Recommendation
At a glance
Southern flounder caught in Texas with spears called gigs is rated yellow. The stock's status is uncertain because several assessments have had conflicting results. Management is moderately effective overall because strong regulations are in place. However, more conclusive stock information is needed, and catch limits may not be appropriate to prevent overfishing. There are no bycatch concerns, and gigs have very little contact with the seafloor. Policies are being developed to protect the ecosystem, and this fishery is unlikely to impact the food web.
Overall score: 3.090
Impacts on the Species Under Assessment
2.644
Impacts on Other Capture Species
3.318
Management Effectiveness
3.000
Impacts on the Habitat and Ecosystem
3.464
FISHING METHOD
Harpoons
Harpoons are spear-like gears with a detachable sharp point (that has one or more barbs) attached to a retrieving line. When fishermen target a fish, they thrust or shoot the harpoon into the animal and haul it aboard. Modern harpoons are shot with guns. The catch of unwanted marine life isn't a concern because fishermen identify the species and size of the fish before it's caught. Harpoons are used to catch large pelagic predators, such as tuna and swordfish.
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