PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES 



Record landings of 236.7 million pounds of yellowfln tuna were 31.1 million more than In 

 1969, the former record year. The value ($42.8 million) Increased 29 percent compared with 1969. 

 Fishermen received an average price of 18 cents per pound--compared with 16 cents In 1969. 



In accordance with the recommendation of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, 

 the 1970 quota of yellowfln tuna from the eastern tropical Pacific was held to 120,000 tons. The 

 fishery opened January 1 and closed March 23, 1970. It was the fifth consecutive year that this 

 fishery operated under a quota system designed to maintain the yellowfln population at the maxi- 

 mum sustainable yield. 



After the quota was taken, a reported total of 25 U.S. flag vessels fished in eastern Atlan- 

 tic waters off West Africa and another eight tuna seiners fished on an exploratory basis in the 

 western Pacific Ocean. 



Anchovies . Landings In California were a record 192.5 million pounds — an increase of 57 .2 mil- 

 lion (42 percent) compared with 1969, the former record year. The increased landings resulted 

 from greater fishing effort, early season price agreement, and favorable market prices for anchovy 

 meal . 



It was the sixth consecutive year for the anchovy reduction fishery. As in previous years, 

 the California Fish and Game Commission established separate catch quotas and a split fishing 

 season for the two permit areas that are divided by Point Conception in Santa Barbara County. The 

 1970-71 season in the Northern Permit Area opened August 1, 1970, with a catch quota of 10,000 

 tons, and in the Southern Permit Area on September 15, 1970, with a catch quota of 100, 000 tons . 

 The early season was scheduled to close in both areas on January 3, 1971. When the early season 

 ended, fishermen had taken nearly 50 percent of the total allowable catch quota of 110,000 tons. 



Shrimp . Landings of a record 92.9 million pounds (heads-on) worth a record $5.5 million were 

 30.3 million pounds (49 percent) and $1.7 million (47 percent) more than in 1969, the former rec- 

 ord year. Record landings in Alaska (74.3 million pounds), Oregon (13.6 million), and California 

 (4.1 million pounds) contributed to the peak production. In Alaska, the shrimp fishery has trended 

 sharply upward since 1959 when landings were 13.1 million pounds — at that time a record harvest. 

 The spectacular growth of the fishery has centered in the Kodiak area which yielded about 85 per- 

 cent of the State total in 1970. The industry has developed rapidly with the introduction of new 

 shrimping vessels and the invention of new peeling machines for processing. 



Dunqeness crabs . Landings were a record 58.5 million pounds worth a record $12.1 million — a 

 gain of 10.5 million pounds and $1.0 million compared with 1969. Contributing to the increase 

 were record landings of 14.9 million pounds in Oregon, and substantial landings in Washington 

 (18.5 million) and California (15.4 million pounds). However, the Alaska production of 9.7 mil- 

 lion pounds declined slightly compared with 1969. For the first time since 1960, Dungeness crab 

 landings were greater than king crab landings. 



Early in the season, Dungeness crabs in Washington were small and had a poor yield; 

 prices dropped sharply. The crabs in Oregon, however, were large, and prices were firm. The 

 Oregon production was 53 percent greater than in 1969. The quantity of crab gear used increased 

 markedly in both Washington and Oregon. In Washington, 39,500 pots were used — compared with 

 29,950 in 1969; and in Oregon, 48,050 pots were used — compared with 44,900 in 1969. The 

 Dungeness crab fishery in Washington had 148 vessels — 49 more than in 1969. The Oregon fleet 

 had 161 vessels — 14 more than in 1969. 



In Alaska, air shipment of significant quantities of live Dungeness crabs was a new devel- 

 opment in 1970 . The ports of Kodiak and Homer, Alaska, supplied most of the shipments. As 

 much as 3,000 pounds of live crabs were flown to Hawaii each week, and smaller quantities were 

 flown to Oregon and Arizona . A major problem encountered, however, was the mortality of the 

 crabs while enroute to the destination. In an effort to overcome this drawback to a promising new 

 market, a continuing effort was underway to develop improved shipping containers and handling 

 methods . 



