PIER celebrates Tom Pfleger’s induction into the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Hall of Fame.
PIER celebrates Tom Pfleger’s induction into the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Hall of Fame. On September 14th Tom Pfleger was recognized with one of the highest honors known to modern day sportsmen. The induction recognizes the contributions and incredible conservation efforts an individual has provided to the angling community around the world. Fortunately, Tom was informed of the news early in the year, prior to his passing, which made him extremely proud and honored to be an inductee The event was beautiful, and exquisitly planned by the IGFA team. The induction took place at the Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in...
Remembering Tom Pfleger
On June 19, 2024 PIER lost its founder and close friend, Tom Pfleger. Tom established PIER over 25 years ago as part of his commitment to the ocean, a place where he had always found peace. Tom invested his heart and soul into PIER and treated the PIER team like family. Tom was an outstanding waterman and visionary who never let an obstacle get in his way. We are very blessed to have had the chance to know and work with Tom. Moving forward we are very proud to be part of his legacy. Tom had a profound impact on all of us and his...
Ongoing White Seabass Work at PIER
A recent collaboration between PIER and researchers from the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center and CICESE seeks to learn more about an important but poorly understood species that commonly occurs off the coast of California. ...
PIER partners with NOAA to kick off Opah research on poorly-studied fish off the California coast
A recent collaboration between PIER and researchers from the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center and CICESE seeks to learn more about an important but poorly understood species that commonly occurs off the coast of California. ...
PIER project aims to understand movements of the rare Pacific Sleeper Shark
In the 2019 Deep-set buoy gear season, a few fishers were surprised to discover Pacific Sleeper sharks come up on their lines. This rare species of shark has been documented in several areas of the Pacific, but is seldom encountered in the waters off Southern California, likely due to its elusive, deep-water dwelling habits. ...
Testing electronic monitoring and addressing observation constraints in a developing deep-set fishery for swordfish in California
Commercial fishing for swordfish in Southern California is experiencing a period of transition, and it is in these periods of flux that opportunities for modernization and innovation can arise and take hold. The recent recommendation for the authorization of a new deep-set fishery for swordfish offers an example of how innovation in fishing gear technology can help provide forward momentum and opportunity during a period of fishery decline. ...
Deep-Set Buoy Gear and Swordfish: NMFS Moves Forward
In August, the West Coast Region branch of the National Marine Fisheries Service announced a move to allow deep-set buoy gear (DSBG) for swordfish in federal waters offshore of California and Oregon. It’s a step that fishery officials are optimistic could help invigorate commercial domestic swordfish markets. Officials also say that the move could potentially provide almost $5 million in annual revenue for fishers, an economic impact that could expand if deep-set gear proves widely adaptable....
Catch of Swordfish Takes Off as Southern California Anglers Embrace New Technique
More recreational anglers turning to catch-and-release as swordfish catches increase. Recreational fishing for swordfish off southern California has surged over the last year. Fishermen have started borrowing a strategy from East Coast anglers and the commercial fishing world: going deep during the daytime....
Kelp Forest Research
For over 10 years, researchers at the Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER) have used Loggerhead products to study white seabass. Using the acoustic data they collected, the team identified spawning-related sounds (chants) the fish make around sunset in May and June. This confirmed the utility of a bioacoustic approach to non-invasively identify white seabass spawning periods and locations....
After the driftnet ban, swordfish fishery faces sustainability & market pressures
With the scrawl of Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature and the unanimous backing of both the California State Senate and Assembly, California has officially banned the controversial drift gillnets used to catch swordfish....