Mobilizing the fishing industry to address data gaps created by shifting species distribution

Globally, climate change is inducing range shifts and expansions for numerous species. For commercially exploited species, such as those in directed fisheries, this can cause issues with management jurisdictions the species shift expand into areas at levels previously unseen. The black sea bass ( Centropristis striata) fishery has rapidly expanded northern Atlantic. Over past decade commercial landings have more than doubled New England Mid-Atlantic regions. This increase related to a northward species’ center of biomass expansion. There crucial need increased data range. Oftentimes, large-scale fisheries collection limited by available resources difficulty collecting at-sea. Citizen science, fishing industry-based Research Fleets, represent cost-effective option help overcome these limitations allow rapid large amounts data. Commercial Fisheries Foundation Rhode Island Department Environmental Management established Black Sea Bass Fleet 2016. composed fishers representing variety gear types who collect fishery-dependent on at-sea custom tablet application. In five years, 20 captains participated collected length, visually-identified sex, disposition 40,939 individual throughout southern Bight. Catch, effort, basic environmental from 2,288 sampling sessions been alongside biological We apply collaborative approach finfish first time evaluate its performance over years through participant engagement, magnitude collection, interest Further, we introduce next steps being undertaken incorporate framework. project illustrates that science-industry research collaboration consistently bass, highlights mutual among fishers, scientists, managers reliable important