24 



Mr. Coble. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Beideman. In the case of swordfish, it is not as bad of a pic- 

 ture of what bluefin tuna is, but if we don't keep up on it, it could 

 deteriorate. The swordfish stock is at 84 percent of optimal size, 

 and it was determined that it was very important that all the coun- 

 tries cap their effort, cap mortalities at that level. 



In the last two years, Canada, which is a member of ICCAT, has 

 substantially increased their landings and is taking fish out of that 

 1,400 metric ton, which is really a slight rebuilding of the stock. So 

 it is very important for the United States to remember that it is 

 not just the bluefin tuna, but all these different species under 

 ICCAT that are going to need attention in order that we don't end 

 up at this same table with the yellowfin, albacore, bigeye tuna, and 

 billfish, on the same route that bluefin has taken. 



Mr. Coble. Thank you all for being with us. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Manton. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 

 Jersey, Mr. Pallone. 



Mr. Pallone. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am hoping that in 

 light of what I said in my statement, if — and this I guess would be 

 addressed to Dr. Foster— if NMFS has any plans to change the way 

 they allocate their domestic quotas 



Dr. Foster. We had a discussion about this the other day, and I 

 guess what we are looking for is a better idea, a better way, and if 

 anybody has one, we are ready to talk about it. I mean, do you 

 have anything specific? 



Mr. Stone. One of the things, Mr. Pallone, that you mentioned 

 before is dividing up the quota perhaps into three areas, and I 

 know Ray Bogan spoke to that, and we have looked at that. 



As a matter of fact, we listened to Ray, and one of the problems 

 with the school fish fishery is we have 100 tons to deal with, and it 

 is almost impossible to manage. It is impossible really to manage 

 100 tons, and when you start breaking that down into two areas, 

 which we have done, to a southern and northern area, it is more 

 difficult. If you try to break it into three areas, you can see the 

 problem. 



Again, we have to collect data, and for the recreational fishery 

 there are surveys and these require a lot of time to gather the 

 data, even though we do it on a weekly basis now in an attempt to 

 keep up and keep us within the quota, it is very difficult. 



Now, if that quota were larger, that would be one thing. Then 

 possibly three regions, as you mentioned and Ray had mentioned 

 before, would be feasible. But, again, as Dr. Foster has said, we are 

 looking at ways to try to get better data and work with the fisher- 

 men, log books, things like that. 



Mr. Pallone. Well, I would like to talk to you further at some 

 point about this possibility of having the three regions. I think one 

 of the biggest concerns, too, is the fact that they move around these 

 quota allotments during the fishing season. This is what drives 

 people crazy, the fact that there is — you know, that that happens 

 all the time, and I would like to see that changed to. I don't know 

 how you feel about that. 



Mr. Stone. Again, as I said, as Dr. Foster said, we are more than 

 happy to look at various ways. We do believe that we have been 



