Bluefin tuna fishery needs help

The western Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery is in great danger and desperately need some help for survival.

According to a report issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service, the landings of large, medium and giant bluefin tuna are dismal for the fourth consecutive year. The report counted only 1,008 fish from all categories, commercial and recreational, than average weight of 422.9 pounds and a gross weight of 193.6 metric tons. It is against a UD quota of 1,391.2 metric tons for both years.

The landings have been called a fisheries disaster by fisheries analysts and industry spokesmen. However, the European and African nations keep fishing as relentlessly as they ever did. On the other hand the Japanese market continues to accept every fish that anyone can supply.

Alan D. Risenhoover, director of the National Marine Fisheries Service's office of sustainable fisheries, said the service considering to hold an informal bluefin tuna scientific workshop to discuss research and preparations for stock assessments. Dr. David Bramhall, a charter boat captain, said that the only way to save the bluefin tuna was to have it listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES).

Now most of the charter captains tried to shift their emphasis to striped bass, bluefish, blackfish and other species inshore or they split their time between the canyon and inshore fisheries. They have practically forgotten tuna. They think that CITIES is the only option to answer the questions raised for bluefin tuna.

However, the bluefin tuna fishery for giants and mediums off North Carolina is quite okay, and boats are docking regularly with some fish of this size as well as some fish between 100 and 200 pounds.

Source: Asbury Park Press"

WorldFishingToday d. 04-02-2008