Species |
Tunas: Albacore, North Pacific stock (Thunnus alalunga); Pacific Northern Bluefin (Thunnus orientalis); Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis); Yellowfin (Thunnus albacares)
Sharks: Common thresher (Alopius vulpinus); Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), Blue (Prionace glauca) – primarily as incidental catch. Pacific thresher (Alopius pelagicus) and Bigeye thresher (Alopias superciliosus) occasionally appear in commercial catch
Billfish: Swordfish (Xiphias gladius); Striped marlin, recreational only (Tetrapturus audax)
Dolphinfish or mahimahi or dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) |
Life history
(biology, habitat, range) |
Pelagic and primarily open-ocean species; some species may spend part of life history in nearshore waters
Large geographic range
Migrate over significant distances for feeding and/or reproduction, variable by species
“highly migratory species” term derives from Article 64 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea |
Stock assessment status
(as of 2006) |
Tunas: bluefin, yellowfin, albacore precautionary;
bigeye not overfished but overfishing is occurring;
skipjack healthy
Sharks: common thresher previously overfished but now considered rebuilding; blue apparently healthy; others un-assessed
Billfish: swordfish unknown [scheduled 2009]; striped marlin appears stock shows decline with data uncertainty |
Vulnerability |
Unknown |
Protected/declared species interactions |
Depending on the target HMS species, variety of turtles and marine mammals including sea lions, seals, otters, dolphins and other whales |
Gear types |
Drift gillnet (DGN); troll; harpoon; pelagic longline; seine |
Gear specifications |
Pelagic longline allowed only outside US EEZ
DGN permit may not be used to take marlin
DGN requirement: functioning acoustic deterrent devices, or “pingers,” must be deployed with net |
Historic gear |
Pole-and-line gear still used, although troll-caught dominates landings since 1980s |
Associated conservation concerns |
Depending on the target HMS species and/or stock: mammal and bird entanglement; bycatch – of other HMS such as sharks as well as mammals and protected species |
Management, commercial |
Jurisdiction(s) |
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (int’l treaty); PFMC; State |
FMP |
Federal PFMC HMS FMP |
Code sections |
FGC §§ 8561-8582 (DGN shark/swordfish); 14 CCR §§ 106-108 (DGN shark/swordfish and yellowfin tuna) |
Restricted access |
DGN Shark/swordfish
No federal Limited Entry at this time |
TAC |
No
Average landings weight was 16,597,390 lbs. for 1997-2007
2006 commercial landings weight was 2,389,100 lbs for a value of $3,852,254 (see graphs below) |
Current seasons, size limits, other restrictions |
Season Apr 1-Mar 31
Open-access Swordfish permit required for commercial taking of swordfish by harpoon or hook and line; logbook required
Shark-finning illegal in US waters |
Fishery closures/ MPAs |
DGN leatherback turtle closure Pt. Conception north to mid-OR Aug 15-Nov 15
DGN loggerhead turtle closure south of Pt. Conception and west of 120°N during forecasted El Nino event Jun 1-Aug 31 |
Proposed regulations |
None |
Recreational component |
Which species |
Skipjack, yellowfin, albacore tunas; blue shark |
Gears fished |
Pole and line; Hook and line; Spear |
Regulations |
Logbook requirements |
RecFIN/ CRFS info |
2.2 million fish reported caught over 10-year period from 1997-2007, mainly in S California |
Social context |
Participation statewide |
86 DGN and 71 Swordfish permits issued 2007 |
Participation by area |
Higher landings in S California |
Fishing and trade organizations |
Western Fishboat Owners Association (WFOA)
American Fishermen's Research Foundation (AFRF)
American Albacore Fishing Association (AAFA) |
Seafood industry context |
Product forms |
Fresh; frozen; canned |
Seafood selector status |
Tunas: albacore and troll/pole yellowfin and bigeye good choices; longline-caught tuna poor choice
Sharks: poor choice
Billfish: US swordfish good choice; imported swordfish poor choice
Dolphinfish or mahimahi or dorado: US fishery-caught good choice |
MSC certification status |
AAFA albacore is MSC certified (2007) |
Potential for value added |
|
Miscellaneous |
Sources |
DFG Marine Region 2001. California’s Living Marine Resources: A Status Report. Groundfish. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/status/status2001.asp.
Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species. Pacific Fishery Management Council. June 2007. http://www.pcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/HMS_FMP_Aug09.pdf. |
