-149- 



In 1979 the CYRA quota was 159,000 mt with increments of 18,000 mt 

 and 14,000 mt. For 1980 the Commission recommended a CYRA yellowfin quota 

 of 150,000 mt with provisions for incremental increases to 191,000 mt. 



II. NATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF U.S. AND FOREIGN 

 PARTICIPATION IN THE FISHERY 



Virtually all of the U.S. yellowfin catch from the ETP is landed and 

 consumed domestically. In 1979, domestic landings of all tuna species 

 totalled 213,000 mt; of these, 126,000 mt, or 55%, were yellowfin. Of all 



1979 domestic yellowfin landings, approximately 120,000 mt were taken from 

 the ETP. This represents 95% of all domestic yellowfin landings and 52% of 

 all domestic tuna landings for 1979. The domestic yellowfin catch from the 

 ETP contributed approximately 20% of the 595,000 mt of tuna (all species) 

 used in the 1979 U.S. cannery supply of fresh and frozen tuna (domestic 

 landings and foreign imports). 



During 1979 the U.S. tuna fleet operating in the ETP consisted of 138 

 purse seiners (81%), 28 baitboats (17%), and 3 jig boats (2%). In terms of 

 U.S. fleet carrying capacity, purse seiners contributed approximately 

 90,000 mt, baitboats 2,300 mt, and jig boats 27 mt. The domestic ETP 

 yellowfin catch in 1979 generated approximately $116 million in landings 

 revenue, based upon 1979 U.S. ex-vessel prices. 



Besides being the cornerstone of the U.S. tuna fleet operations, the 

 ETP yellowfin fishery contributes significantly to employment in U.S. 

 canneries located in California and Puerto Rica. Tuna canneries in 

 California employed an average of 6,215 people during 1978, while canneries 

 in Puerto Rico employed an average of 6,834 people. While these canneries 

 process other species on occasion (e.g. bonito, black skipjack, anchovies, 

 and mackerel), tuna is the mainstay of cannery operations and without tuna 

 these canneries would probably cease to exist. 



Foreign tuna fishing activity in the ETP has shown an upsurge over the 

 last decade. From 1970 to 1979 the foreign portion of the CYRA yellowfin 

 catch increased from 18% to 37%, reaching 43% in 1978. While U.S. fleet 

 carrying capacity in the eastern Pacific has declined by about 8% since 

 1976, foreign capacity has grown by over 30%. From 1976 through August 



1980 the number of foreign purse seiners fishing in the eastern Pacific 

 rose from 94 to 125 (Table 1), representing a 33% decrease in the number of 

 U.S. purse seiners. However, since 1978 the combined carrying capacity of 

 the U.S. and foreign purse seine fleets has remained almost constant. 



Most of the growth in foreign purse seine numbers since 1977 can be 

 attributed to vessel flag transfers. Transfers of U.S. purse seiners to 

 foreign flags fishing in the eastern Pacific from 1977 through September 

 1980 numbered 14, with a total carrying capacity of 12,419 mt (Table 2). 

 In addition, seven new vessels destined for foreign fleets operating in the 

 eastern Pacific were completed during this period, or are currently under 

 construction in U.S. shipyards. All of these new vessels have a 1,092 mt 

 carrying capacity. 



