TUNA COMMITTEE REPORT

by John Koegler

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association - October 1996 Newspaper)

Yellowfin Tuna

MRFSS (Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey) records yellowfin tuna as one of their surveyed fish. MRFSS catch data is better documentation for the rod and reel catches of yellowfin tuna. Yellowfin tuna catches, harvests, and landings are being grossly under counted in NMFS’s Large Pelagic Survey used to report United States rod and reel catches to ICCAT. ICCAT has proposed international management of yellowfin. Since ICCAT’s 1995 meeting these details are being worked out. Before ICCAT manages yellowfin tuna, NMFS must establish what the historic rod and reel fishery actually caught.

We will not tolerate the same under estimate of the actual historical rod and reel numbers, that were used for Bluefin Tuna management.

NMFS 10 year average (1985-1994) based on their March 1996 Federal Registry yellowfin tuna notice is only 1,689.2 metric tons. Assuming the current increase in Atlantic Tuna permit holders comes to 31,000 then a rod & reel quota based on NMFS numbers would be 2 yellowfin tuna per season per permitted boat. The 1995 Atlantic Tuna permit is New south of Cape Hatteras. The total permitted boats in future years will increase.

1,689.2 10 yr MT avg X2204.6=3,724,010 lbs -60 lb fish = 62,006 YFT. 62,006 YFT - 31,000 permit holders=2.002 YFT per season per boat.

Those who have worked on bluefin tuna management with NMFS remember that this is EXACTLY the method NMFS used to regulate rod and reel anglers OUT of their traditional and historical bluefin tuna school, large school and small medium fisheries. NMFS flawed LPS system used to estimate recreational bluefin landings if applied to yellowfin tuna would decimate the recreational industry. NMFS is determined to short change the recreational industry again! Until NMFS can prove there is any shred of correctness in their LPS survey, they should use MRFSS survey data. This is the survey The New England, Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Councils plus The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission use to manage fisheries along the Atlantic seaboard.

The use of MRFSS data in place of the LPS would greatly increase rod and reel 1985 catches of yellowfin tuna , from 30 Metric Tons reported by LPS to 6,277 Metric Tons. MRFSS 197.708 fish for area 92 and a 70 pound average size typical of that time equals 6,277 Metric Tons. We are not asking for minor adjustments to a known flawed survey, but realize major changes are needed to accurately account for rod and reel catches.

It will take a major effort to change NMFS’s rod and reel yellowfin tuna numbers. MRFSS supported data could go a long way toward getting an honest count for rod and reel anglers. This is not a request for minor changes to NMFS’s rod & reel yellowfin tuna data, but a need to make major corrections based on MRFSS numbers. These corrections would substantially increase the last ten years of reported rod and reel yellowfin landings substantially. We actually did catch these fish. The fact that NMFS has never reported correctly the rod and reel yellowfin tuna catches is not our problem.

NMFS must understand many rod and reel boats with tuna permits have diverted their fishing towards the "other" tunas. They are now seeking yellowfin, big-eye, true albacore plus an occasional marlin, swordfish and shark. That there are a substantial number of trips made offshore is documented by NMFS 1995 bluefin tuna report showing over 97,006 trips were made in the Northeast by rod and reel anglers seeking HMS.

Let NMFS provide rod & reel anglers with an honest yellowfin tuna count.

A meeting of JCAA tuna committee will be announced at the September Jersey Coast meeting.

Tom Fote’s and Gary Caputi’s report included in this issue covers what has happened in the Bluefin tuna fishery over the last thirty days. It is imperative we come up with a strong position that is conveyed to our ICCAT delegation.

The New Jersey regional meeting will be on October 22 1996 in Belmar Municipal Building 601 Main Street Belmar New Jersey. If you are interested in attending this meeting and can not make the September 24 Jersey Coast meeting leave a message on JCAA answering machine with your Name and Phone number and you will be notified. (1-908-506-6565)

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