Spatiotemporal Variability of Fishery‐Dependent Indices for the Declining Louisiana Southern Flounder Fishery

Abstract

In recent years, management agencies across the Gulf of Mexico and southern U.S. Atlantic have recognized Southern Flounder Paralichthys lethostigma as a declining fish stock. Population declines in coastal Louisiana are exhibited by indices of recruitment and biomass, which have reached levels that present management concerns. To develop a better understanding of this declining fishery, we examined fishery-dependent data collected by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' recreational angler harvest survey (referred to as "LA Creel"). Data were modeled using generalized additive models to estimate temporal components of recreational Southern Flounder landings in both seasonality and trend. Over the study period (2014-2019), recreational landings exhibited a declining trend statewide. Strong seasonal peaks in the fall occurred statewide and regionally in every coastal management zone (i.e., estuary). Understanding the current fishery with the fine-scale resolution provided by the LA Creel survey can be used to help guide future management decisions in the pursuit of a sustainable management strategy inclusive of fishery-dependent information.

Economic Values of Potential Regulation Changes for the Southern Flounder Fishery in Louisiana

“…Additionally, over half of respondents (57.3%) indicated that they did not know whether the Southern Flounder fishery has changed or stayed the same over the past 5 years. With the current abundance of Louisiana Southern Flounder at relatively low levels when compared to historic values (West et al 2020) and the amount of harvest within the recreational fishery declining in recent years (Smith et al 2021a), the decline over the past 5 years would seemingly be apparent for those targeting Southern Flounder. That this decline has gone unnoticed is likely due to the incidental nature of Southern Flounder targeting behaviors in coastal Louisiana.…”

“…2020) and the amount of harvest within the recreational fishery declining in recent years (Smith et al. 2021a), the decline over the past 5 years would seemingly be apparent for those targeting Southern Flounder. That this decline has gone unnoticed is likely due to the incidental nature of Southern Flounder targeting behaviors in coastal Louisiana.…”

“…Additionally, the application of a seasonal limitation within the fishery would also provide a harvest reduction due to the strong seasonality in recreational landings and targeting behaviors of coastal Louisiana anglers (Smith et al. 2021a). Finally, reducing the current creel limit would also provide a reduction in harvest, specifically among more avid anglers, who are more likely to maximize creel limits.…”

“…Setting a minimum size limit of 356 mm is a biologically defensible measure to improve recruitment levels in the Louisiana Southern Flounder fishery, as this size restriction is approximately the length at maturity for Louisiana Southern Flounder. Additionally, the application of a seasonal limitation within the fishery would also provide a harvest reduction due to the strong seasonality in recreational landings and targeting behaviors of coastal Louisiana anglers (Smith et al 2021a). Finally, reducing the current creel limit would also provide a reduction in harvest, specifically among more avid anglers, who are more likely to maximize creel limits.…”

Social media shines light on the “hidden” impact of nighttime guided-gigging charters on Texas’ Southern Flounder fishery: A stab in the dark

“…Southern Flounder ( Paralichthys lethostigma ) are an estuarine-dependent species best known for their late fall spawning migrations (October-December) and are among the most targeted fish in Texas marine waters [ 1 – 4 ]. Historically, Southern Flounder have supported an important multimillion-dollar commercial and recreational fishery along the Texas coast and the broader Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) [ 5 , 6 ]; however, the Gulf’s, especially Texas’, Southern Flounder populations have been in steady decline since the 1980s prompting numerous management revisions aimed at reducing harvest and effort in the fishery [ 7 – 9 ]. Despite these regulatory changes, Southern Flounder have continued to experience an overall decline [ 8 , 10 , 11 ].…”