276 



the other 56 percent would have been also lost. Diversion of this effect to 

 other areas would have Increased the fishing pressure and competition tor tuna 



and porpoise ill Other areas. 



The pattern during 1975 was similar. Thirty large seiners which carried 

 NMFS observers had: 1,045 total sets; 20,138 total tons; 33U eastern spinner 

 sets (J41.8 percent) ; and 1,058 tons of eastern spinners (23. 13 percent). 

 The distribution of the catch on eastern spinners was as follows: 



Number 

 o) 

 Percent of total catch on eastern spinners: vetuk 



to 10 12 



11 to 20 3 



21 to 30 5 



31 to 40 7 



41 to 50 1 



51 to 00 



01 to 70 1 



Half of the vessels sampled took more than 20 percent of their catch (aver- 

 age 37.4 percent) in association with eastern spinners. Again, the result 

 would have been uneconomical operations in the eastern spinner areas and 

 a shift of effort (and concentration) on other stocks. 



The year 1976 was excellent for school fish yellowfin and skipjack and, 

 therefore, the need to fish on eastern spinner mixes does not appear as com- 

 pelling as it did in 1974 and 1975. Nevertheless, the importance of eastern 

 spinners still remains. 



In 1976 a total of 60 large seiners which carried NMFS observers or gear 

 technicians had : 2,606 total sets ; 39,343 total tons ; 290 sets on eastern spin- 

 ners (11.1 percent) ; and 3,881 tons with eastern spinners (9.9 percent). 



The distribution of the catch on eastern spinners was as follows : 



Number 

 of 



Percent of total catch on eastern spinners: vessels 



to 10 39 



11 to 20 10 



21 to 30 4 



31 to 40 2 



41 to 50 1 



51 to 50 2 



61 to 70 2 



Twenty-one vessels (35 percent) took more than ten percent of their catch 

 (average 24.8 percent) from eastern spinner mixes. Eleven vessels (18.3 per- 

 cent) took more than 20 percent of their catch (average 38.8 percent) from 

 eastern spinner mixes. 



Historically, spinner porpoise (white belly and eastern), have comprised 

 about 33 percent of total porpoise mortality each year, with spotted porpoise 

 making up about 63 percent and the miscellaneous species the remaining four. 

 The quota as currently proposed prohibits setting on mixed schools of eastern 

 spinners. Based on this prohibition and the economics of the fishery, vessels 

 will be forced to shift their operations to areas where they also can take 

 spotted/white belly spinner mixes. At an overall mortality rate of .5 porpoise 

 per ton (50 percent of 1976 rate) and the prohibition on eastern spinners, 

 the United States fleet will reach its white belly quota (7,840 animals) after 

 taking less than 50,000 tons of yellowfin associated with porpoise. This is 

 about. 40 percent of the historic catch on porpoise. 



In combination the prohibition on taking eastern spinners and the very low 

 Quota on white belly spinners threatens the fleet with a direct loss in 1977 

 of approximately 80,000 tons of tuna that cannot be taken in association with 

 porpoise. 



We estimate that the practical effect of the current regulations will be to 

 limit the take of porpoises by the United States fleet to: 14,907 offshore spot- 

 ted: 7,840 white belly spinner: and 950 miscellaneous — total. 23.757. 



At an optimistic kill rate of .5 porpoise per ton of tuna caught the fleet will 

 take about 47,500 tons of tuna on porpoise. 



( fentlemen, it is disaster. 



Based upon data produced by the NMFS, the eastern spinner population 

 could sustain a take of some 15,773 animals (6,500 United States and 9,273 



