Catch Card Census Report

United States

Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Office of Sustainable Fisheries

Highly Migratory Species Division

Final Report

Grantee:	Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Contract Number:	15-0801.4
Project Title:	Maryland Catch Card Census
Period Covered:	2018 Bluefin Tuna, Billfishes and Shark Season
Prepared By:
	Angel Willey, Coastal Fisheries Program Manager	Date
Approved By:
	Mike Luisi, Division Director, Monitoring and Assessment	Date
Approved By:
	Dave Blazer, Director, Fishing and Boating Services	Date

Introduction

Globally, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas governs tunas, billfishes and some sharks. In the United States, the Highly Migratory Species Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service implements recommendations, such as minimum sizes and quotas, from the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. The Atlantic Tunas Convention and Magnuson Stevens acts provide the National Marine Fisheries Service that authority.

In the late 1990’s, the National Marine Fisheries Service required all recreational anglers to report bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) landings via a toll free phone number. In Maryland, that system was determined to be ineffective for accurately documenting recreational bluefin tuna landings. The Catch Card Census was implemented in 1999 as a solution to that recreational reporting problem. The program has since expanded to include billfishes (2002) and sharks (2013). Accurately monitoring the recreational harvest of bluefin tuna, billfishes and sharks along the Atlantic coast is vitally important to the cultural and economic impacts that recreational fishing has on Ocean City.

Objectives

• Continue long-term monitoring of all recreationally landed bluefin tuna, billfishes and sharks in Maryland and supply those data to the National Marine Fisheries Service for use in assessment and management of highly migratory species.

• Continue development of program awareness among anglers for high compliance rates.

Materials and Methods

The program was advertised on the department’s website and at the west Ocean City boat ramp (Figure 1). Letters were mailed to highly migratory species permit holders and tournament operators reminding them of the requirements and the ability to download copies of the catch cards which can speed up the dockside tagging process. To improve data quality and compliance, staff attended four large fishing tournaments: Mako Mania (June 1 - 3, 2018), the Huk Big Fish Classic (July 29, 2018), the White Marlin Open (August 6 - 10, 2018) and the Mid-Atlantic (August 20 - 24, 2018).

Eight businesses signed a cooperative reporting station participation agreement to cover all species in the census (Table 1 and Figure 2). Two additional tackle shops were reporting stations specifically for sharks and therefore signed a modified agreement (Figure 3). The contract required reporting stations to distribute and collect catch cards, issue tags and return leftover supplies to the department for inventory at the conclusion of the fishing season. Each reporting station received catch cards and tags at the start of the season. Staff visited reporting stations twice a week, from June 6 through September 30, to maintain adequate supplies and collect completed catch cards. After September 30, staff checked with marinas once a week. Two self-serve kiosks and one shark informational kiosk were also available to anglers (Figure 4).

Anglers were responsible for completing a catch card when they returned to port for each bluefin tuna, billfish or shark on board their vessel (Figures 5 and 6). A tag was provided from the reporting station for each completed catch card to be placed around the tail of the fish before removing it from the vessel. If fishing from shore, a catch card and receipt were completed before removing a shark from the point of landing. Anglers using a self-serve kiosk were expected to complete the catch card and retain the attached receipt that replaced the tag. The catch card was to be deposited into a locked box that was fastened directly to the kiosk. Trailered boats could not be pulled from the water until the tag was in place or a receipt was in hand.

Catch card landings were entered into a Microsoft Access database. Updates based on collected catch card data were provided to the National Marine Fisheries Service every two weeks. Microsoft Excel was utilized for proofing and descriptive statistics.

Results and Discussion

Bluefin Tuna

Zero bluefin tuna catch cards were found in the kiosk or reported using the Automated Landings Reporting System ((888) 872-8862) for 2018. Bluefin tuna landings (807 tuna) were higher than the previous two years (Table 2 and Figure 7). Ninety-one percent (737 tuna) of the landings were classified as school (27 to <47 inches; Figure 8). Fewer large school (47 to <59 inches) were caught than the previous two years. Small medium landings (59 to <73 inches) have been variable for the past three years. For 2018, the mean curved fork length (all classes combined) was 39 inches and the mode was 30 inches, whereas previously in 2017, it was 41 inches and the 30 inches, respectively.

The peak landing week has been variable over the past three years (Figure 9). Peak landings occurred in late May to early June for 2018 whereas it occurred later for the previous two years. Smaller secondary peaks occurred in two out of the past three years but at different times.

Charter trips landed 56 percent (449 tuna) of the bluefin tuna during the 2018 season (Table 3 and Figure 10). For 2018, the percentage of non-tournament bluefin tuna landings was 96 percent, which is higher than the previous two years (Table 3).

Compliance with completing the live release (22 tuna) and dead release (two tuna) boxes on the catch card showed minor improvement from 2017 (18 live releases, zero dead release). Outreach will be conducted in an effort to increase compliance.

Billfishes (Sailfish, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Roundscale Spearfish and Swordfish)

Zero billfish catch cards were found in the kiosk or reported using the Automated Landings Reporting System. Fifty-four billfishes were reported in 2018 through the Catch Card Census (Table 4 and Figure 11). Zero sailfish were landed since the program was implemented in 1999.

Blue marlin landings reported in 2018 (six marlin) were two fish higher than 2017 (Table 5 and Figure 12). The 2018 blue marlin mean lower jaw fork length was 108 inches and the mean weight was 504.9 pounds, which was similar to 2017. All landings occurred in July and August for the past three years and coincided with three major fishing tournaments: the Huk Big Fish Classic, the White Marlin Open and the Mid-Atlantic (Table 6 and Figure 13). The 2016 to 2018 length range was 100 - 120.6 inches and showed compliance with lower jaw fork length minimum size (99 inches).

White marlin landings in 2018 (16 marlin) showed a large decrease compared to the previous year (41 white marlin; Table 5 and Figure 12). The 2018 mean lower jaw fork length (68.5 inches) and mean weight (66.9 pounds) were similar to 2017 and 2016. Peak landings coincided with the previously mentioned fishing tournaments (Table 6 and Figure 13). Zero white marlin were reported below the minimum size of 66 inches in 2018.

Roundscale spearfish landings in 2018 (20 spearfish) showed a large increase from the previous year (six spearfish; Table 5 and Figure 12). The 2018 mean lower jaw fork length (68.9 inches) and mean weight (60.9 pounds) were similar to the previous two years (Figure 13). Peak landings coincided with the two August fishing tournaments: the White Marlin Open and the Mid-Atlantic. This species was considered eligible for white marlin rewards and was targeted the same as white marlin during the tournaments. All roundscale spearfish were landed during fishing tournaments (Table 6). Zero roundscale spearfish were reported below the minimum size of 66 inches for the last three years.

Swordfish landings increased for the third year in a row (12 swordfish; Table 5 and Figure 12). The mean lower jaw fork length of swordfish landed in 2018 was 63.8 inches and the mean weight was 166.9 pounds, which was an increase from 2017. Landings occurred from June to November for the past three years and six swordfish were landed during the Huk Big Fish Classic tournaments during that time. November had the most landings in 2018 and 2017 (Figure 13); however, most swordfish were landed outside of fishing tournaments (Table 6). Anglers complied with the 47 inch lower jaw fork length minimum size.

Private and charter billfish landings were consistent for the past three years (Table 7). Seventy percent of landed billfish were from trips labeled private on the catch cards (Figure 14).

Sharks

Zero shark catch cards were found in the kiosks. Overall, shark landings (85 sharks) were lower than the past two years (Figure 15). Atlantic sharpnose sharks comprised 89 percent (76 sharks) of the landings with 70 males, three females and three unknowns (Table 8 and Figure 16). Common thresher sharks represented seven percent (six sharks) of the catch of which four were males and two were females.

Shark landings peaked in August of 2018, which was later than the historical norm and resulted from the shortfin mako regulatory changes, which decreased early landings (Table 9 and Figure 17). In March 2018, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced an emergency rule that increased the minimum recreational size limit for shortfin mako sharks from 54 inches to a fork length of 83 inches. There was concern that the increased minimum size for shortfin mako sharks would shift pressure toward common thresher sharks; however, that was not the case as fewer common threshers were landed in 2018 (six sharks) compared to the previous two years (10 and eight thresher sharks, respectively).

The majority (80 sharks) of all sharks were landed outside of tournaments (Table 10). For all species of sharks, charter trips landed more sharks (78 sharks) than private trips (seven sharks; Figure 18). Sharpnose sharks were the species most often reported from charter trips.

The National Marine Fisheries Service Large Pelagic Intercept Survey preliminarily reported zero shortfin mako sharks landed for Maryland and Delaware in 2018 (personal communication, December 11, 2018). During the 2017 season, Large Pelagic Intercept Survey staff intercepted 22 landed sharks of which 16 were reported through the Catch Card Census (personal communication, January 8, 2018).

Recommendations:

1. Continue the Catch Card Census for bluefin tuna, billfishes and sharks in Maryland.

2. Continue working to improve compliance by:

1. reminding anglers that they are required to obtain catch cards and tag bluefin tuna, billfishes and all sharks (except spiny dogfish);

2. increasing awareness about kiosks and online, downloadable catch card portable document format files;

3. distributing a roundscale spearfish and white marlin identification guide that is approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service (e.g. the guide developed by the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences);

4. attending captain’s meetings to ensure all participants are familiar with the program;

5. attending major tournaments; and

6. educating anglers about the importance of completing the catch card released dead and alive boxes on the catch cards.

List of Tables
Table 1.	List of the 2018 Maryland Catch Card Census reporting stations and kiosks.
Table 2.	Maryland Catch Card Census bluefin tuna summary statistics for 2016 to 2018.
Table 3.	Comparison of Maryland bluefin tunas landings by trip type and tournament participation for 2016 to 2018.
Table 4.	List of the 2018 billfishes, trip type and tournament information reported to the Maryland Catch Card Census.
Table 5.	Maryland Catch Card Census billfish summary statistics for 2016 to 2018, n = 171. Total billfishes for 2016 was 55 fish, 62 fish for 2017 and 54 fish for 2018.
Table 6.	Comparison of Maryland Catch Card Census tournament participation by billfish species from 2016 to 2018, n = 171.
Table 7.	Comparison of Maryland Catch Card Census billfish landings by trip type from 2016 to 2018, n = 171.
Table 8.	Maryland Catch Card Census summary of the 2018 shark landings, n = 85.
Table 9.	Maryland Catch Card Census summary of the 2016 - 2018 shortfin mako landings, n = 119.
Table 10.	Comparison of Maryland Catch Card Census shark landings by trip type and tournament participation from 2016 to 2018.

List of Figures
Figure 1.	Photograph of the Maryland Catch Card Census promotional sign located at the west Ocean City boat ramp.
Figure 2.	Example of the 2018 Catch Card Census agreement to act as a reporting station.
Figure 3.	Example of the modified 2018 Catch Card Census agreement to act as a shark reporting station.
Figure 4.	Photographs of the 2018 Maryland Catch Card Census kiosks located in Ocean City, Assateague Island National Seashore Visitor Contact Station and George Island Landing (pictured right to left).
Figure 5.	Examples of the 5 x 7 Maryland bluefin tuna and billfish catch cards and tags.
Figure 6.	Example of the 5 x 7 Maryland shark catch card and tag (front and backsides).
Figure 7.	Maryland Catch Card Census weekly cumulative bluefin tuna landings from 2016 to 2018 (n = 1,758).
Figure 8.	Maryland Catch Card Census bluefin tuna size class frequency comparison, 2016 to 2018 (n = 1,758).
Figure 9.	Maryland Catch Card Census weekly landings of bluefin tuna from 2016 to 2018 (n = 1,758).
Figure 10.	Maryland Catch Card Census bluefin tuna landings by trip type for 2018 (n = 807).
Figure 11.	Maryland Catch Card Census cumulative billfish landings by month and week for 2016 to 2018 (n = 171).
Figure 12.	Comparison of the frequency of billfishes from the Maryland Catch Card Census, 2016 to 2018 (n = 171).
Figure 13.	Maryland Catch Card Census weekly billfish landings from 2016 to 2018 (n = 171).
Figure 14.	Maryland Catch Card Census 2018 billfish landings by trip type (n = 54).
Figure 15.	Maryland Catch Card Census cumulative shark landings by month and week for 2016 to 2018 (n = 300).
Figure 16.	Sharks reported to the Maryland Catch Card Census for 2016 to 2018 (n = 300).
Figure 17.	Maryland Catch Card Census weekly shark landings 2016 to 2018 (n = 300).
Figure 18.	Maryland Catch Card Census 2018 shark landings by trip type (n = 85).

Table 1. List of the 2018 Maryland Catch Card Census reporting stations and kiosks.
Reporting Station	City /State	Phone Number	Species
Atlantic Tackle	Ocean City, MD	(410) 213-0421	All
Bahia Marina	Ocean City, MD	(410) 289-7438	All
Fisherman’s Marina	Ocean City, MD	(410) 213-2478	All
O.C. Fishing Center	Ocean City, MD	(410) 213-1121	All
Talbot Street Pier & Marina	Ocean City, MD	(410) 289-9125	All
White Marlin Marina	Ocean City, MD	(410) 289-6470	All
Sunset Marina	Ocean City, MD	(410) 213-9600	All
Pines Point Provisions and Seafood	Ocean Pines, MD	(410) 641-2248	All
Buck’s Place	Berlin, MD	(443) 513-4661	Shark
Alltackle	Ocean City, MD	(410) 213-2840	Shark
Full Service Kiosk	Ocean City, MD	(410) 213-1531	All
Shark Kiosk	Berlin, MD		Shark
Shark Informational Kiosk	George Landing, MD		Shark

Table 2. Maryland Catch Card Census bluefin tuna summary statistics for 2016 to 2018.
	2016				2017				2018
Size Class (in.)	Count	Mean*	Mode*	Percent of Total	Count	Mean*	Mode*	Percent of Total	Count	Mean*	Mode*	Percent of Total
School (27 to <47)	301	43.2	45	51.3	270	35.5	30	73.8	737	37.7	30	91.3
Large School (47 to <59)	259	50.5	51	44.3	60	55.1	58	16.4	46	53.2	55	5.7
Small Medium (59 to <73)	1			0.3	29	62.1	60	7.9	17	61.9	60	2.1
Unknown	24			4.1	7			1.9	7			0.9
Total	585				366				807
* Curved fork length

Table 3. Comparison of Maryland bluefin tunas landings by trip type and tournament participation for 2016 to 2018.
Trip Type	Private		Charter		Headboat		Unknown		Tournament Landings
Year	Count	Percent of Landings	Count	Percent of Landings	Count	Percent of Landings	Count	Percent of Landings	Tournament	Non-Tournament
2016	218	37.3	361	61.8	4	0.7	1	0.2	48	537
2017	129	35.2	236	64.5			1	0.2	42	324
2018	355	44.0	449	55.6			3	0.5	36	771

Table 4. List of the 2018 billfishes, trip type and tournament information reported to the Maryland Catch Card Census.
Date	Common Name	Length (Inches)	Weight (Pounds)	Trip Type	Tournament
7/14/2018	Blue Marlin	100		Private
7/29/2018	Blue Marlin	105.5	379.5	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/29/2018	Blue Marlin	105.5	354.5	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/29/2018	Blue Marlin	107	44.5	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
8/6/2018	Blue Marlin	128	881	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2018	Blue Marlin	102		Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	70.5	65	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	70	66.5	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	71.3	65	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	67	56	Private	White Marlin Open
8/6/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	67	58.5	Private	White Marlin Open
8/8/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	68	59	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/6/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	75	75	Private	White Marlin Open
8/7/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	76	57	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/9/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	68.5	62.5	Private	White Marlin Open
8/10/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	67	57.5	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/20/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	67.9	54	Charter	Mid-Atlantic
8/20/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	68	58	Private	Mid-Atlantic
8/21/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	68.5	57	Private	Mid-Atlantic
8/21/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	66	54	Private	Mid-Atlantic
8/21/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	66.6	61	Private	Mid-Atlantic
8/24/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	66.4	54	Charter	Mid-Atlantic
8/24/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	66.9	63	Charter	Mid-Atlantic
8/24/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	69.3	66	Private	Mid-Atlantic
8/24/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	67	59	Private	Mid-Atlantic
8/24/2018	Roundscale Spearfish	71.3	69	Private	Mid-Atlantic
7/29/2018	White Marlin	67	60	Charter	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/29/2018	White Marlin	67.3	57.5	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
8/9/2018	White Marlin	69.5	83	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/9/2018	White Marlin	68.5	65.5	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/10/2018	White Marlin	67.5	57.5	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/10/2018	White Marlin	68.5	83	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/10/2018	White Marlin	69	71.5	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/10/2018	White Marlin	68	53	Charter	White Marlin Open
8/20/2018	White Marlin	70	73	Private	Mid-Atlantic
8/21/2018	White Marlin	66	66	Private	Mid-Atlantic
8/23/2018	White Marlin	67.3	67	Private	Mid-Atlantic
8/24/2018	White Marlin	68.3	65	Charter	Mid-Atlantic
8/24/2018	White Marlin	67.8	62	Private	Mid-Atlantic
9/5/2018	White Marlin	69	70	Private
9/6/2018	White Marlin	70	70	Charter
9/29/2018	White Marlin	72		Private
6/30/2018	Swordfish	76	245	Private
7/29/2018	Swordfish	69.5	188	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/29/2018	Swordfish	74.5	197.5	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
7/29/2018	Swordfish	73.5	180	Private	Huk Big Fish Classic
8/9/2018	Swordfish	56		Charter
9/21/2018	Swordfish	59	90	Private
11/18/2018	Swordfish	60	175	Private
11/18/2018	Swordfish	50	100	Private
11/18/2018	Swordfish	88	320	Private
11/19/2018	Swordfish	51	100	Private
11/19/2018	Swordfish	50	100	Private
11/19/2018	Swordfish	58	140	Private

Table 5. Maryland Catch Card Census billfish summary statistics for 2016 to 2018, n = 171. Total billfishes for 2016 was 55 fish, 62 fish for 2017 and 54 fish for 2018.
Year	Count	Percent of Annual Billfish Total	Lower Jaw Fork Length (Inches)			Weight (Pounds)
			Mean	Mode	Range	Mean	Range
Blue Marlin
2016	10	18.2	107	101	100.3 - 117	415	285 - 790
2017	4	6.5	110.5		100.5 - 120.6	494.5	287 - 680
2018	6	11.1	108	105.5	100 - 128	504.9	354.5 - 881
White Marlin
2016	19	34.5	68	67	65 - 74	66	54 - 78.5
2017	41	66.1	68.6	67	66 - 79	67.6	50.5 - 101
2018	16	29.6	68.5	67.3	66 - 72	66.9	53 - 83
Roundscale Spearfish
2016	20	36.4	69	69	66 - 72.5	62	48 - 72
2017	6	9.7	68.9		66 - 71.5	61.2	56 - 71
2018	20	37	68.9	67	66 - 76	60.9	54 - 75
Swordfish
2016	6	10.9	66		49 - 96	216	68 - 345
2017	11	17.7	57.1		50 - 76	114.1	52 - 253
2018	12	22.2	63.8	50	50 - 88	166.9	90 - 245

Table 6. Comparison of Maryland Catch Card Census tournament participation by billfish species from 2016 to 2018, n = 171.
Year	Count	Tournament	Non-Tournament
Blue Marlin
2016	10	10
2017	4	4
2018	6	5	1
White Marlin
2016	19	19
2017	41	38	3
2018	16	13	3
Roundscale Spearfish
2016	20	20
2017	6	6
2018	20	20
Swordfish
2016	6	2	4
2017	11	1	10
2018	12	3	9

Table 7. Comparison of Maryland Catch Card Census billfish landings by trip type from 2016 to 2018, n = 171.
	Private		Charter		Unknown
Year	Count	Percent of Total Landings	Count	Percent of Total Landings	Count	Percent of Total Landings
2016	37	67.3	18	32.7
2017	46	74.2	15	24.2	1	1.6
2018	38	70.3	16	29.6

Table 8. Maryland Catch Card Census summary of the 2018 shark landings, n = 85.
Species	Count	Sex			Mean Length (Inches)	Mode (Inches)	Length Range (Inches)	Weight Range (Pounds)
		M	F	U
Atlantic Sharpnose	76	70	3	3	30.8	30	22 - 39	5 - 81
Common Thresher	6	4	2		76.2	68	66-100	149 - 644.9
Shortfin Mako	3	1	2		99	*	83 - 121	200.9 - 636
Total	85	75	7	3
*No mode as all lengths are different.

Table 9. Maryland Catch Card Census summary of the 2016 - 2018 shortfin mako landings, n = 119.
Year	Species	Count	Sex			Mean Length (Inches)	Mode (Inches)	Length Range (Inches)	Weight Range (Pounds)
			M	F	U
2016	Shortfin Mako	55	25	16	14	69.4	64	56 - 100	46 - 100
2017	Shortfin Mako	61	28	19	14	71.0	64	55 - 113	60 -564
2018	Shortfin Mako	3	1	2		99	*	83 - 121	200.9 – 636
*No mode as all lengths are different.

Table 10. Comparison of Maryland Catch Card Census shark landings by trip type and tournament participation from 2016 to 2018.
Trip Type	Private		Charter		Unknown		Tournament Landings
Year	Count	Percent of Landings	Count	Percent of Landings	Count	Percent of Landings	Tournament	Non-Tournament	Unknown
2016	46	47	53	54			26	73
2017	35	30	80	69	1	<1	29	87
2018	7	8.2	78	91.8			5	80

Figure 1. Photograph of the Maryland Catch Card Census promotional sign located at the west Ocean City boat ramp.

2018 Cooperative Agreement to Act as a

Recreational Highly Migratory Species Catch Card Reporting Station

Between

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources

&

__________________________________________________

The signatory operates this facility as a place of business open to the public with regular posted operating hours

and will act as a reporting station for recreationally harvested Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and billfish (White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish) Swordfish and sharks landed in the State of Maryland in accordance with the following conditions. *

On a Daily Basis:

1. From Bluefin Tuna anglers, collect COMPLETED Maryland Bluefin Tuna Landing Cards and issue a uniquely numbered Bluefin Tuna tag to the angler. Tags issued only upon receipt of the COMPLETED landing card. Bluefin Tuna cannot be removed from a vessel before the angler attaches the tag to the appropriate tuna.

2. From billfish/swordfish anglers, collect COMPLETED Maryland Billfish Landing Cards and issue a uniquely numbered Billfish/Swordfish tag to the angler. Tags are issued only upon receipt of the COMPLETED landing card. The Billfish/Swordfish cannot be removed from a vessel before the angler attaches the tag to the appropriate billfish/swordfish.

3. From shark anglers, collect COMPLETED Maryland Shark Landing Cards and issue a uniquely numbered shark tag to the angler. Tags are issued only upon receipt of the COMPLETED landing card. The shark cannot be removed from the point of landing before the angler attaches the tag to the appropriate shark.

4. The signatory, representing the reporting station, must account for all tags.

5. The reporting station will allow personnel from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to collect completed landing cards and inventory remaining tags. All tags must be kept in a secure location.

Physical location address: ________________________________________________________

Business mailing address: ________________________________________________________

Telephone number: _____________________________________________________________

Hours of operation: _____________________________________________________________

Owner/Manager name: __________________________________________________________

Contact person: ________________________________________________________________

Person(s) responsible for checking catch cards & issuing tags: __________________________________________

* The Department reserves the right to terminate reporting station status for any reason including but

not limited to failure to maintain inventory of Bluefin Tuna or billfish/swordfish tags and collect completed

catch cards and/or failure to cooperate with Department personnel in retrieval of said items.

Authorized signature: ________________________________ Date: _____________________

Title:______________________________________________

Figure 2. Example of the 2018 Catch Card Census agreement to act as a reporting station.

2018 Cooperative Agreement to Act as a

Recreational Shark Reporting Station

Between

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources

&

__________________________________________________

The signatory operates this facility as a place of business open to the public with regular posted operating hours

and will act as a reporting station for recreationally harvested sharks landed in the State of Maryland in accordance with the following conditions. *

On a Daily Basis:

1. From shark anglers, collect COMPLETED Maryland Shark Landing Cards and issue a uniquely

numbered shark tag to the angler. Tags are issued only upon receipt of the COMPLETED landing

card. The shark cannot be removed from the point of landing before the angler attaches the tag to the

appropriate shark.

2. The signatory, representing the reporting station, must account for all tags.

3. The reporting station will allow personnel from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to

collect completed landing cards and inventory remaining shark tags. All tags must be kept in a

secure location.

Physical location address: ________________________________________________________

Business mailing address: ________________________________________________________

Telephone number: _____________________________________________________________

Hours of operation: _____________________________________________________________

Owner/Manager name: __________________________________________________________

Contact person: ________________________________________________________________

Person(s) responsible for checking catch cards & issuing tags: __________________________________________

* The Department reserves the right to terminate reporting station status for any reason including but

not limited to failure to maintain inventory of shark tags and collect completed catch cards and/or failure to cooperate with Department personnel in retrieval of said items.

Authorized signature: ________________________________ Date: _____________________

Title: ______________________________________________

Figure 5. Example of the 2013 Maryland ABT/Billfish/Shark Catch Card and Tagging Program contract between MDNR and tackle shops to act as a recreational reporting station for sharks.

Figure 3. Example of the modified 2018 Catch Card Census agreement to act as a shark reporting station.

Figure 4. Photographs of the 2018 Maryland Catch Card Census kiosks located in Ocean City, Assateague Island National Seashore Visitor Contact Station and George Island Landing (pictured left to right).

Figure 5. Examples of the 5 x 7 Maryland bluefin tuna and billfish catch cards and tags.

Figure 6. Example of the 5 x 7 Maryland shark catch card and tag (front and backsides).

Figure 7. Maryland Catch Card Census weekly cumulative bluefin tuna landings from 2016 to 2018

(n = 1,758).

Figure 8. Maryland Catch Card Census bluefin tuna size class frequency comparison, 2016 to 2018 (n = 1,758).

Figure 9. Maryland Catch Card Census weekly landings of bluefin tuna from 2016 to 2018 (n = 1,758).

Figure 10. Maryland Catch Card Census bluefin tuna landings by trip type for 2018 (n = 807).

Figure 11. Maryland Catch Card Census cumulative billfish landings by month and week from 2016 to 2018 (n = 171).

Figure 12. Comparison of the frequency of billfishes from the Maryland Catch Card Census, 2016 to 2018 (n = 171).

Figure 13. Maryland Catch Card Census weekly billfish landings from 2016 to 2018 (n = 171).

Figure 14. Maryland Catch Card Census 2018 billfish landings by trip type (n = 54).

Figure 15. Maryland Catch Card Census cumulative shark landings by month and week for 2016 to 2018 (n = 300).

Figure 16. Sharks reported to the Maryland Catch Card Census for 2016 to 2018 (n = 300).

Figure 17. Maryland Catch Card Census weekly shark landings 2016 to 2018 (n = 300).

Figure 18. Maryland Catch Card Census 2018 shark landings by trip type (n = 85).

4