Highly Migratory Species Report

by John T. Koegler

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association May 2001 Newsletter)

NMFS - 2001 Bluefin Tuna quota.

On the last day of March NMFS issued the quota allocations for the 2001 Bluefin Tuna season. Last year, there were few school bluefin caught in New Jersey and only a handful of large school/small medium bluefin were reported. The southern zone below the middle of the Delaware Bay Line that divides north/south zones had better fishing, primarily in late July and early August. They landed fish in both angler categories. However, the southern zone landing estimates came nowhere near their allocated 2000-year quota. The result of both zones having a poor 2000-year fishing season, combined with previous years which also had low bluefin landings has resulted in very large angler 2001 quotas.

The 2001 Quotas

Angler’s carry over is 293.2 Mt. for angler bluefin tuna. Angler's new 2001 allocation is 273.2 Mt. for a combined availability of 566.4 Mt. This is subdivided as follows:

School fish (27"-47") 247.7 Mt.

North zone- 134.3     normal yearly allocation- 47Mt.

South zone  113.4      normal yearly allocation- 53Mt.

Reserve         20.6

Large School/ Small Medium (47" to 72")- 286.9 Mt.

North zone 171.1

South zone 115.8

Trophy    11.2 Mt. 73" and larger

North 4.9

South 6.3

 A Metric ton is 2204.6 pounds if you desire to convert metric tons into pounds.

Angler's Anglers’ conservation has resulted in a large 2001 allocation of bluefin. NMFS will hold hearings on their proposed bag limits and season for anglers. Last September NMFS transferred 60 Mt. of angler large school/small medium to the General Category. This was both a shock and a clear message. If we do not land most of our anglers-allocated quota, NMFS has the authority, regardless of how improper we believe it is, to transfer our unlanded quotas to a sale category like General Category.

For two years the NMFS angler season has been 5 weeks. Later in September NMFS re-opened  angler bluefin tuna to additional fishing. September openings had little or no impact on the uncaught angler quota. Either the tuna were not there or more likely NMFS short notice resulted in few trips being planned or taken. Anglers knew from experience that bluefin tuna fishing in September for New Jersey based boats is very tough especially if you are the lone boat fishing. In addition the number of days you can fish 30 to 40 miles from land during October are few. North Jersey and New York boats sometimes have some incidental bluefin as a result of chunking for other species but in the past the season for bluefin was closed.

NMFS is repeating a mistake by keeping the comment period open until May 14. This is totally unacceptable to the charterboats part of the angler fleet. They usually book a major part of their available fishing days by May 14. NMFS will not make available to the public the angler season and bag limits until mid-June at the earliest. Charterboats have a very difficult time booking trips when both season and bag limits are unknown. NMFS must trim the comment time or give an indication on both season and bag limits as soon as possible but earlier than June 1. Charterboats’ gross business is every bit as valuable if not more valuable, than General Category and other commercial fisheries.

Bag Limits

It is expected that NMFS will liberalize angler’s daily bag limits after June 1 2001. The proposal getting the most angler support is three bluefin per boat trip of any size.  Another suggestion of two school and two large school/small mediums per trip also has support. Previous rules have been two school fish and one large school/small medium per trip. If anglers believe this is too generous, remember NMFS gave away 60 Mt. of the angler northern zone large school/small medium tuna to the General Category last year. Therefore, it makes absolutely no sense to keep a tight one larger tuna bag limit per trip when the result is no angler trips being made to land their quota allocation of this size bluefin.

Seasons

Besides bag limits, there is the issue of the different seasons opening and closing dates. Last year the northern zone opened on June 23 and closed on July 23. This was a five-week season. The southern zone had asked for a June 17 opening in 2001. The northern zone asked for a July 15 opening. Both suggestions were before the large 2001 quotas were known. It is only common sense to open the seasons earlier and keep the season open until the angler quotas are filled based on NMFS published allocations. The northern zone proposal with the most support at this time is June 23 or July 1 opening. The southern zone asked for a June 17 opening and then leave the season open until the quota is filled. There is neither angler support nor interest in opening and closing of the season with short notice during October and November. Currently US anglers are under a four-year quota system. This year 2001 is the third year of this program. Next year if angler quotas are not landed, much more liberal bag limits and season will be asked for.

Send your comments to

Chris Rogers

Office of Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1)

HMS Division

1315 East-West Highway

Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282

1-301-713-1917 Fax 

Four public hearings to receive public comments have been scheduled. The nearest one to New Jersey is Riverhead Town Hall NY on Friday April 27, 2001. Riverhead New York is only 20 minutes from Montauk, Long Island. This is a very long ride for New Jersey anglers. There has been some talk about asking for a New Jersey meeting but at the time this report was written there had been no New Jersey date suggested.

2001 year HMS (Tuna) Permits

The entire NMFS HMS permitting system has been revised and is designed to be easier to use. They even have a location where you can check on the status of your permit. To apply you need your permit number from last year or if this is an initial new permit, your boat’s Coast Guard or state registration numbers. Having these numbers in on hand before you make the call makes everything much easier for you

 Permits for 2001-2 will be issued shortly and will be good from June 1, 2001 until May 31, 2002.

Your 2000-year permit is good until May 31, 2001. This is a new management timeframe. If you cannot find your renewal form from last year, the phone number is 1-888-USA-TUNA (872-8862).

They will fax you a 2001 permit form if requested and you have a fax number. They also have a web site where NMFS forms can be either downloaded or completed while on-line. Their web site address is http://www.nmfspermits.com. A new feature of this web site is that after submitting your credit card payment of $25.00 and waiting 3 days for processing, it is possible to print your 2002 permit on you your own computer printer and not wait for snail mail delivery.

Anglers often forget that NMFS is issuing Highly Migratory Species permits. These are required for the legal landing of any tuna, not just bluefin tuna. As has been the case for the last two years, you are required to report the landing of any angler bluefin tuna by telephone to 1-888-872-8862, within 24 hours of landing your bluefin tuna. They are reported one at a time and ask for the bluefin tuna length.  An item often forgotten by anglers is that NMFS does not accept personal checks for these permits. Money orders or charge cards are the only acceptable payment. Checks are not accepted.

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