-85- 



late 1960's and early 1970's were close to MSY. The 1979 catch of 22,000 

 mt was below MSY, with effort levels below that required for MSY. 



III.B.3. Results of Yield-per-Recruit Analysis . 



The south Atlantic fishery is producing a yield-per- 

 recruit of about 7.7 kg. Because of the nature of the longline fishery, 

 virtually no increase in yield-per-recruit is likely to occur by 

 maintaining fishing effort and increasing size-at-first-capture. 

 Furthermore, increases (up to 40%) in effort with the same size-at-first- 

 capture will produce little change in yield-per-recruit values. 



III.B.4. Results of Spawner/Recruitment Analysis 



No spawner/recruit relationship has been established for 

 this stock. Estimates of recruitment to age 3 from the 1960 to 1966 year- 

 classes (from cohort analyses) show relatively constant values of about 3.6 

 million fish per year. 



111,8.5. Results of Other Analyses/Simulations 



None available. 



III.C. Current Evaluation of Stocks and the Fishery 



Evidence available for the south Atlantic albacore stock indicates 

 the stock is currently being exploited about 25% below MSY. The stock 

 appears to be producing a yield-per-recruit which is near the maximum for 

 the mode of fishing used. No problems with recruitment have been found. 



IV. STATUS OF CURRENT RESEARCH NEEDS AND EFFORTS 

 IV. A. Major Research Problems 



The south Atlantic albacore stock has shown no immediate research 

 needs although the representativeness of longline CPUE as an indicator of 

 stock abundance should be investigated. 



IV. B. Current Research Efforts 



The current U.S. research effort on south Atlantic albacore is 

 limited to monitoring the research efforts of foreign scientists through 

 ICCAT. 



