| Weakfish,
Cynoscion regalis, have supported fisheries along the
Atlantic coast since at least the 1800s. Fisheries from Massachusetts
though Florida have generally followed the stock on its annual
north-south migrations and to its wintering grounds. However,
in recent years, commercial and recreational fishermen alike have
had increasing trouble landing weakfish. In 2006, total weakfish
harvest reached an all time low of less than 2 million pounds.
For comparison, total weakfish harvest was greater than 31 million
pounds in 1986.
The apparent
decline in abundance was supported by the results of the 2006
weakfish stock assessment. However, the assessment found that,
concurrent with the decline in abundance, fishing mortality had
not increased. Instead, total mortality—fishing mortality
plus natural mortality—had increased. The leading theory
suggests that increased predation on weakfish and reduced forage
fish for weakfish have caused natural mortality to increase, although
other hypotheses may not have been fully examined.
Weakfish are
currently managed under Amendment 4, and its addenda, to the Interstate
Fishery Management Plan. States in the management unit have implemented
regulations to achieve the biological reference points established
in Amendment 4. State commercial regulations include a minimum
size limit, corresponding mesh size limits, seasonal closures,
bycatch reduction devices, and a bycatch limit. Recreational regulations
include creel and size limits. Responding to the recent decline
in abundance, the Commission also approved an addendum in 2007
to implement more conservative recreational creel limits, a reduced
bycatch allowance, and two management triggers to initiate management
action when the stock begins to recover. <species
profile> <stock
status> <commercial
and recreational landings> <state
regulations> <habitat
fact sheet>
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