Effect of reduced bag limits on sport-shrimp trawl license sales.

Bag limits have been used by fisheries managers to minimize the potential for overharvest and indirectly reduce fishing pressure on selected species. Bag limits were reduced from 45.4 kg/boat to 6.8 kg/person/day for sport-shrimp trawl license holders in 1979. Computer records of sport-shrimp trawl licenses sold from 1960 to 1986 were examined to determine the effect of reduced bag limits on the number of licensed sport shrimpers. Sale of licenses increased 17% from 1960 (8,837) to 1979 (10,349). Sale of sport-shrimp trawl licenses decreased 60% by 1986 (4,147) after bag limits were reduced. Fishing pressure on shrimp stocks by this user group were reduced.