Contact: Gordon Helm FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(301) 713-2370 7/21/95
Bluefin tuna allocations and regulatory changes for 1995 have been finalized, including a total quota increase to 1,311 metric tons (mt), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service announced today.
However, the 76 mt increase over the 1994 quota level will be placed in the reserve category, as will 51 mt reallocated from the purse seine category. Categories with high activity that face early closure may receive additional allocations from the reserve so that the fisheries service may continue scientific data collection.
"These adjustments to the bluefin tuna quota, along with increases in the reserve, will better serve the need to collect scientific data on the fishery," said Rolland Schmitten, fisheries service director. "These actions should also result in a longer season, and better prices for fishermen."
All other categories remain at the base levels used for 1992-1994, except for overharvest or underharvest in 1994. Initial Atlantic bluefin tuna quotas by category for the 1995 fishing year are: general category--438 mt; harpoon boat category--47 mt; purse seine category--250 mt; angling category-- 324 mt; incidental category--126 mt; inseason reserve--145 mt. The fisheries service will also be seeking input from industry on future alternative methods of quota allocation, including market- based allocations, as part of a potential limited entry program.
The increase in the inseason reserve category is to ensure that adequate scientific data are collected for better analysis in the future. In the past, premature category closings, particularly in the handgear fisheries, have cut short scientific data gathering.
The final rule also addresses fishing effort in the general category by dividing the quota into four calendar portions: June/July--88 mt; August--175 mt; September--131 mt; October--44 mt. These controls address concerns about the past distribution of fishing opportunities, should lengthen the season, and are expected to increase average prices. In addition, the final rule restricts fishing on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and certain other days to coincide with Japanese market holidays. These no- fishing days are also intended to reduce fishing effort during high production days to ensure that effort reduction is effective for all fishermen.
The proposed moratorium on the harpoon category has been removed from the final rule. The fisheries service will continue to study the issue as it reviews limited entry proposals for all Atlantic bluefin tuna categories for the future.
Permitting requirements in the bluefin tuna fishery have been amended in this final rule. The angling category and incidental rod & reel permit have been consolidated, while vessels can no longer hold permits in both the angling and general categories. However, general category vessels may fish for Atlantic tunas recreationally, except when the catch limit for commercial size class Atlantic bluefin tuna has been retained. These changes will reduce waste of fish and enforcement problems in this fishery without increasing bluefin mortality.
Atlantic bluefin tuna bag limits for private or charter/headboat vessels permitted in the angling category have been simplified to two fish per angler per trip from among the school/large school size classes, plus one per vessel per trip in the small/medium size class. Captains and mates aboard charter/headboat vessels may now be counted as anglers for purposes of bag limits.
Purse seine quotas and a proposed recreational bag limit for yellowfin tuna were also omitted from the final rule pending further analysis. A copy of the final rule is available from by contacting Richard Stone at (301) 713-2347 or by writing to National Marine Fisheries Service, Highly Migratory Species Division, FCM-4, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Md. 20910-3282.