1999 

 OUR LIVING OCEANS 



Albacore tuna, Hudson Can- 

 yon, off New Jersey-New 

 York coast. 



Domestic Management 



Although the number of permits for large 

 pelagies increased substantially during the 1990s, 

 actual levels of effort m the longline fishery have 

 declined in recent years. NMFS has proposed a 

 limited access system for the swordfish, shark, and 

 tima longline fisheries as part of the draft HMS 

 FMP in order to reduce latent effort and prevent 

 future expansion of these fleets. 



Progress 



In recent years scientists from the United States 

 and several other nations have made substantial 

 progress towards improving our understanding of 

 the biological basis for managing Atlantic highly 

 migratory fisheries. Analyses of the genetic struc- 

 ture of Atlantic and Mediterranean swordfish have 

 been completed and have corroborated some of 

 the stock structure assumptions made by ICCA'l'. 

 Genetic studies of other large pelagic species, and 

 bluetni tuna in particular, are underway. Addi- 

 tional studies of bluefln tuna stock structure us- 

 ing various tagging methods and biological mark- 

 ers are in various stages of implementation. Sev- 

 eral years of research on the growth and reproduc- 

 tive biology of male and female swordfish is being 



used to increase the understanding of the effect of 

 fishing on the north Atlantic and Mediterranean 

 management units. At recent ICX^AT meetings 

 (1996-98), several recommendations and resolu- 

 tions have been adopted that, if fully implemented, 

 will result in substantial progress in conserving 

 stocks and achieving the following management 

 objectives: 1 ) adoption of recovery plans and re- 

 building strategies for bluefln tuna and swordfish, 

 2) establishment of country-specific quotas lor 

 swordfish and eastern bluefln tuna, 3) reduction 

 of blue and white marlin catches, and 4) adoption 

 of measures facilitating the monitoring of catch 

 by both member and nonmeniber countries, and 

 the use of trade measures tor nonmeniber nations 

 that fish in a manner that diminishes the effec- 

 tiveness of management measures (ICCAT, 1997, 

 1998b, and In press (b)). 



At the domestic level, discussions on proce- 

 dures to establish limited access for some large 

 pelagies are currently well underway. 



LITERATURE CITED 



ICCAT. I')47. Report for the biennial period, 1996- 

 1997, Part I (1996), vol. 1. International Commis- 

 sion for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, M.idrid, 

 Spain, 187 p. 



ICCAT. 1998a. TunaStat-PC, Release 5097/98, No- 

 vember 1998, International t'ommission for the Con- 

 servation 111 Atlantic liinas. Corazon de Mari.i 8-6°, 

 Madrid :8()()(), Spain. 



ICCAT. 1998b. Report for the biennial period 1996- 

 1997, Part II (1997), vol. 1. International Commis- 

 sion for the Conservation ol Atlantic Tunas, Madrid, 

 Spain, 228 p. 



ICCAT. In press (a). Report of the Meeting of Stand- 

 ing (Committee on Research and Statistics. Report for 

 the biennial period 1998-1999 P.irt II (1999), vol. 

 2, International Commission tor the Conservation of 

 Atlantic Tunas, Madrid, Spain. 



ICCAl. In press (h). Report tor the bicnm.il period 

 1998-1999 Part II (1998), vol. 1. International Com- 

 mission tor the Conservation of Atlaniie liinas, 

 Madrid, Spain. 



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