45 



(iv) Mackerel 

 The biggest stock of food fish in ICNAF areas 5 and 6 is the mackerel 

 stock, with a total allowable catch (T.A.C.) of 230,000 metric tons in 1976. 

 This resource is almost exclusively utilized by foreign fleets, and possibly 

 would be the most difficult to fully utilize by New England fishermen. How- 

 ever, fish meal prices fluctuate rather widely over time, depending on the 

 climatic and other conditions in Peru. Whether it would be economical for 

 U.S. fishermen to utilize the mackerel stock for fish meal is at least an 

 interesting question. While lower in oil content than menhaden, they might 

 be used in periods of high fishmeal prices and/or low menhaden abundance. 

 One reason advanced for the failure to do so is state laws in the mid-Atlantic 

 region which classify mackerel as a food fish and prohibit industrial uses 

 of food fish. The vessels and gear required would be similar to those 

 necessary to utilize the Georges Bank herring stock. 



(b) Pacific species 



In conversations with Pacific Coast officials (state and federal) and 

 with industry no enthusiasm was expressed for development of underutilized 

 stocks. Pacific hake was mentioned but was not judged to have much priority. 

 These stocks might, however, be harvested by U.S. vessels and offloaded into 

 foreign vessels. Alaskan groundfish, particularly pollock, were judged to 

 have greater potential for development. Since these resources are not under 

 the jurisdiction of the Pacific Coiincil the potentials were not explored in 

 much depth. It is worth noting, however, that a development study for 

 Alaskan pollock was completed by the NMFS, Seattle, Washington, circa 1974. 

 Unfortunately, its completion date was coincident with a collapse of prices 

 which made immediate development economically unattractive. This collapse 

 of fish prices was a world-wide phenomenon due probably to low meat prices 



