Environmental Variability And Dolphinfish
Distributions On The West Coast
Current Status of Accomplishment or Milestone: The paper "Apparent Habitat Extensions Of Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) In Response To Climate Transients In The California Current" was published as part of a symposium volume: "Biology and Fishery of Dolphinfish and Related Species".
Background: In the eastern Pacific, dolphin are an important constituent of commercial and sport catch from northern Chile to southern California. Recreational anglers using commercial passenger fishing vessels (CPFV) from San Diego and Oceanside have found exceptional dolphin angling during several years of the last decade. During these recent years of availability to southern California anglers, the CPFV catch has exceeded all previous annual catch totals by 2-3 fold. This may be due, in part, to a greater fishing range and increased targeting on dolphin. However, it also appears that ocean climate trends are bringing dolphin habitat farther north, increasing availability to CPFV.
Purpose of Activity/Goal of Project: The purpose of the project is learn more about the distribution and seasonal movements of dolphin and their habitat off Mexico and Southern California.
Description of Accomplishment and Significant Results: Dolphin are a significant component of long-line and purse seine catches in the tropical Pacific and contribute to a world wide trade in high quality frozen fillets. They grow a meter length in the first year and begin batch spawning at 3-4 months.
Significance of Accomplishment (e.g., to the Center, to Management, and to NMFS Strategic plan Goals): If dolphin become consistently available off southern California as a consequence of climate warming or other factors, it is likely that commercial fisheries will develop. In this case conflicts are likely to arise between sport and commercial fishers, as they have in Hawaii. If conflicts develop and management is needed, studies like this will provide background for management.
Problems: None
Key Contact: Jerry Norton (831-648-9031, jnorton@pfeg.noaa.gov)