414 



REVIEW OF CERTAIN MAJOR FISHERIES 



PACIFIC TUNA FISHERY, 1970 



Domestic landings of tuna at Pacific Coast and Hawaii ports were 386.9 million pounds 

 worth $74 .0 million — a gain of 64.7 million pounds (20 percent) and $19 .5 million {36 percent) com- 

 pared with 1969. The principal reason for the Increased volume was record landings of yellowfin 

 tuna, 237.4 million pounds (up. 15 percent); near-record landings of albacore, 56.1 million (up 17 

 percent); and a marked increase in landings of skipjack tuna, 84.2 million pounds (up 62 percent) . 

 Bluefln tuna landings, however, were 43 percent less than in 1969. The greater value resulted 

 chiefly from a sharp increase in the average price per pound received by fishermen for albacore tuna, 

 and from smaller increases in the prices of bluefln, skipjack, and yellowfin tuna. 



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

 the 1970 quota of yellowfin 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 yellowfin population at the maximum 

 sustainable yield. 



A total of 7,621 fishermen, 1,420 vessels , and 596 motor boats were employed in the Pacific 

 tuna fisheries — a decline of 29 fishermen, 599 vessels, and 28 motor boats compared with 1969. 

 Purse seines, the principal gear used in taking bluefin, skipjack, and yellowfin tuna, accounted 

 for 76 percent of the landings. Lines, used mainly in taking albacore tuna, accounted for the re- 

 maining 24 percent. 



SUMMARY OF PACIFIC TUNA OPERATING UNITS, 1970 



SEE FOOTNOTE AT END OF TABLE. 



(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) 



