Abstract
This report summarizes research conducted during an internship with the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) of the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS). It entailed a collaboration with scientists at RSMAS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), Fisheries Statistics and Sustainable Fisheries Divisions located on Virginia Key. The research project focused on the compilation of legislation changes recorded in the federal register in relation to the fishery management plans of the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils. The purpose of this database was to be used in future fisheries research to compare legislation changes to fish stocks, fishing habits, and economic changes over time. This project was pertinent to aquaculture because an important component of bringing offshore aquaculture to the southeast U.S., especially to federal waters, was ensuring current fisheries regulations were effective at maintaining healthy wild fish stocks, addressing concerns of all stakeholders such as commercial/recreational fishermen, government and regulatory agencies, NGOs, and the general public. By creating this database, we were also aiding researchers in assessing fish stock vulnerability, which could be used to promote aquaculture as a source of wild stock replenishment. Through the duration of this project, I created data files for 1912 records pertaining to 352 final rules published in the federal register. These rules originate from five separate federal fisheries management plans throughout the south Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean regions. In addition to working on the Management History database, I created a concept proposal for an aquaculture specific database that could aid someone in their decision to start an aquaculture business based on their site selection and applicable aquaculture regulations of the region. The Management History project will continue past the publishing of this report for the duration that funding allows to be able to analyze and record as many federal regulations as possible for the benefit of future research.