37 



Table 5-1— Recent average, 

 current potential, and long-term 

 potential yields in metric tons (t), 

 and status of utilization of 

 Atlantic highly migratory pelagic 

 species. The LTPY, CPY, and RAY 

 for the unit equals the sum of the 

 species' LTPY's, CPY's, and RAY's. 

 Where the species' LTPY is 

 unknown, the species' CPY is 

 substituted in the sum. If the 

 species' CPY is unknown, the 

 species' RAY is substituted. 



Long-term potential yield (LTPY)' = 23,471 t 



Current potential yield (CPY) 1 = 1 3,335 t 



Recent average yield (RAY) 1 ■ 2 = 1 8. 1 30 1 



'Total LTPY. CPY, and RAY based only on the US portion of the yield under present fishing patterns 



2 198&90 average. 



'individual LTPY's, CPY's, and RAY's based on entire stock, regardless of harvesting nation 



SPECIES AND STATUS 



1972, though there are no precise data on 

 these anglers. Billfish tournament growth 

 in some southern states indicates a fivefold 

 to tenfold increase in this fishery since 

 1972. More data are needed, however, to 

 quantify the recreational fishery trends for 

 these fishes in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf 

 waters. 



At least two Atlantic pelagic species are 

 far overutilized. Recent swordfish harvests 

 have heightened the risk of a population 

 collapse: Though international swordfish 

 protection rules have been adopted, they 

 may not prevent serious production losses. 

 Bluefin tuna have been overharvested, se- 

 verely reduced, and harvest cuts were im- 

 plemented in 1982. However, there has 

 been no apparent increase in adult num- 

 bers, and, indeed, it appears that spawning 

 stocks continue to decline. 



Atlantic oceanic pelagic fishes migrate 

 widely, and they are harvested over broad 



oceanic areas by both U.S. and foreign 

 commercial and recreational fishermen. 

 Thus, both national and international man- 

 agement are mandatory for their survival. 

 In all cases, scientific stock assessments 

 provide the bases for regulations. The U.S. 

 fleets fish from the northwestern Atlantic 

 Ocean through the Caribbean Sea and the 

 Gulf of Mexico. When in U.S. jurisdiction, 

 they may be regulated under the Magnu- 

 son Fishery Conservation and Manage- 

 ment Act (MFCMA) as well as international 

 agreements through the International 

 Commission for the Conservation of Atlan- 

 tic Tunas (ICCAT). 



U.S. fishery management plans have 

 been developed for swordfish, blue marlin, 

 white marlin, sailfish, and spearfish under 

 the MFCMA. International regulations are 

 being adopted for swordfish for the high 

 seas. Bluefin tuna fishing has been regu- 

 lated for nearly a decade. 



ISSUES 



Management of such highly migratory spe- 

 cies is difficult. Domestic regulation alone, 

 without international agreements, has lim- 

 itations. On the other hand, international 

 agreements are difficult to achieve if the 

 primary fishing nations cannot agree on 



fishing and conservation objectives. Some 

 nations see such rules as too restrictive of 

 short-term gains, while others see them as 

 too lax for long-term conservation. 



Other oceanic pelagics, notably 

 yellowfin tuna, blue marlin, white marlin, 



