Why It Matters: The use of descending devices and venting tools has been shown to significantly reduce post release mortality of deep caught fish. In early January of 2021, President Trump signed the DESCEND Act that directed NOAA to implement descending and venting tool requirements for reef fish fisheries in the Gulf of America (Gulf), though there was a five-year sunset on the legislation. With the clock ticking and the requirements set to expire in early 2026, the Gulf Council (Council) took final action at last week’s meeting to make these important reef fish conservation measures permanent.
Highlights
- A proportion of released or “discarded” fish are assumed to die and can have impacts on quotas and season lengths for many of our reef fisheries.
- Simple steps like using a descending device or venting tool can go a long way to ensuring sustainable fisheries well into the future.
- The Gulf Council recently passed an Abbreviated Framework Action to continue a descending device or venting tool requirement in the Gulf, a measure that was currently in place as a result of the DESCEND Act but was set to expire in less than two months.
Last week, the Gulf Council took final action to require commercial and recreational fishermen to possess descending devices or venting tools that are ready for use when fishing for reef fish in the federal waters of the Gulf. These requirements will permanently replace regulations already required by the DESCEND Act, though they were set to sunset in early January of 2026. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) was a leading supporter of the DESCEND Act and has been advocating that the Council not allow this important conservation measure to expire.
A condition known as barotrauma occurs when a fish is rapidly ascended from deep water. The gases in the fish’s swim bladder and organs expand when going from the higher-pressure deep water to the lower-pressure surface water. Even if released immediately, fish may not be able to overcome the buoyant forces of the expanded gases and swim back down, making them easy prey for predators. An effective solution is the use of descending devices or venting tools.
Descending devices are non-invasive mechanisms that can quickly return fish to a depth using a weight and some sort of release. Venting tools actually puncture the abdominal wall (and swim bladder if not already ruptured) and allow gases to escape. While descending devices are preferred, especially for anglers not experienced with venting techniques, research has shown that using a venting tool does increase a fish’s chance of survival when caught from depth (typically greater than 100 feet), especially for larger fish.
Following the implementation of the DESCEND Act requirements in 2022, the Return ‘Em Right program launched a wide-spread effort to educate anglers on the importance of descending devices and how to use them, while also distributing free descending devices for those who took the online education course. Since that time, more than 47,000 anglers, 97% of which were private recreational anglers, have participated in the Return ‘Em Right program and received descending devices.
The amendment to make the use of descending devices or venting tools permanent will now go to the Secretary of Commerce for consideration and final implementation. By decreasing the number of reef fish that die after release, the use of these devices should lead to more fish to catch and healthier fisheries down the road.
