Highly Migratory Species Report by John T. Koegler (from Jersey Coast Anglers Association May 2005 Newsletter) Bluefin Tuna Debacle Those who have followed NMFS outrageous treatment of angler’s historical bluefin tuna fishery since 1976 will not be shocked by NMFS 2005 proposals. Those who have not followed NMFS past regulatory actions will be shocked by NMFS latest proposals for angler’s 2005/2006 bluefin tuna seasons. NMFS proposals are contained in the March 18, 2005 “Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Quota specifications and General Category Effort Controls” published on March 23 in the Federal Registry pages 14630 to 14564. Normally, this will permit you to submit comments until April 23, 2005.  On March 7, 2005, NMFS published their bluefin tuna 2004 initial quota specifications. This very late publication of Anglers 2004 bluefin tuna quota allocations, which were due in June of 2004, apparently does not shock anyone, even lawyers. Anglers bluefin options on which you were asked to comment by April 18, 2005 are: defer any action until the final year of the 4-year management period. (2006)   reallocate all or a portion of the 2005 school sub-quota to the large school/ small medium sub-quota for 2005.   Maintain the default angling retention limit of one fish per vessel per day for the entire 2005 season and prohibit landing of school BFT in 2005 and carry over the total to 2006. The NMFS facts: Angler 2004 quota Total bluefin                76.5 MT School                          24.6 MT Large School/sm med 49.7 MT Anglers 2003 landings                          429.7 MT Anglers Baseline allocation for 2004   288.6 MT Minus payback for 2003 overages        212.1 MT Anglers TOTAL 2004 quota allocation 76.5 MT Published on March 7, 2005 Anglers 8 % school allocation and cap is 119 MT. (US ICCAT total base allocation is 1489.6 MT x 08% = 119 MT.) NMFS 2003 anglers school fish estimate    138 MT or 9.3% of base quota NMFS states that 2004 school tuna preliminary estimate is greater than 138 MT. What do the above numbers indicate? There will be no quota allocation of school fish to carry forward, only reductions. NMFS did not state angler’s school, large school/ small medium 2004 landings. The fishery closed on Dec. 31, 2004.  Why cannot NMFS report Anglers 2004 landings? Given that total angler 2004 quota was 76.5 MT for all sizes, is there any question that anglers went over their total 2004 allocation of 76.5 MT.!??? The reason you should support option one (1) as your best bluefin tuna choice is: because the #1 choice is: “Defer any action until 2006.” A fishing group has determined that NMFS dockside LPS survey teams measured angler tuna using the standard straight line measurement tool. NFMS regulations require anglers tuna are to be measured using a curved fork length measurement. Regulations are based on length. Angler’s bluefin landings weight is estimated. NMFS uses their own length based statistical tables that report weight based on length. The difference in estimated tuna weight between the two measured lengths is a 17% increase in anglers’ landings. In short, NMFS weight estimates for angler’s bluefin tuna are 17% too high. There has also been a review of NMFS length to weight conversion tables. This review indicated that the tables are an additional 6% too high for a total of 23% too high. Using the above 138 MT. estimate x 17% too high measurement= 23.46 MT. Anglers 2003 landings would be under quota. 138 MT. – 23 MT = 115MT.  Anglers 2003 quota was 119 MT. Since the angler landings of school bluefin for 2004 have not been reported, possibly under for 2004 as well. It is interesting the north/south dividing line is being ignored. If observed there would be no southern zone bluefin fishery for anglers in that zone in 2005 or 2006. The southern zone is Ocean City, NJ south. The reason all the above discussion are about school bluefin tuna is because that sub-category is under an ICCA 8% landing cap. The other angler fishery, large school and small medium, are limited by the total US quota, not categories. NMFS can shift reserves and under-harvested bluefin tuna from other categories to cover total landings and stay within ICCAT quota allocations. Therefore, the above discussion is mostly about school bluefin between 27” to 47” CFL. Those who target larger bluefin in the large school and small medium category will have a major problem with their 2004 allocation of 49.7 MT. If you want to fish for bluefin in 2005 and 2006, you better comment. There are other major issues that need an honest solution for you to land bluefin in 2006.  NMFS LPS survey vs. North Carolina and Maryland census that show LPS is more than 40% too high. It’s the NMFS math, not angler landings that are the problem. NMFS refuses to accept census numbers as honest. NMFS math equation that inflates bluefin tuna numbers by 50%. RFA and other Bluefin tuna advocates have worked closely with NMFS-HMS Division to reach an accommodation. If their understanding becomes the 2005 regulation, then there will be a 2005 season, but it will be a short season with bluefin tuna landings per trip tightly controlled. NMFS 2005 proposal is named: Atlantic HMS, Bluefin tuna quota specifications and General Category Effort Controls. Comments may be submitted through the following addresses using mail letterhead: Email 05BFTSPECS@noaa.gov Fax- 1978-281-9340 Snail mail: Dianne Stephan HMS Management Division Office of Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1) NMFS One Blackburn Dr. Gloucester, MA -01930 Federal register pages are 14630-14634 Web address is http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/frdoc/05bftspecspr.pdf [News Contents] [Top]