Draft Shrimp FMP SAFE Report
Council Staff
2024-3-14
1 Introduction
This draft report summarizes information for species in the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP) of the South Atlantic Region. Each FMP is required to have a stock assessment and fishery evaluation (SAFE) report. SAFE reports include information useful documenting trends or changes in the resource, ecosystem, and fishery; and assessing success of relevant state and federal FMPs, all of which can help in developing future management changes if they are needed. Information included in the report describes stock status, catch level recommendations, projections (when available), landings and releases by sector (where available), social and economic trends by sector, and essential fish habitat. The information included will describe the fishery since the Shrimp FMP has been enacted (November 1993) and go through 2022. The focus of the draft report is on White Shrimp and Rock Shrimp to be used in the development of a fishery performance report and modify the SAFE report based on input from the AP. Fishery performance reports are important tools to gather perspectives from stakeholders. White shrimp and Rock Shrimp were selected as species for the first fishery performance reports for the Shrimp FMP because of the potential changing distribution of White Shrimp along the coast and the variability in the Rock Shrimp catches in recent years.
Data for this report are pulled from multiple sources including:
- NMFS Southeast Regional Office’s ACL Monitoring webpage,
- Atlantic Coast Cooperative Statistics Program,
- SAFMC’s Essential Fish Habitat Mapper, and
- past and ongoing amendments.
1.1 Stock Status Criteria and Fishing Level Recommendations
Below is the criteria to evaluate the stock status for Shrimp by species Table 1.1.
| Species | Criteria | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Brown Shrimp | Overfished Evaluation - 3 consecutive years below 2,946,157 pounds (heads on) | |
| Brown Shrimp | Overfishing Evaluation - fishing mortality rate that diminishes the stock below the designated MSY stock abundance (BMSY) for two consecutive years. | |
| Brown Shrimp | Optimum Yield - amount of harvest that will not result in 3 consecutive years below 2,946,157 pounds (heads on) | |
| Brown Shrimp | MFMT (FMSY) - fishing mortality rate that diminishes the stock below the designated MSY stock abundance (BMSY) for two consecutive years | |
| Brown Shrimp | SSBMSY (mt) | |
| Brown Shrimp | MSST - (a) if the stock diminishes to 50% MSY abundance (50% BMSY) in one year, or (b) if the stock is diminished below MSY abundance (BMSY) for two consecutive years. A proxy for BMSY was established for each species using CPUE information from SEAMAP-SA data as the lowest values in the 1990-2003 time period that produced catches meeting MSY the following year. Brown shrimp = 2.000 individuals per hectare. | |
| Brown Shrimp | MSY - | 9.2 million pounds |
| Pink Shrimp | Overfished - CPUE in SEAMAP-SA below 0.089 individuals per hectare | |
| Pink Shrimp | Overfishing Evaluation - fishing mortality rate that diminishes the stock below the designated MSY stock abundance (BMSY) for two consecutive years. | |
| Pink Shrimp | Optimum Yield - amount of harvest that will not result in landings less than 286,293 pounds heads on for three consecutive years | |
| Pink Shrimp | MFMT (FMSY) - fishing mortality rate that diminishes the stock below the designated MSY stock abundance (BMSY) for two consecutive years | |
| Pink Shrimp | SSBMSY (mt) | |
| Pink Shrimp | MSST - (a) if the stock diminishes to 50% MSY abundance (50% BMSY) in one year, or (b) if the stock is diminished below MSY abundance (BMSY) for two consecutive years. A proxy for BMSY (0.089 individuals per hectare) in the SEAMAP-SA CPUE trawl survey | |
| Pink Shrimp | MSY - | 1.8 million pounds |
| Rock Shrimp | Overfished Evaluation - if population falls below the MSST | |
| Rock Shrimp | Overfishing Evaluation - landings exceeding MFMT | |
| Rock Shrimp | Optimum Yield - 4.912927 million pounds heads on | |
| Rock Shrimp | MFMT (FMSY) - landings exceed 14,687,775 for two consecutive years | |
| Rock Shrimp | SSBMSY (mt) | |
| Rock Shrimp | MSST - parent stock size less than 50% Bmsy for two consecutive years | |
| Rock Shrimp | MSY | 4.912927 million pounds heads on |
| White Shrimp | Overfished Evaluation - Overwintering CPUE in state assessment trawling declines by 80% | |
| White Shrimp | Overfishing Evaluation - fishing mortality rate that diminishes the stock below the designated MSY stock abundance (BMSY) for two consecutive years and MSST is established with two thresholds: (a) if the stock diminishes to 50% MSY abundance ( 50% BMSY) in one year, or (b) if the stock is diminished below MSY abundance (BMSY) for two consecutive years. | |
| White Shrimp | Optimum Yield - amount of harvest that can be taken by the U.S. fishery during the fishing season which may vary from year to year based on both state regulations and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Shrimp FMP | |
| White Shrimp | MFMT (FMSY) - fishing mortality rate that diminishes the stock below the designated MSY stock abundance (BMSY) for two consecutive years and MSST is established with two thresholds: (a) if the stock diminishes to 50% MSY abundance (50% BMSY) in one year, or (b) if the stock is diminished below MSY abundance (BMSY) for two consecutive years. | |
| White Shrimp | SSBMSY (mt) | |
| White Shrimp | MSST - (a) if the stock diminishes to 50% MSY abundance (50% BMSY) in one year, or (b) if the stock is diminished below MSY abundance (BMSY) for two consecutive years. A proxy for BMSY was established for white shrimp using CPUE information from SEAMAP data as the lowest values in the 1990-2003 time period that produced catches meeting MSY the following year. White shrimp = 5.868 individuals per hectare. | |
| White Shrimp | MSY | 14.5 million pounds |
Fishing level recommendations (OFLs, ABCs, and ACLs) are not available for federally managed shrimp species due short life span (Table 1.2).
| Species | Year | OFL | ABC (lbs ww) | Discard OFL | Discard ABC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Shrimp | 2024 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Pink Shrimp | 2024 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Rock Shrimp | 2024 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| White Shrimp | 2024 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
1.2 Assessment Information
There is not a peer-reviewed stock assessment for shrimp in the South Atlantic region and the Council has not adopted an overfishing limit for the stocks.
1.3 Recent or Upcoming Management Changes
Few changes have occurred in the management of Shrimp in federal waters since 2014 (Table 1.3). Only two amendments were approved by the Council over the past 10 years and Coral 10 was dissapproved by NOAA Fisheries (would allow for Shrimp Access Area on the eastern edge of the Oculina Habitat Area of Particular Concern).
| Date | Council Document | Management Change |
|---|---|---|
| 7/7/2014 | Amendment 10 | Comprehensive Dealer Reporting. Modified permitting and reporting requirements for seafood dealers receiving federally managed species. |
| 11/23/2020 | Amendment 11 | Modified transit provisions for cold-weather closed areas for brown, pink, and white shrimp fishery. |
1.4 Fishery and Population Trends
Commercial landings of shrimp (Brown, Pink, Rock, and white) decreased from the 1990s to 2013 (Figure 1.1). then landings increased from 2013 to 2017. Since the landings have ranged from under 20 to 25 million pounds.
The number of trips, dealers, and fishers decreased from highs in the late 1990s or early 2002 to lows in 2022 (Figure 1.2). Over the past 10 years the number of trips and fishers have decreased faster than in the previous 10 year period.
Figure 1.1: Combined landings of federally managed shrimp from 1994 to 2022 .
Figure 1.2: Number of trips (A) and number of dealers and fishers (B) landing Shrimp from 1994 to 2021.
2 White Shrimp
White Shrimp, Penaeus setiferus, range from Fire Island, New York to St. Lucie Inlet on the Atlantic Coast of Florida. Along the Atlantic Coast of the U.S., the White Shrimp has centers of abundance in South Carolina, Georgia, and northeast Florida but have been expanding their range northward based on new shrimp fisheries starting off Virginia and Maryland. White Shrimp are generally found on muddy bottoms concentrated in waters less than 90 feet. White Shrimp are more active during daylight hours.
All penaeid shrimp undergo 11 larval stages in coastal waters with the period for White Shrimp being 10 to 12 days. The mechanism for larval recruitment to the estuaries is not fully understood, but most likely involves nearshore tidal currents moving the larvae into the estuaries. Juveniles are typically found in small creeks of the estuaries with growth rates of up to 0.09 inches per day (South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 1996). Sub-adults migrate to the sounds, with an offshore migration of mature adults (> 4 1/2 inches) typically occurring between April and June, with spawning occurring within a few miles of the coast at temperatures above 72\(^\circ\) F.
White Shrimp abundance is driven primarily by environmental conditions (water temperature) and can fluctuate seasonal. White Shrimp is the largest shrimp fishery in Atlantic waters off the southeastern U.S., with a roe season in the spring, the bulk of the harvest in the fall, and an overwintering fishery (usually in federal waters > 3nm).
Trend in Abundance
Multiple fishery-independent surveys collect White Shrimp. This report includes the SEAMAP Coastal Trawl Survey that occurs from Cape Hatteras, NC to Cape Canaveral, FL. The survey occurs seasonally from mid-April to mid-November in depths 15 to 30 feet using paired 75 foot mongoose trawls towed for 20 minutes. White Shrimp abundance in the Coastal Trawl Survey has increased over the past 10 years. Three years out of the past 10 were below the average from 1990 to 2022 and four years had abundances that were at least 2 times the average.
The abundance of White Shrimp is impacted by several variables. Overwintering temperature has a negative impact on the population and is the reason for cold weather closure in federal waters. Schlenker et al. (2023) found the abundance of adult White Shrimp in the Pamlico Sound was impacted by the spring abundance off the North Carolina shelf in the SEAMAP survey and the previous winter north windstress. Similarly, Lam et al (1989) indicated that the spring commercial landings helped to predict the landings for the following year. Studies in the spring, either a survey or fishery data, may be useful to predict abundance of adult White Shrimp in the fall and winter in years and areas not heavily impacted by hurricanes.
Figure 2.1: pick a plot Index of abundance for White Shrimp based on the SEAMAP South Atlantic Coastal Trawl Survey from Cape Hatteras, NC to Cape Canaveral, FL. The gray area is the 95% confidence interval and blue straight line is the 10 year trend line.
2.1 Fishery and Population Trends
Commercial landings of White Shrimp have fluctuated from 1994 to 2012 and then dropped in 2013 (Figure 2.2). Since 2013 landings of White Shrimp has generally increased with 2019 being the second highest landings value over the time series. Since landings have decreased.
The number of trips, dealers, and fishers has generally decreased from highs in 2004 (Figure 2.3). The number of trips has dropped substantially in the last 10 years with 2018, 2019, and 2022 being the lowest during that time period. The number of dealers and fishers was lowest in 2022 with a persistent decrease over the past 20 years.
The White Shrimp fishery has two periods of landings (Figure 2.4). The spring roe shrimp fishery in May and June and fall fishery that typically starts in September. The fall fishery will sometimes continue into the following January but typically decreasing by December.
Figure 2.2: Combined landings of White Shrimp from 1994 to 2022. The blue straight line is a 10 year trend line.
Figure 2.3: Number of trips (A) and number of dealers and fishers (B) landing White Shrimp from 1994 to 2022.
Figure 2.4: Landings of White Shrimp by month from 1994 to 2022 and state of landings as reported in ACCSP.
2.2 Economic Trends
Proxies for economic trends in the commercial fishery for White Shrimp are ex-vessel value for the commercial fishery and price per pound. The values are given in annual values (values reported that year) and inflation adjusted values based on prices in 2022 (this allows for comparison of prices over time by accounting for inflation). The ex-vessel value or trip revenue has generally increased from 2009 to current (Figure 2.5)A.). In 2022, the trip revenue dropped substantially from 2021 and 2022 revenue.
Price per pound dropped from over $5 per pound based on inflation adjusted values in the late 1990s to under $3 per pound in the mid 2000s (Figure 2.5)B.. Similar patterns were seen in the price at the docks for the given year. Since 2014 the price per pound based on the inflation adjusted values has dropped from around $4 per pound to the lowest at in the timeseries in 2022 (under $2.50 per pound). The price at the dock in the 10 years has been more stable ranging between $2.50 and $3.50 per pound.
Figure 2.5: A. Ex-vessel value of White Shrimp for the commercial fishery from 1994 to 2022.
B. Price per pound. The dashed lines are the annual dollar values and solid line is the inflation adjusted values based on 2022 values. The blue line in both plots is the 10 year trend line based on inflation adjusted values.
3 Rock Shrimp
Rock Shrimp, Sicyonia brevirostris, are found in the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Atlantic waters off the southeastern U.S. to Virginia. The center of abundance and the concentrated commercial fishery for Rock Shrimp in the south Atlantic region occurs off northeast Florida south to Jupiter Inlet. Their habitat is limited, usually associated with terrigenous and biogenic sand substrates and only sporadically on mud. Rock Shrimp also utilize hard-bottom and coral, more specifically Oculina, habitat areas. The largest concentrations are found between 80 to 215 feet but have been found to depths of 650 feet.
Female Rock Shrimp attain sexual maturity at about 3/4 inches carapace length (CL), and all males are mature by 1 inche CL. The spawning season for Rock Shrimp is variable with a peak beginning between November and January and lasting 3 months. Individual females may spawn three or more times in one season. The development from egg to postlarvae takes approximately one month, with subsequent development to the smallest mode of recruits occurring in two to three months. The major larval transport mechanism is the shelf current systems near Cape Canaveral, Florida with recruitment to the offshore waters of Cape Canaveral between April and August.
Rates of growth in Rock Shrimp are variable and depend on factors such as season, water temperature, shrimp density, size, and sex. Rock Shrimp grow between 0.08 and 0.12 inches CL per month ( 2 to 3 millimeters) as juveniles and 0.02 inches CL per month as adults (0.5 - 0.6 millimeters).
Rock Shrimp are bottom feeders, most active at night, with a diet primarily of mollusks, crustaceans, and polychaete worms.
Trend in Abundance
A fisher-independent survey is not available for Rock Shrimp. Fishery-dependent data can be used to develop catch per unit effort (CPUE) for each year and by area to provide insight into Rock Shrimp population. Fishery-dependent data may be subject to potential biases due to the non-random nature of fisheries. Fishermen tend to target the species in areas where there is highest abundance. In these areas, the population may appear stable even though there has been a reduction in the population.
A simple CPUE is developed by taking the average of landings for each year. Because the fishery is a small fishery some of the data may be confidential, the data is scaled to a value of 1 by dividing by the overall mean. The CPUE flucuated around the mean from 1994 to 2012. Since the CPUE has increased with 2022 having the highest CPUE in the time series (Figure 3.1).
Figure 3.1: Catch per trip of Rock Shrimp from 1994 to 2022 based on the landings per trip reported in ACCSP.
3.1 Fishery and Population Trends
Commercial landings of Rock Shrimp generally decreased from the mid-1990s to mid-2000s (1996 is not displayed due to the very high value (over 20 million pounds and not being able to changes in the other years) (Figure 3.2). From 2013 to 2022 there has been an increase in the landings in the fishery.
At the peak in the fishery there were over 700 trips per year landing Rock Shrimp. Since 2010, there have been less than 100 trips reports for Rock Shrimp. The number of dealers and fishers peaked in 1996 with 47 dealers and 144 fishers (Figure 2.3). Since 2010, there has been less than 10 dealers and 30 fishers.
The Rock Shrimp fishery tends to peak August through October (Figure 3.4). Since 2010, most landings occurred from August to October. NOTE: Some monthly data were removed due to confidentiality.
Figure 3.2: Landings of Rock Shrimp off the Atlantic Coast from 1994 to 2022 . Due to the high landings in 1996 (>20 million pounds) a zoomed in plot is provided on the left to better see changes in more recent years.
Figure 3.3: Number of trips (A) and number of dealers and fishers (B) landing Rock Shrimp from 1994 to 2022.
Figure 3.4: Landings of Rock Shrimp by month from 1997 to 2022 as reported in ACCSP. The plotting of the time series starts at 1997 due to the high landings in 1996. The scale is kept the same to allow for seeing changes overtime and 1996 increases the y-axis and annual changes cannot be observed.
3.2 Economic Trends
Proxies for economic trends in the commercial fishery for Rock Shrimp are ex-vessel value for the commercial fishery and price per pound. The values are given in annual values (values reported that year) and inflation adjusted values based on prices in 2022 (this allows for comparison of prices over time by accounting for inflation). The ex-vessel value or trip revenue generally decreased from 1994 to 2003 (Figure 3.5)A.). Since, the ex-vessel value has stabilized. The trip revenue in 2021 and 2022 were two of the higher trips revenues in the past 20 years.
The inflation adjusted price per pound has varied between $1.50 and $3.00 per pound. The price at the dock (annual value) generally increased from 1994 to 2014 (Figure 3.5)B.. Since 2013, inflation adjusted price per pound has decreased from over $3.50 per pound to under $2.00 per pound in 2022.
Figure 3.5: A. Ex-vessel value of White Shrimp for the commercial fishery from 1994 to 2022.
B. Price per pound. The dashed lines are the annual dollar values and solid line is the inflation adjusted values based on 2022 values. The blue line in both plots is the 10 year trend line based on inflation adjusted values.
5 References
Lam CF, JD Whitaker, FS Lee. 1989. Model for White Shrimp Landings for the Central Coast of South Carolina. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 9: 12–22. https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8675(1989)009<0012:MFWSLF>2.3.CO;2
Schlenker, LS, C. Stewart, J. Rock, N. Heck, JW Morley. 2023. Environmental and climate variability drive population size of annual penaeid shrimp in a large lagoonal estuary. Plos One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285498
2.3 Social Trends
One proxy for social trends for White Shrimp is sector closures which effect fishing opportunities (Table 3.1). While the negative effects of seasonal closures are usually short-term, if closures persist, they may induce indirect effects through changes in fishing behavior or business operations that could have long-term social effects, such as increased pressure on another species, or fishermen having to stop fishing altogether due to regulatory closures. There have been two closures for White Shrimp due to cold weather closures.
A Fishery Performance Report for White Shrimp is being developed at this meeting and will be included in a future report.