. . . Pacific Highly Migratory Pelagic Fisheries 



82 



Figure l8-4.-Total US. and 

 foreign landings of billfish and 

 other pelagic migratory fish 

 from the Pacific Ocean, 1979-88, 

 and the U.S. landings from the 

 eastern Pacific, 1979-89, and the 

 central-western Pacific (CWP), 

 1979-90. 



. . . Tunas 



the interaction between the established 

 long-line fishery and a rapidly growing sur- 

 face fishery (predominately CI.S.) needs 

 attention, particularly if allocation of avail- 

 able yield between the fisheries becomes 

 an issue. The scope, structure, and organi- 

 zation of a multilateral management re- 

 gime is another issue which needs 

 continued attention. 



The North Pacific stock appears to be 

 overutilized, possibly owing to heavy 

 catches by drift gill nets. Data collection 

 and an evaluation of the effects of the drift 

 gillnet fishery are urgently needed. Cre- 

 ation of an international forum to manage 

 the stock is another issue that needs atten- 

 tion, particularly if the fishing nations want 

 the stock to recover. 



Billfish and 

 other species 



Population levels of the billfishes and other 

 species is either unknown or out of date: 

 There is no international mechanism to 

 examine data collected on the Pacific-wide 

 stocks. Hence, there is no up-to-date as- 

 sessment of stock condition, including that 

 portion of the stock that ranges in the U.S. 

 EEZ. Basic biological data (beyond 

 catches) are also lacking or grossly inade- 

 quate for most of these species. This limits 

 determination of the current condition of 

 the stocks. Bycatch of these species by 

 drift gill nets and in other fisheries is an- 

 other issue. Often these catches go unre- 

 ported. 



The increase in U.S. vessels (longliners) 

 in the Hawaiian EEZ and the Central Pacific 

 high seas and their impact on the swordfish 

 stocks is another concern. In addition, in- 

 cidental take of protected species (Hawai- 

 ian monk seal and sea turtles) is a sensitive 

 issue. 



Scientists recognize that at least one spe- 

 cies, the Indo-Pacific blue marlin, is and has 

 been depleted and no management mech- 

 anism exists to correct the situation. 

 Thresher sharks in the west coast sword- 

 fish/shark drift gillnet fishery are heavily 

 fished. 



