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I.B.2. Western Atlantic Fishery 



Skipjack catches in the western Atlantic have fluctuated 

 markedly in recent years. From 1966 through 1972, the catch varied from 

 1500 mt to 2700 mt, with a slight downward trend over time (Figure 8). 

 Since 1972 the catch trend has been generally upward, increasing much more 

 sharply in 1978 with the addition of the Brazilian catch. 



The United States fleet has traditionally been only 

 marginally involved in the western Atlantic skipjack tuna fishery. The 

 U.S. catch peaked at 1700 mt in 1978, then declined to 730 mt in 1979. No 

 fishing effort data are available for the western Atlantic. 



I.e. Value of Catch 



In 1979, skipjack tuna weighing less than 1.8 kg brought an average 

 of $635/mt in the U.S., while skipjack larger than 1.8 kg brought $771/mt. 

 Assuming an average of $703/mt, the value of the 1979 eastern Atlantic 

 catch (75,600 mt) was in excess of $53 million. The U.S. portion of the 

 catch had a value of more than $3.9 million. At the average 1980 U.S. 

 price ($952/mt), the 1980 eastern Atlantic skipjack catch (99,900 mt) had 

 an estimated value of more than $95 million. 



Based on an average value of $703/mt, the 1979 western Atlantic 

 catch of skipjack had a value of more than $2.4 million. The U.S. portion 

 of this catch had a value of $574,000. The 1980 western Atlantic catch had 

 an estimated value of about $8.9 million ($952/mt). 



In 1978 United States tuna processors imported more than 50,000 mt 

 of Atlantic skipjack which, at an average value of $632/mt, had a value of 

 more than $31 million. 



I.D. Current Management of the Fishery 



There are presently no ICCAT or U.S. regulations for Atlantic 

 skipjack tuna in effect. It should be noted that ICCAT minimum size 

 regulations are in effect for both Atlantic yellowfin and bigeye tunas. 

 Since these tunas are taken in a multispecies fishery with skipjack tuna in 

 the eastern Atlantic, these regulations impact the skipjack tuna fishery. 



