Transcript Item 2 -CDFW-WhiteSharkStatusx - Cal-Span

A. Peter Klimley
Status of White Shark in California
Fish & Game Commission Meeting
June 4, 2014
Mandy Lewis
Presentation Overview
 Petition History
 Biology & Range
 Review Criteria
 Key Findings
 Department
Recommendation
Wikipedia
CESA Listing Process
Petition to list is submitted to the Fish and Game
Commission
Department of Fish and Wildlife evaluates the
Petition based on 12 specified criteria
Public input
Commission considers whether to accept or reject
the Petition
REJECT
Process ends
ACCEPT
Public input
Department conducts a 12-month
scientific review
Public input
Commission makes a listing
determination and adopts findings
CESA Evaluation History
 August 20, 2012 – Commission receives Petition
 February 6, 2013 – Commission determines the petitioned
action may be warranted
 March 1, 2013 – Department initiates status review of the
species
 December 19, 2013 – Petitioners submit new information
 April 4, 2014 – Department submits status review to the
Commission
 April 16, 2014 – Commission receives status review
 June 4, 2014 – Commission considers listing white shark as
a threatened or endangered species
Paul Kanive
White Shark Life History
 Found around the world
 Northeastern Pacific population genetically
distinct
 Large predators
 Small population
 Late to mature, with few offspring
 Preferred prey changes with maturity
 Habitat varies by life stage and season
A. Peter Klimley
Range of White Shark in the Northeastern Pacific
Alaska
Central
California
Nursery
Guadalupe
Island, MX
Hawaii
Shared
Offshore
Focal
Area
NEP Population Estimates
 Two Photo-ID studies in Central CA & Mexico
(Chapple 2011; Sosa-Nishizaki 2012), which
when combined estimate a total of 339 adult &
sub-adult white sharks
 NMFS estimates the total NEP
abundance of all life stages and
both sexes >3,000
Sal Jorgensen
NMFS Population Estimate
Analyzed expanded Photo-ID datasets & employed
other methods to estimate population size.
 Accounted for bias in sex ratio and
probability of an individual’s detection.
 Leading scientists conducted the NMFS
species review.
 Petitioners critiqued the NMFS
estimates and findings.
Howard Hall-PRBO
Overexploitation
The status review analyzed interactions with
commercial and recreational fisheries in
California waters and in other areas.
 Most common fishery interactions occur with
commercial set gill net fisheries.
 Gill net fisheries are prohibited
in almost all state waters.
Wikipedia
Interactions with California
Commercial Gill Net Fisheries
Sets
Fished
Individual
White Sharks
DFW Staff Photo
35,000
GN Effort
WS Catch
30,000
45
40
35
25,000
30
20,000
25
15,000
20
15
10,000
10
5,000
5
0
0
1981
1991
2001
2011
** Data from required CDFW gill net logbook data (sets) and commercial
landing receipt data. Includes all sets, inside and outside state waters (3 nm).
All data are preliminary and subject to further verification and validation.
Population Trends
Lacking historic population estimates, independent
trends suggest an increasing population.
 Photo-ID studies at Guadalupe Island show a significant
increase in the number of sharks from 2001-2011.
 Increases in white shark attacks on pinnipeds and sea
otters have been observed.
 Increasing incidental catch rates in
commercial fisheries are consistent
with an increasing population.
Joe Tomeleoni
CESA Review Criteria & Key Findings
A species shall be listed as endangered or threatened,
if it is determined that the continued existence of the
species is in serious danger or threatened by one or
more of the following factors (CCR Title 14, § 670.1).
 Present or threatened modification or destruction
of its habitat
 Overexploitation
 Predation
 Competition
 Disease
 Other natural occurrences or
human-related activities
A. Peter Klimley
Present or threatened modification
or destruction of its habitat
The habitats utilized by white sharks are potentially
threatened by several factors.
 Environmental Contaminants
 Marine Debris – Ingestion or Entanglement
 Climate Change &
Ocean Acidification
Overexploitation
Current Regulations & Protections
 White sharks in the NEP are widely protected
through state, federal and international efforts
 Prohibitions on take of white shark in Mexico are
more stringent today
 Gill net interactions off California
declined steadily through the 1990s
& remained stable until 2005
Tom Mason
Predation, Competition, Disease & other Natural
Occurrences or Human-related Activities
These criteria do not pose a significant risk to the
NEP population of white shark at any life stage.
 Apex predators
 Generalist feeders and resilient to
the loss of specific prey items
 Generalized immune system
makes disease a rare occurrence
A. Peter Klimley
CDFW Recommendation
Listing the NEP population of white
shark as threatened or endangered
is not warranted at this time.
Wikipedia
Thank You!
Michelle Horeczko
Leeanne Laughlin
Elizabeth Hellmers
Traci Larinto
CPS-HMS Project Staff
Marine Region Staff
A. Peter Klimley
Questions?
Mandy Lewis
[email protected]
562-342-7169
A. Peter Klimley
A. Peter Klimley
California
Commercial
Gill Net
Statutes and
Regulations
A. Peter Klimley
Commercial Gill Net Statutes & Regulations
in the Southern California Bight
Pt. Arguello
Research Needs to Better
Inform Population Status
 Support research specifically focused on juvenile and sub-adult
white shark movements through the SCB, Mexico and other
areas within their range.
 Encourage the expansion of efforts to determine current
population and abundance trends.
 Support research on the effects of persistent
environmental pollutants, and climate change,
on large shark species and their preferred
prey species.
Sal Jorgensen
Management
Recommendations
 Increase coordination with other fisheries agencies to establish
continuity in management goals, enforcement, and conformance
in regulations.
 Increase observer coverage on commercial fishing vessels,
especially those participating in the nearshore gill net fisheries.
 Implement regulation of recreational tourism
(cage diving, viewing, etc.).
 Implement a public outreach and education
program, especially in the shore based sector
of the recreational fishery.
Wikipedia
Authority to Regulate Activity
Involving White Sharks
 Currently only the California legislature has the
authority to regulate gill net fisheries in California.
 Observer coverage is funded and implemented by
NMFS National Observer Program.
 The Commission can regulate
recreational fisheries and other
activities that may interact with the
species.
A. Peter Klimley
Range of White Shark in the Northeastern Pacific
Alaska
Central
California
Nursery
Guadalupe
Island, MX
Hawaii
Shared
Offshore
Focal
Area