1999 

 NATIONAL OVERVIEW 



Unit number and fishery 



Total productivity (t) over the entire range of stock 



Total recent Total current Total long-term 



average yield potential yield potential yield 



(RAY) (CPY) (LTPY) 



Prorated productivity 

 (t) within the U S EEZ 



US RAY 



U S LTPY 



16 Western Pacific invertebrate 



17 Western Pacific bottomfish and armorhead 



18 Pacific highly migrator/ pelagic 



21 Western Pacific nearshore species 



Total 



109 



492 



253,606 



1,420 



255,627 



222 



2,802 



253,116 



1,420 



257,560 



tonnage landed, but they contribute substantially to the value of the hsheties, due to the 

 his^h prices they command. Most shellfish species ate fully utilized. 



Recteational fisheries ate important along the Pacific Coast and especially so in southetn 

 Califotnia. A wide variety of species is taken, and the recreational catch of some greatly 

 exceeds the commercial catch. Many are nearshore resources. Gamefishes such as albacore, 

 billfishes, rockfish, and salmon are highly prized. Recreational crabbing, clam digging, and 

 abalone diving activities are also significant. 



Table 9 



Productivity in metric tons 

 (t) of fisheries resources of 

 IheWestern Pacific Region, 

 1995-97 



Western Pacific Region 



The vast area that encompass this region stretches across the central and western 

 Pacific and includes the Hawaiian Islands and the U.S. -affiliated islands of American Sa- 

 moa, Guam, and the Northern Matianas (Figute 1). These are tropical and subtropical 

 island waters with a large diversity of species but relatively low sustainable yields due to 

 limited ocean nutrients. Though the magnitude of the fisheties may be relatively small 

 (U.S. RAY and U.S. LTPY are only slightly above 2S0,()(J0 t: Table 9) when compared to 

 certain larger mainland fisheries, thev are valued highly and are important culturally and 

 socially in Hawaii and the Pacific islands. Additionally, certain transboiindary fisheries 

 hold considerable international interest, with high collective importance and value to Pa- 

 cific Rim nations and U.S. fleets fishing within and beyond the U.S. EEZ. Fishety re- 

 sources include highly migratory pelagic fishes, bottomfishes, neatshore reef fishes, and 



Fish survey. Rose Atoll, 

 American Samoa. 



2 5 



