Trends in the Commercial and Recreational Shark Fisheries in Florida, 1980–1992, with Implications for Management

Abstract
Florida commercial shark landings rose from 287,531 lb in 1980 to 7.3 million pounds in 1990, an increase of more than 2,400%. Two reasons for this increase in landings were the growing public acceptance of shark meat as a seafood product and the subsequent increase in prices in the Asian market for shark fins. Landings then declined in 1991 and 1992. Commercial and recreational landings data and responses to mail surveys have supplied important information regarding Florida's shark fisheries. The sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus and the blacktip shark C. limbatus accounted for 84% of the sharks landed in the commercial fishery in 1989. Commercially fished sharks are captured primarily by longline gear. After 1986, sharks were targeted much more frequently in the commercial fishery. Although catch per unit of effort steadily increased, landings and effort decreased during the 2 years before the implementation of regulations. Fewer sharks were landed in the recreational fisheries than in the co...