Fishing Report: Symposium tackles 'Climate Impacts' on anglers


Dave Monti
Fri, July 1, 2022 

The 2022 Baird Symposium wrapped up on June 24, 2022, with a reception and premiere screening of a video on "Climate Impacts on Recreational Fishing and Boating." The event took place at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography in Narragansett.

Anglers, climate/fisheries scientists and non-governmental organizations that participated in the symposium expressed a number of key findings that deserve further exploration.

Bob Hurrie and Capt. Kurt Rivard with the 13-pound summer flounder (fluke) they caught off Newport.

Anglers and charter captain panelists confirmed an abundance of warm-water fish in the region, such as scup and black sea bass, and the departure of cold-water fish, such as winter flounder and American lobster.

New and abundant bait profiles are in our waters, including a variety of mackerel species, herring and Atlantic menhaden with silversides, sand ells, peanut bunker and squid having a strong presence also.

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The abundant bait is attracting pelagic fish in greater numbers, such as mahi, bluefin tuna, cobia, even wahoo, offshore.

Additionally, anglers felt that the migrating and spawning behavior of some species are being affected. For example, fishing author and kayak fishing expert Todd Corayer said: “In December, we caught striped bass to 36 inches with lice on them in our coves and estuaries. These fish decided not to migrate; they were out in front in our ocean (as the lice would indicate) and when it got cold, they came into our sanctuaries. I caught over a dozen nice keeper-sized fish in two days. The fishing continued through January and February.”

Scientists, offshore wind industry and non-governmental organizations presenting at the symposium highlighted a number of initiatives that are being conducted to address climate impacts. Meredith Moore, director of the Fish Conservation Program at the Ocean Conservancy, said: “We need to adapt fisheries management so it can react to climate impacts faster throughout the management process.”

Greg Vespe, executive director of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association, said: “Fishing crosses every social, ethnic and financial demographic there is … to have climate impacts on recreational fishing recognized by the URI Graduate School of Oceanography by our U.S. Senators and Janet Coit, chief of NOAA Fisheries, gives me great hope that we can be proactive on how we address rapidly changing fisheries.”

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Greg DeCelles of Ørsted North America, which constructed the Block Island wind farm, said, “As part of our research and monitoring plans, we are conducting acoustic telemetry tagging studies on pelagic fish such as sharks, bluefin tuna, cod and false albacore. … We expect wind farms to be fishing destinations for anglers.”

Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Coit, attended the Baird Symposium reception. “I would like to recognize Jennifer McCann [director of the U.S. Coastal Resource Center and director of Extension Programs for Rhode Island Sea Grant] for her work bringing forward science- based discussions on key climate and renewable energy issues over the years.”

Rhode Island Sea Grant and the Coastal Resource Center at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography hosted the event. Lead supporting sponsors included Ørsted, owners of the Block Island Wind Farm and Ocean Conservancy. Participating organizations included the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Science Center, the American Saltwater Guides Association, Safe Harbor Marinas, Rhode Island Marine Trades Association, Save the Bay and The Natures Conservancy.

Visit https://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/special-programs/baird for recordings of both workshops and the key learnings video, which is expected to be posted in the next few days.

Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business that focuses on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy and fisheries-related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net or visit noflukefishing.com.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI Fishing Report: Symposium tackles 'Climate Impacts' on local anglers