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PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES 



Salmon landings in Alaska were 137.5 million pounds valued at $55.6 million in 1975, up 4 

 percent in quantity, but down $9.8 million (15 percent) in value. Southeast Alaska, an area that in the past 5 

 years has contributed 35 percent of the total annual Alaska landings, had its lowest salmon landings since the 

 turn of the century. The State, for the first time, closely regulated the troU fishery in the Southeast. The 

 gill net and purse seine fisheries, which take mainly pinks and chums, were closed for most of the season, but 

 were opened after August 8 when late runs improved. Bristol Bay, which had been declared a disaster area in 



1974, had the highest catch since 1971 — 5.2 million salmon. The most encouraging aspect of the 1975 season 

 was the sockeye escapement to the spawning grounds. 



Tuna. Pacific Coast landings of all species of tuna were 380.5 million pounds valued at $100.6 million for 



1975, down less than 1 percent in quantity and 12 percent in value from 1974, and just 9.4 million pounds 

 below the record of 389.9 million pounds in 1950. California has 90 percent of the total Pacific Coast 

 landings; followed by Oregon, 6 percent; and Washington, 4 percent. 



Although fluctuating by 50 million pounds or more, landings have been at or near record levels 

 since 1969, averaging 355.2 million pounds from 1969 to 1975. The 25-year average for 1944 to 1968 was 

 288.3 million pounds. These near-record landings were mainly attributable to increased landings of yellowfin. 

 In 1975, yellowfin (including bigeye) accounted for 63 percent of the Pacific Coast landings; followed by 

 skipjack emd black skipjack, 20 percent; albacore, 13 percent; and bluefin, 4 percent. 



Albacore tuna landings were 48.9 million pounds, valued at $16.2 million in 1975, down 11 

 percent in quantity from 1974 and just 7 percent above the 25-year average. For the fourth consecutive year, 

 most of the albacore was caught off Oregon and Washington. Previously, California usually received the bulk 

 of Pacific Coast albacore landings. In 1975, landings in Oregon were the largest with 17.2 million pounds, 

 followed by Washington with 16.3 million pounds, and California with 15.4 million pounds. The season began 

 in June,but fishermen and buyers had a price disagreement that kept many vessels in port. Fishing began in 

 earnest on July 8 after a price of $675 per ton was agreed on. The 1975 price was 18 percent below the price 

 of $820 a ton prevailing in 1974. 



Bluefin tuna landings were 16.4 million pounds, valued at $4.0 million, up 41 percent in quantity 

 and 22 percent in value from 1974, but about average compared with recent years. The 25-year average for 

 landings of bluefin tuna on the Pacific Coast was 17.1 million pounds. Prices decreased from $555 per ton in 

 1974 to $480 per ton in 1975. As in other years, catches were made by purse seine vessels and landed at 

 California ports. The fish were caught in waters off Mexico (74 percent) and California (26 percent). 



Landings of skipjack and black skipjack tuna at Pacific Coast ports were 74.5 million pounds, up 

 22 percent from 1974, but still 12.3 million pounds below the 25-year average. Landings of yellowfin at 

 Pacific Coast ports were 240.4 million pounds, a decrease of 5 percent from last year's record 252.8 million 

 pounds. Exvessel prices for skipjack and yeUowfin decreased about 15 percent and 8 percent, respectively, 

 from 1974 levels. Skipjack started the year at $540 per ton, ranged between $450 and $540 per ton in AprU, 

 and fell to $450 per ton in June, where it remained for the rest of the year. Similarly, skipjack under 5 

 pounds fell from $518 to $432 per ton and yellowfin declined from $580 to $500 per ton. The average price 

 for black skipjack in 1975 was $107 per ton. 



In accordance with recommendations by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (lATTC), 

 yellowfin tuna fishing by U.S. fishermen is closely regulated by NMFS and the U.S. Coast Guard in a major 

 producing area of the eastern Pacific Ocean known as the Commission's Yellowfin Regulatory Area (CYRA). 

 In CYRA, the quota for all countries was 175,000 short tons with allowances for two 10,000-ton increments 

 should data from the fishery warrant such increases. Fishermen of member nations easily reached this quota. 

 The season was closed on March 13, 1975. The U.S. share of the CYRA catch was 61.5 percent of the 

 yellowfin catch and 52.8 percent of the skipjack catch. Thirteen other countries reported landings of tuna 

 caught in CYRA. 



Crabs, dungeness . Pacific Coast landings of dungeness crabs were 18.4 million pounds valued at $11.4 million 

 in 1975, up 31 percent in quantity and 23 percent in value compared with 1974. Landings of dungeness crabs 

 in the last 3 years (1973-75) have been at very low levels compared with landings from 1968 to 1972 when 

 they averaged 45.3 million pounds. 



Crabs, king . U.S. landings of king crabs were 97.6 million pounds valued at $38.3 million in 1975, up 3 

 percent in quantity, but down 2 percent in value because of lower prices received by fishermen. The 1975-76 

 Alaska season opened on August 15, 1975, but because of a strike for higher prices by central and westward 



