Fishing and Shellfish Industry of the Gulf of Mexico

5045 Words21 Pages
------------------------------------------------- Getting hooked ------------------------------------------------- Getting hooked An overview of the fishing and shellfish industry in the Gulf of Mexico An overview of the fishing and shellfish industry in the Gulf of Mexico Introduction As the world’s 9th largest body of water, the Gulf of Mexico encompasses an area more than 1.5 million sq. km (Martin et al., 1978), spanning from the Western coast of Florida to the tip Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and the Northern coast of Cuba. From the Purse Seiners to Trawlers, the fishing and shellfish industry has been the economic cornerstone for local Gulf Coast communities. The many threats to this sensitive ecosystem nearly collapsed the very industry the states depend on. Regulations and policy have aided in the recovery of many species. However, additional regulation, focusing on sustainable management and practices, will become extremely essential in the face of globalization and climate change. This report includes a comprehensive review of the fishing and shellfish industry of the Gulf Coast with emphasis on the anthropogenic affects threating the region. Historical Fisheries The record of commercial fishing dates back to 1758 when France settled Louisiana (gulfsource.org). Coastal colonists thrived off of the gulfs bounty of: Shrimp, oysters, crabs, and shorefish. The warm water ecosystem was abundant and by the middle of the century the Gulf supported the United States entre supply of shrimp, a third of its crab, and a fourth of its oysters (Carson, 1944). Other select fishes that are ample in the region include: red snapper, Spanish mackerel and pompano (Carson, 1944). By the 1940’s, the region had only developed 5 major fisheries: menhaden, shrimp, mullet, crab, and oyster industries (Carson, 1944). Although these numbers sound substantial,

More about Fishing and Shellfish Industry of the Gulf of Mexico

Open Document