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In recent years, the U.S., Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Costa Rica 

 have participated in the outside fishery, with the U.S. responsible for 

 more than 95% of this area's yellowfin catch. The surface catches of 

 yellowfin from the outside area have ranged from a low of 1,100 mt in 1968 

 to a high of 46,000 mt in 1976. Since 1976, the yellowfin catch from the 

 outside area has decreased dramatically (13,000 mt in 1979). 



In 1979, the U.S. was the leading participant in the overall ETP 

 yellowfin fishery with 61% of the catch, followed by Mexico (13%), and 

 Ecuador (5.5%) (Figure 2). Other countries that contributed to the 1979 

 ETP yellowfin catch included Bermuda, Canada, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, 

 Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Senegal, 

 Spain, and Venezuela. 



I.B. Trenda in Catch and Effort 



Catches of yellowfin tuna from the ETP have been reported as far 

 back as 1919, when approximately 300 mt were landed in California. Catches 

 increased steadily thereafter (except for a decrease during World War II) 

 to approximately 102,000 mt in 1950. Catches declined in the 1950's to a 

 low of 63,000 mt in 1954 but rebounded sharply, with the introduction of 

 the modern purse seine technology, to 109,000 mt in 1961. From 1966 to 

 1979 an annual quota was placed upon yellowfin caught within the CYRA and 

 the catch trend during that period reflected the quota: 83,000 mt from the 

 CYRA in 1966 to a preliminary catch of 177,000 mt in 1979 (Figure 3). 



Because the ETP tuna fishery exploits both yellowfin and skipjack 

 tunas over much of the areas fished, it is difficult to distinguish fishing 

 effort by species. However, estimates based upon yellowfin catch and 

 yellowfin catch-per- standard-days- fishing in Class-3 (92 to 182 mt carrying 

 capacity) purse seine units show effort increasing from approximately 

 18,000 standard days in 1967 to approximately 78,000 standard days in 1979. 

 Estimates using yellowfin catch from the outside area and catch- per-day- 

 fishing in Class-6 (greater than 365 mt carrying capacity) purse seine 

 units indicate that effort increased from approximately 900 days in 1969 to 

 approximately 4,000 days in 1974, then declined to 1,800 days in 1979. 



I.e. Value of Catch 



Of the major ETP fishing nations, ex-vessel yellowfin prices are 

 available only for the U.S. United States ex-vessel prices for yellowfin 

 tuna in 1979 were $l,044/mt for yellowfin greater than seven (7) pounds, 

 and $890/mt for yellowfin less than seven (7) pounds. Based upon an 

 average U.S. ex-vessel price of $967/mt, the 1979 yellowfin catch of 

 177,000 mt from within the CYRA generated approximately $171 million in 

 landings revenue. The yellowfin catch from outside the CYRA (13,000 mt) 

 generated approximately $13 million. The ex-vessel revenue generated by 

 the combined 1979 yellowfin catch inside and outside the CYRA was 

 approximately $184 million. 



