S. or foreign coin or currency, a cashier's check, treasurer's check, bank draft, traveler's check, or money order. Basically, this is everything but a check written from the business or personal account of the buyer.

Fish is defined to include finfish, shellfish (such as oysters), crustaceans (such as crabs and shrimp), and "other forms of aquatic life." According to Joe Bruchis, District Director's Representative with the IRS, this definition includes alligators, frogs, and turtles and can even include nutria.

Beginning January 1, 1999, fish purchases must go through their records and send each person that they purchased more than $600 worth of fish in cash from, a Form 1099-Misc. By February 15, the purchaser must file the Form 1099-misc. With the IRS Service Center. Obviously good records are very important.

Anyone with questions should contact an IRS office.

Source: Lagniappe, Vol. 22, No. 5, May 1, 1998. Jerald Horst, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service/Louisiana Sea Grant College Program.

BIG CHANGES FOR MACKEREL

Over 20 changes in coastal migratory pelagic fish management have been announced by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The most detailed changes concern limited entry for commercial king mackerel fishermen.

King Mackerel Limited Entry

Earned Income Requirement for Mackerel Permits - At least 25 percent of an applicant's earned income, or at least $10,000, must have been derived from commercial fishing (harvest and first sale of fish), or from charter fishing, during one of the three calendar years preceding the application. These revised income requirements will be completely implemented by April 20, 1999. To obtain or renew a commercial king or Spanish mackerel permit prior to that date, at least 10 percent of an applicant's earned income must have been derived from commercial fishing during one of the three calendar years preceding the application. The implementation period from March 4, 1998 through April 30, 1999, will allow almost 14 months for applicants and renewals to meet the revised earned income requirements.

Moratorium on Commercial Permits for King Mackerel - Beginning March 4, 1998, NMFS will issue (renew) a commercial king mackerel permit only if the applicant was the owner of a vessel for which a commercial mackerel permit was issued prior to October 16, 1995. A permit for a vessel not meeting this moratorium criterion will be renewed only through April 30, 1999, provided the owner or an operator meet the earned income requirements. The moratorium will remain in effect through October 15, 2000.

A 90-day window is now in effect for the reactivation of expired commercial mackerel permits. An owner or operator who allowed a commercial mackerel permit to expire will have until June 2, 1998, to submit an application for renewal to the NMFS Regional Administrator. The application, must be postmarked or hand delivered not later than that date. The awarding of permits to these applicants will be based on the criteria established under the moratorium and the fishery management plan. No owner will be issued more initial commercial vessel permits for king mackerel than he held simultaneously at any given time on or before October 16, 1995. Also, an owner of a vessel issued a permit on or before that date and sold after that date retains the right to the commercial king mackerel permit, unless a written agreement has transferred such rights to the new owner. After June 2, 1998, NMFS will not accept any application other than renewals for a commercial king mackerel permit. Further, NMFS will not reissue a commercial king mackerel permit if it has been revoked or if the renewal application is received by the Regional Administrator more than one year after the permit's expiration date.

Commercial king mackerel permits my be transferred during the moratorium under established regulatory criteria. A permit may be transferred to another vessel owned by the same entity. An owner who is the income qualifier for a permit also may request NMFS to transfer such permit to the new owner of the vessel upon sale or transfer, or to the owner of another vessel. The recipient may renew the permit through April 15 following the first full calendar year (January - December) after transfer without meeting the earned income requirements. However, further renewal requires the vessel owner to meet the earned income requirements no later than the first calendar year after the permit transfer. The owner of a vessel with a permit that was issued based on the operator's income and is only valid when such operator is aboard may request NMFS to transfer the permit to that operator when such operator becomes an owner of a vessel.

Other Changes

The only authorized gear for king mackerel in Gulf federal waters is hook and line and run-around gillnet (with a minimum mesh size of 4 3/4 inches stretched). No king mackerel may be possessed on vessels with a drift gillnet or long gillnet (one over 1000 yards long). King mackerel may be possessed during open season on vessels with other types of unauthorized gear (such as shrimp trawls), as long as the gear is not used to directly fish for king mackerel. This would allow a shrimp trawler who also holds a mackerel permit to fish for both species in one trip.

A recreational limit of cobia, king, and Spanish mackerel may be taken as incidental catch with any gear except a drift gillnet or a long gillnet. For dolphins, cero, bluefish, and little tunny (commonly called bonita in the Gulf), all gear is considered authorized except drift gillnets and long gillnets.

Finally, some major changes were made in the fishery management plan for these species.

Allows the eastern and western Gulf of Mexico king mackerel subgroups to be combined when enough scientific information is available. Currently, regulations off Florida (eastern subgroup) are quite different than off of Louisiana (western subgroup).

Adds the ability to change overfishing levels, recommend more gear restrictions, recommend zero quotas and bag limits, recommend the closure of spawning seasons and areas, and recommend reopening of closed seasons of areas.

The target management level for the management for king mackerel in the Gulf is set at 30% SPR.
Source: Lagniappe, Vol. 22, No. 5, May 1, 1998. Jerald Horst, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service/Louisiana Sea Grant College Program.

Best regards,
John P. O'Connell
Marine Extension Agent
Calhoun County