Fishing offshore platforms, central Gulf of Mexico–an analysis of recreational and commercial fishing use at 164 major offshore petroleum structures

Abstract

This work was conducted on Louisiana. From the Executive Summary: “Data collection was accomplished by oil and gas company personnel who recorded daily incidences of fishing activity around the platforms. Initially, an estimated 72,000 dial and/or monthly records from almost 300 offshore platforms or platform complexes…were obtained…Private recreational fishing boats were observed most often followed by charter/party boats, commercial fishing boats, and scuba boats…Boat fishing activity [along the Louisiana coast] was not evenly distributed but rather was dependent on population densities, transportation links, and fishing infrastructure and facilities…Certain platforms within the region received disproportionate use…One-fifth of the platforms reporting accounted for 55% of the private boat observations…The most popular method of fishing among private recreational and charter/party boats was bottom fishing…Snapper and trout were most frequently reported…King mackerel and lemonfish/cobia were the most frequently reported midwater target species for recreational fishermen…The vast majority of commercial hook-and-line fishing boats were bottom fishing. Snapper was the reported target species for the greater number of commercial fishermen in the Bay and Cameron regions while fishermen in the Delta region targeted snapper, croaker, and trout.”