Weakfish

Cynoscion regalis

Sometimes known as Grey Trout, Northern Seatrout or Squeteague.

This species is wild-caught.

Summary

Weakfish support important commercial and recreational fisheries along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. They are quick to mature and highly prized for their their taste by seafood lovers and for their strong fighting behavior by anglers. Weakfish recovered from being overfished in the early 1990s and are currently at a high level of abundance.

These fish contain levels of mercury or PCBs that may pose a health risk to adults and children. Please refer to www.EnvironmentalDefense.org/seafood for more details.

Criterion	Points
Life History	3.00
Abundance	2.75
Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts	2.25
Management	3.00
Bycatch	2.50
Final Score (average of criteria)	2.70
Color

Final Score	Color
2.60 - 4.00
2.20 - 2.59
1.80 - 2.19
1.40 - 1.79
0.00 - 1.39

Last updated January 9, 2006.

Life History

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

If a value for intrinsic rate of increase (‘r’) is known, assign the score below based on this value. If no r-value is available, assign the score below for the correct age at 50% maturity for females if specified, or for the correct value of growth rate ('k'). If no estimates of r, age at 50% maturity, or k are available, assign the score below based on maximum age.

1.00	Intrinsic rate of increase <0.05; OR age at 50% maturity >10 years; OR growth rate <0.15; OR maximum age >30 years.
2.00	Intrinsic rate of increase = 0.05-0.15; OR age at 50% maturity = 5-10 years; OR a growth rate = 0.16–0.30; OR maximum age = 11-30 years.
3.00	Intrinsic rate of increase >0.16; OR age at 50% maturity = 1-5 years; OR growth rate >0.30; OR maximum age <11 years. Intrinsic rate of increase is unknown. Ninety percent of Weakfish are mature by age 1 (ASMFC 2002). Weakfish live at least 17-18 years, but there have been reports of large, un-aged fish that were probably older (ASMFC 2002).

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	Species has special behaviors that make it especially vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., spawning aggregations; site fidelity; segregation by sex; migratory bottlenecks; unusual attraction to gear; etc.).
-0.25	Species has a strategy for sexual development that makes it especially vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., age at 50% maturity >20 years; sequential hermaphrodites; extremely low fecundity).
-0.25	Species has a small or restricted range (e.g., endemism; numerous evolutionarily significant units; restricted to one coastline; e.g., American lobster; striped bass; endemic reef fishes). Weakfish are found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries from Nova Scotia to northern Florida (Fishbase, 10/21/2004). We consider this to be a small range, in comparison with species that are distributed throughout entire oceans or worldwide.
-0.25	Species exhibits high natural population variability driven by broad–scale environmental change (e.g., El Nino; decadal oscillations).

+0.25	Species does not have special behaviors that increase ease or population consequences of capture OR has special behaviors that make it less vulnerable to fishing pressure (e.g., species is widely dispersed during spawning).
+0.25	Species has a strategy for sexual development that makes it especially resilient to fishing pressure (e.g., age at 50% maturity <1 year; extremely high fecundity). Weakfish are batch spawners, meaning that females continuously produce eggs and release them over a period of time. This spawning strategy frees the Weakfish population from relying on the spawning success within one short season or at one spawning area. Spawning occurs from March through September, peaking in April to June (ASMFC 2002).
+0.25	Species is distributed over a very wide range (e.g., throughout an entire hemisphere or ocean basin; e.g., swordfish; tuna; Patagonian toothfish).
+0.25	Species does not exhibit high natural population variability driven by broad-scale environmental change (e.g., El Nino; decadal oscillations).

3.00	Points for Life History

Abundance

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

Compared to natural or un-fished level, the species population is:

1.00

Low: Abundance or biomass is <75% of BMSY or similar proxy (e.g., spawning potential ratio).

2.00

Medium: Abundance or biomass is 75–125% of BMSY or similar proxy; OR population is approaching or recovering from an overfished condition; OR adequate information on abundance or biomass is not available.

3.00

High: Abundance or biomass is >125% of BMSY or similar proxy.

Weakfish are at a high level of abundance. In 2002, managers estimated that spawning stock biomass (SSB) was greater than 49,800 mt, well above the SSB threshold of 14,000 mt. A new stock assessment, due in November 2004, will state that biomass has been stable since 2002 (B. Spear, pers. comm. 10/18/2004).

Despite measures of high abundance, commercial and recreational Weakfish landings have recently declined. We chose to award 3 points here, because managers are currently unsure how to interpret the decline in landings and the simultaneous stability of population biomass indices (L. Daniel, pers. comm., 11/1/2004). The score will be revisited when the next stock assessment is released at the end of 2004.

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	The population is declining over a generational time scale (as indicated by biomass estimates or standardized CPUE).
-0.25	Age, size or sex distribution is skewed relative to the natural condition (e.g., truncated size/age structure or anomalous sex distribution). When the Weakfish population was last assessed in 2002, the proportion of age 6 or older fish was 6.8% of the total population, which managers considered skewed. It was an improvement, however, over the age structure during the 1980s and 90s. In 1982, the proportion of individuals ages 6 and above was 1.0% of the total Weakfish population. This number reached a low in 1990 at 0.3% of the population. Managers hope to see the proportion of age 6+ fish rise to 8.5% of the population (ASMFC 2002).
-0.25	Species is listed as “overfished” OR species is listed as “depleted”, “endangered”, or “threatened” by recognized national or international bodies. This species is not currently overfished.
-0.25	Current levels of abundance are likely to jeopardize the availability of food for other species or cause substantial change in the structure of the associated food web.

+0.25	The population is increasing over a generational time scale (as indicated by biomass estimates or standardized CPUE). From 1993-2000, Weakfish spawning stock biomass more than quadrupled from it's former level, which was below the biomass threshold (ASMFC 2003). Although biomass is still high, we choose not to award points because of recent declines in Weakfish landings.
+0.25	Age, size or sex distribution is functionally normal.
+0.25	Species is close to virgin biomass.
+0.25	Current levels of abundance provide adequate food for other predators or are not known to affect the structure of the associated food web.

2.75	Points for Abundance

Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

Select the option that most accurately describes the effect of the fishing method upon the habitat that it affects.

1.00	The fishing method causes great damage to physical and biogenic habitats (e.g., cyanide; blasting; bottom trawling; dredging).
2.00	The fishing method does moderate damage to physical and biogenic habitats (e.g., bottom gillnets; traps and pots; bottom longlines). Commercial Weakfish fisheries primarily employ sink gillnets, but also use pound nets, haul seines and mid-water trawls (B. Spear, pers. comm., 10/18/04; ASFMC 2002). Currently the gillnet fishery lands twice the amount of Weakfish than the trawl fishery (ASMFC 2003).
3.00	The fishing method does little damage to physical or biogenic habitats (e.g., hand picking; hand raking; hook and line; pelagic long lines; mid-water trawl or gillnet; purse seines).

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	Habitat for this species is so compromised from non-fishery impacts that the ability of the habitat to support this species is substantially reduced (e.g., dams; pollution; coastal development).
-0.25	Critical habitat areas (e.g., spawning areas) for this species are not protected by management using time/area closures, marine reserves, etc.
-0.25	No efforts are being made to minimize damage from existing gear types OR new or modified gear is increasing habitat damage (e.g., fitting trawls with roller rigs or rockhopping gear; more robust gear for deep-sea fisheries).
-0.25	If gear impacts are substantial, resilience of affected habitats is very slow (e.g., deep water corals; rocky bottoms).

+0.25	Habitat for this species remains robust and viable and is capable of supporting this species.
+0.25	Critical habitat areas (e.g., spawning areas) for this species are protected by management using time/area closures, marine reserves, etc. Coastal zone management and trawl-free areas in estuaries protect nursery habitats of Weakfish. In North Carolina, Weakfish nursery areas are protected with time/area closures throughout the sounds and estuaries. Other states forbid trawling operations in estuaries that serve as nursery habitats for Weakfish (L. Daniel, pers. comm., 11/1/2004).
+0.25	Gear innovations are being implemented over a majority of the fishing area to minimize damage from gear types OR no innovations necessary because gear effects are minimal.
+0.25	If gear impacts are substantial, resilience of affected habitats is fast (e.g., mud or sandy bottoms) OR gear effects are minimal.

2.25	Points for Habitat Quality and Fishing Gear Impacts

Management

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

Select the option that most accurately describes the current management of the fisheries of this species.

1.00	Regulations are ineffective (e.g., illegal fishing or overfishing is occurring) OR the fishery is unregulated (i.e., no control rules are in effect).
2.00	Management measures are in place over a major portion over the species’ range but implementation has not met conservation goals OR management measures are in place but have not been in place long enough to determine if they are likely to achieve conservation and sustainability goals.
3.00	Substantial management measures are in place over a large portion of the species range and have demonstrated success in achieving conservation and sustainability goals. Weakfish management has successfully allowed the Weakfish population to recover from being overfished in the early 1990s. Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management Plan for Weakfish (ASFMC 1996) required reduced fishing mortality and resulted in increased population biomass and a less skewed age structure. These substantive management strategies caused the fishing mortality rate to decline from a high of 2.52 in 1994 to 0.12 in 2000 (ASMFC 2003).

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	There is inadequate scientific monitoring of stock status, catch or fishing effort. There are no biological data collected from commercial landings north of Delaware, which is problematic because the Weakfish that occur at the northern extent of their range tend to be the larger, older fish. The lack of necessary samples from northern waters prevents managers from accurately assessing the size and age distributions of Weakfish and from delineating separate spawning populations (L. Daniel, pers. comm., 11/1/2004; ASMFC 2002, 2003). Also, more research is needed to determine why Weakfish landings have declined recently in areas with traditionally high Weakfish abundances (L. Daniel, pers. comm., 11/1/2004).
-0.25	Management does not explicitly address fishery effects on habitat, food webs, and ecosystems.
-0.25	This species is overfished and no recovery plan or an ineffective recovery plan is in place.
-0.25	Management has failed to reduce excess capacity in this fishery or implements subsidies that result in excess capacity in this fishery.

+0.25	There is adequate scientific monitoring, analysis and interpretation of stock status, catch and fishing effort.
+0.25	Management explicitly and effectively addresses fishery effects on habitat, food webs, and ecosystems.
+0.25	This species is overfished and there is a recovery plan (including benchmarks, timetables and methods to evaluate success) in place that is showing signs of success OR recovery plan is not needed. This species is no longer overfished (ASMFC 2002), and, therefore, a recovery plan is not needed.
+0.25	Management has taken action to control excess capacity or reduce subsidies that result in excess capacity OR no measures are necessary because fishery is not overcapitalized.

3.00	Points for Management

Bycatch

Core Points (only one selection allowed)

Select the option that most accurately describes the current level of bycatch and the consequences that result from fishing this species.

The term, "bycatch” used in this document excludes incidental catch of a species for which an adequate management framework exists.

The terms, “endangered, threatened, or protected,” used in this document refer to species status that is determined by national legislation such as the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (or another nation's equivalent), the IUCN Red List, or a credible scientific body such as the American Fisheries Society.

1.00

Bycatch in this fishery is high (>100% of targeted landings), OR regularly includes a “threatened, endangered or protected species.”

2.00

Bycatch in this fishery is moderate (10-99% of targeted landings) AND does not regularly include “threatened, endangered or protected species” OR level of bycatch is unknown.

Bycatch discard mortality of undersized and non-marketable Weakfish and other species in Weakfish fisheries is low, but exact measures of bycatch are unknown (L. Daniel, pers. comm., 11/1/2004). Most fish captured incidentally in the directed Weakfish fisheries are landed. Managers are most concerned about bycatch of undersized Weakfish in other fisheries.

Although there are marine mammal and sea turtle interactions with Atlantic commercial gillnet fisheries, Weakfish is not the target species of the gillnet fisheries implicated in injuring or killing threatened, endangered, or protected species (ASMFC 2002).

3.00

Bycatch in this fishery is low (<10% of targeted landings) and does not regularly include "threatened, endangered or protected species."

Points of Adjustment (multiple selections allowed)

-0.25	Bycatch in this fishery is a contributing factor to the decline of “threatened, endangered, or protected species" and no effective measures are being taken to reduce it.
-0.25	Bycatch of targeted or non-targeted species (e.g., undersize individuals) in this fishery is high and no measures are being taken to reduce it.
-0.25	Bycatch of this species (e.g., undersize individuals) in other fisheries is high OR bycatch of this species in other fisheries inhibits its recovery, and no measures are being taken to reduce it.
-0.25	The continued removal of the bycatch species contributes to its decline.

+0.25	Measures taken over a major portion of the species range have been shown to reduce bycatch of “threatened, endangered, or protected species” or bycatch rates are no longer deemed to affect the abundance of the “protected” bycatch species OR no measures needed because fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear).
+0.25	There is bycatch of targeted (e.g., undersize individuals) or non-targeted species in this fishery and measures (e.g., gear modifications) have been implemented that have been shown to reduce bycatch over a large portion of the species range OR no measures are needed because fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear). Directed Weakfish fisheries must use mesh sizes that retain less than 25% of Weakfish under 12 inches long. The implementation of this and other regulations lowered the mortality of Weakfish age 0-1 and helped the population rebound from an overfished condition in the late 1990s (ASMFC 2002).
+0.25	Bycatch of this species in other fisheries is low OR bycatch of this species in other fisheries inhibits its recovery, but effective measures are being taken to reduce it over a large portion of the range. Shrimp trawlers take considerable amounts of juvenile Weakfish. Managers now require the installation of Bycatch Reduction Devices on shrimp trawl nets, which reduce the bycatch number of Weakfish by 40% and the bycatch mortality by 50%. Fishers targeting other species may possess no more than 300 lbs. of Weakfish per trip. If they exceed this limit, they become subject to the strict Weakfish fishery regulations. These gear modifications and trip limits have reduced bycatch of juvenile Weakfish in other fisheries, and managers credit them as being a major factor in the recovery of Weakfish populations (ASMFC 2002).
+0.25	The continued removal of the bycatch species in the targeted fishery has had or will likely have little or no impact on populations of the bycatch species OR there are no significant bycatch concerns because the fishery is highly selective (e.g., harpoon; spear).

2.50	Points for Bycatch

References

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). 2003. 2003 Fishery Management Plan Review for Weakfish.

ASMFC. 2002. Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Weakfish.

ASMFC. 1996. Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Weakfish.

Fishbase. Accessed on 11/1/2004 at http://www.fishbase.org.

Daniel, L. Personal communication, 11/1/2004.

Spear, B. Personal communication, 10/18/2004.