Working Paper MHLC–2
Species encountered in the western and central Pacific Ocean longline and purse-seine fisheries.
Peter G. Williams
Oceanic Fisheries Programme Secretariat of the Pacific Community Noumea, New Caledonia
1
INTRODUCTION
The Fourth Multi-lateral High-Level Consultation on Highly Migratory and Straddling Fish Stocks (MHLC-4) had some discussion on the issue of which species to include in the convention for the proposed management arrangement for western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) tuna fisheries.
Specifically, the Draft Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the central and western Pacific Region (February, 1999) notes in Part 1–General Provision, Article 1–Use of Terms :
“ (b) ‘Commission’ means the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean established in accordance with this Convention;
(c) ‘1982 Convention’ means the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982; … (f) ‘highly migratory fish stocks’ means all fish stocks of the species listed in Annex 1 of the 1982 Convention occuring in the Convention Area, provided that the Commission may decide to add such other species of fish to the list of highly migratory species listed in Annex 1 of the 1982 Convention as it considers necessary; “
The four main tuna species (skipjack–Katsuwonus pelamis, yellowfin–Thunnus albacares, bigeye– Thunnus obesus and albacore–Thunnus alalunga) are implicitly included by being the target catch taken in WCPO tuna fisheries1. Tuna commissions based in other oceans (e.g. ICCAT2) have included several by-catch species in their work programmes, recognising the importance of including information on the major by-catch species as a part of the overall management of the fishery. At this stage, there has been little or no consideration of which by-catch species should be considered in the work of the future commission for WCPO tuna fisheries.
Several studies to estimate the by-catch in the WCPO tuna fisheries have been undertaken by the OFP during the past decade (e.g Bailey et al., 1996; Lawson, 1997). These studies have benefitted from information collected by observers from SPRTRAMP3, national observer and the US Multi- lateral Treaty programmes during the past decade, and now provide progressively better indications of by-catch taken in longline and purse seine fisheries.
This paper summarises the findings from past studies on species encountered in the most important tuna fisheries in the WCPO (i.e. longline and purse seine), and augments these findings with a summary of recent observer data.
1 See Article 10(3) of the draft Convention 2 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas 3 the South Pacific Regional Tuna Resource Assessment and Monitoring Project 2
LONGLINE
1.1 Species List
WTP
WSP
WTeP
Figure 1. Western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO), showing sub-areas referred to in this paper.
Table 1 shows a list of all species encountered in WCPO longline fisheries according to data collected and studies conducted by the OFP to date. Note that species are ordered within species group in Table 1 according to a ranking (explained below); species without a ranking are those species listed in Bailey et al. (1996) (see Table A–1) that are not covered in the regional observer database.
The ANNEX to this paper contains tables that have been taken from studies conducted by the OFP, and from the most up-to-date version of the WCPO Regional Observer database, which now contains information collected for more than 6,000 longline sets.
Table A–1 (Bailey et al., 1996) is a qualitative summary of species encountered in longline sets in the three main areas of the WCPO (see Figure 1; WTP represents 15°N–10°S; WSP represents 10°S– 35°S;WTeP represents 35°S-50°S), and was based on observer data, literature review and observer trip reports and anecdotes available prior to 1995.
Table A–2 (Lawson, 1997) is the result of estimating the total catch of all species by multiplying catch rates determined from observer data, available for the period 1991-1996, by estimates of annual longline effort.
Tables A–3 and A–4 show the nominal CPUE for all species taken in the WTP and WSP longline fisheries, respectively, according to observer data available since 1996 (and up to 1999).
A comprehensive review expanding on the work done in Lawson (1997) is planned to be undertaken during the next 12–18 months. In the interim, an ad hoc attempt has been made to combine the available data presented in Tables A–2 to A–4 to provide some indication of overall frequency of occurrence for each species encountered in WCPO longline fisheries (see Table A–5). This is 3 achieved by simply summing the ‘ranks’ contained in each of these tables to come up with an indicator of relative frequency of occurrence (i.e. ‘Overall Ranking’).
1.2 Observations
The following observations are based on the information currently available.
• The four main tuna species (yellowfin, bigeye, albacore and skipjack) targeted by WCPO tuna fisheries are ranked in the top ten encountered species for the longline gear. • The six billfish species are listed in the top 20 species rankings for longline (Table 1). Blue marlin is the predominant species in tropical waters, while striped marlin and short-billed spearfish are the most commonly encountered in the sub-tropical waters. Black marlin and sailfish are taken by longline vessels in waters closer to the coastline, and monitoring the longline catch of these species has special interest to recreational fisheries targetting these species. Swordfish has some commercial importance (Bailey et al., 1996) and is commonly encountered in the longline catch throughout the WCPO. • Three shark species are commonly encountered in the WCPO longline catch: blue shark, oceanic white-tip and silky shark. The three species of thresher shark encountered in the WCPO longline catch, bigeye (A. supercilious), pelagic (A. pelagicus) and A. vulpinus thresher, have been identified to the genus level by some observers (i.e. grouped) and would therefore appear higher on the list as individual species if all observations of thresher shark were to the species level. As with the thresher sharks, mako shark species have been grouped in some instances, and the rankings of individual species would normally be higher if observations were recorded to the species level. The short-finned mako shark is believed to be more prevalent in sub-tropical waters (Bailey et al., 1996) and therefore may be of interest, even though this is not reflected in the rankings presented herein. • Other commonly encountered species that do not fall into the tuna, billfish and shark categories include wahoo, mahi mahi and opah (moonfish), which are commercially important by-catch species in a number of domestic longline fisheries throughout the WCPO (Bailey et al., 1996). Escolar is also relatively common, and there has been increasing commercial interest in this species. Other commonly encountered species that do not have any apparent commercial value and are normally discarded (Bailey et al., 1996; SPC observers trip reports) are oilfish and the species of lancetfishes. 4
Table 1. Longline species list, by species group and rank
Overall Species Scientific Name Rank YELLOWFIN Thunnus albacares 1 ALBACORE Thunnus alalunga 2 BIGEYE Thunnus obesus 3 WAHOO Acanthocybium solandri 7 SKIPJACK Katsuwonus pelamis 8 TUNA (UNIDENTIFIED) Thunnini 26 SOUTHERN BLUEFIN Thunnus maccoyii 42 DOGTOOTH TUNA Gymnosarda unicolor 58 NORTHERN BLUEFIN Thunnus thynnus orientalis 59 LONGTAIL TUNA Thunnus tonggol 74 MACKEREL (UNIDENTIFIED) Scombridae 87 SCOMBRIDS SLENDER TUNA Allothunnus fallai 91 BUTTERFLY KINGFISH Gasterochisma melampus - FRIGATE TUNA Auxis thazard - KAWAKAWA Euthynnus affinis - SWORDFISH Xiphias gladius 5 BLUE MARLIN Makaira mazara 6 STRIPED MARLIN Tetrapturus audax 12 SAILFISH (INDO-PACFIC) Istiophorus platypterus 13 BLACK MARLIN Makaira indica 14 SHORT-BILLED SPEARFISH Tetrapturus angustirostris 17 BILLFISH MARLINS, SAILFISHES, SPEARFISH 38 BLUE SHARK Prionace glauca 4 OCEANIC WHITE-TIP SHARK Carcharhinus longimanus 9 SILKY SHARK Carcharhinus falciformis 10 PELAGIC STING-RAY Dasyatis violacea 19 SHORT FINNED MAKO SHARK Isurus oxyrhinchus 22 SHARKS (UNIDENTIFIED) 25 CROCODILE SHARK Pseudocarcharias kamoharai 27 BIGEYE THRESHER SHARK Alopias superciliosus 29 MAKO SHARKS Isurus spp. 32 THRESHER SHARKS Alopias spp. 35 HAMMERHEAD SHARKS Sphyrna spp. 36 PELAGIC THRESHER SHARK Alopias pelagicus 37 BLACKTIP SHARK Carcharhinus limbatus 39 TIGER SHARK Galeocerdo cuvier 40 LONG FINNED MAKO SHARK Isurus paucus 41 WHIP STINGRAY Dasyatis akajei 46 SILVER-TIP SHARK Carcharhinus albimarginatus 48 DUSKY SHARK Carcharhinus obscurus 49 BRONZE WHALER SHARK Carcharhinus brachyurus 52 GALAPAGOS SHARK Carcharhinus galapagensis 53 GREY REEF SHARK Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos 55 THRESHER SHARK (VULPINAS) Alopias vulpinus 56 PORBEAGLE SHARK Lamna nasus 62 SHARKS AND RAYS MANTA RAYS Mobulidae 63 GREAT WHITE SHARK Carcharodon carcharias 67 RAYS, SKATES AND MANTAS Batoidimorpha (Hypotramata) 68 BLACKTIP REEF SHARK Carcharhinus melanopterus 72 SANDBAR SHARK Carcharhinus plumbeus 78 COOKIE CUTTER SHARK Isistius brasiliensis 79 WHITE-TIP REEF SHARK Triaenodon obesus 82 BIGEYE SAND SHARK Odontaspis noronhai 83 DOGFISH Squalidae - SCHOOL SHARK Galeorhinus galeus - SMOOTH LANTERNSHARK Etmopterus pusillus - 5
Table 1. Longline species list, by species group and rank (continued) MARINE TURTLE Testudinata 64 OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLE Lepidochelys olivacea 73 HAWKSBILL TURTLE Eretmochelys imbricata 88 LOGGERHEAD TURTLE Caretta caretta 89
TURTLES GREEN TURTLE Chelonia mydas - LEATHERBACK TURTLE Dermochelys coriacea - ESCOLAR Lepidocybium flavobrunneum 11 MAHI MAHI Coryphaena hippurus 15 MOONFISH (OPAH) Lampris guttatus 16 OILFISH Ruvettus pretiosus 18 LANCETFISHES Alepisaurus spp. 20 UNSPECIFIED 21 BARRACUDAS Sphyraena spp. 23 POMFRETS AND OCEAN BREAMS Bramidae 24 SNAKE MACKERELS AND ESCOLARS Gempylidae 28 ATLANTIC POMFRET (RAY'S BREAM) Brama brama 30 LONGSNOUTED LANCETFISH Alepisaurus ferox 31 OTHER FISH 33 SNAKE MACKEREL Gempylus serpens 34 SHORTSNOUTED LANCETFISH Alepisaurus brevirostris 43 GREAT BARRACUDA Sphyraena barracuda 44 OCEAN SUNFISH Mola mola 45 SICKLE POMFRET Taractichthys steindachneri 47 FROSTFISH (SILVER SCABBARDFISH) Lepidopus caudatus 50 DEALFISH Trachipterus spp. 51 RAINBOW RUNNER Elagatis bipinnulata 54 SEA SNAKE Pelamis platurus 58 BARRACOUTA Thyrsites atun 60 PACIFIC RUDDERFISH Psenopsis anomala 61 GEMFISH Rexea solandri 65 SCABBARD FISH, FROSTFISH Benthodesmus spp. 66 BIG-SCALED POMFRET Taractichthys longipinnis 69 "OTHERS" BLUE GRENADIER - HOKI Macruronus novaezelandiae 70 SOAPFISH Grammistes sexlineatus 75 AMBERKJACK (GIANT YELLOWTAIL) Seriola lalandi 76 RUDDERFISH Centrolophus niger 81 BLUENOSE Hyperoglyphe antarctica 84 DEEPWATER RED SNAPPER Etelis carbunculus 85 EEL Nemichthyidae 86 PILOT FISH Naucrates ductor 90 SOUTHERN RAYS BREAM Brama australis 92 TREVALLIES (UNIDENTIFIED - JACKS) Caranx spp. 93 BASS, HAPUKA Polyprion spp. - BLUE EYES Pseudomugilidae - GLOBEFISH, PORCUPINE FISH Diodontidae - HAKE Merluccius australis - LANTERN FISH Myctophidae - OARFISH Regalecus glesne - RAGFISH Icichthys australis - REMORA Remora spp. - SEA PERCHES, GROPERS Serranidae - WAREHOU Seriolella brama - DOLPHINS/PORPOISES Delphinidae 71 MARINE (AQUATIC) MAMMAL Mammalia 80 COMMON DOLPHIN Delphinus delphis - FALSE KILLER WHALE Pseudorce crassidens - KILLER WHALE Orcinus orca - MAMMALS PILOT WHALE Globicephalus spp. - SEAL Pinnipedia - UNIDENTIFIED BIRD 77 BIRDS ALBATROSS Diomedea spp. - PETRELS Procellaria spp. - 6
PURSE SEINE
2.1 Species List
Table 2 shows a list of all species encountered in WCPO purse seine fisheries according to data collected and studies conducted by the OFP to date. Note that species are ordered within species group in Table 2 according to a ranking (explained below); species without a ranking are those species listed in Bailey et al. (1996) (see Table A–6) that are not covered in the regional observer database.
As per longline, the ANNEX to this paper contains tables that have been taken from studies conducted by the OFP, and from the most up-to-date version of the WCPO Regional Observer database, which now contains information collected for more than 10,000 purse seine sets.
Table A–6 (Bailey et al., 1996) is a qualitative summary of species encountered in purse seine sets broken down by set type; the information presented in this table was based on observer data, literature review and observer trip reports and anecdotes available prior to 1995.
Table A–7 (Lawson, 1997) is the result of estimating the total catch of all species by multiplying catch rates determined from observer purse-seine data, available for the period up to and including 1996, by estimates of annual purse seine effort.
Tables A–8 and A–9 show the nominal CPUE for all species taken in the WCPO purse seine fisheries, respectively, according to observer data available since 1996 (and up to 1999).
The same methodology used to produce a longline species list (Table 1) has been used to produce Table 2 for purse seine.
2.2 Observations
The following observations are based on the information currently available.
• The three main tuna species (skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye) targeted by WCPO purse seine fisheries are ranked as the top three encountered species for the purse seine gear. Small scombrids also figure prominently in purse seine sets. Albacore tuna are only very rarely encountered in purse seine sets. • Black and blue marlin are the most predominant billfish species encountered in purse seine sets. • Two of the three shark species commonly encountered in the WCPO longline catch: oceanic white-tip and silky shark, are the most predominant species found in purse seine sets. Unlike longline sets, the blue shark is rarely encountered in purse seine sets; this is no doubt due to the fact that the blue shark is more common at greater depths–beyond the range of purse seine nets, and more prevalent at the surface at night rather than the day (Bailey et al., 1996; Regional Observer database). The category “Sharks (unidentified)” has an overall ranking at ‘4’ in the composite species list (Tables 2) and therefore suggests that the rankings of individual shark species presented in these tables would normally be higher if observations were recorded to the species level. Manta Rays also appear to be relatively common in unassociated purse seine sets. • Other commonly encountered species that do not fall into the tuna, billfish and shark categories include rainbow runner, oceanic triggerfish, wahoo, mahi mahi and barracudas. While not a 7 commercially important part of the purse seine catch, many of these species catch are often retained for crew consumption (Bailey et al., 1996). 8
Table 2. Purse seine species list, by species group and rank Species Scientific Name Rank SKIPJACK Katsuwonus pelamis 1 YELLOWFIN Thunnus albacares 2 BIGEYE Thunnus obesus 3 WAHOO Acanthocybium solandri 14 TUNA (UNIDENTIFIED) Thunnini 16 ALBACORE Thunnus alalunga 17 FRIGATE TUNA Auxis thazard 20 BULLET TUNA Auxis rochei 27 KAWAKAWA Euthynnus affinis 35 SCOMBRIDS FRIGATE AND BULLET TUNAS Auxis thazard, A. rochei 42 BUTTERFLY TUNA / KINGFISH Gasterochisma melampus 54 BLACK MARLIN Makaira indica 6 BLUE MARLIN Makaira mazara 7 SAILFISH (INDO-PACFIC) Istiophorus platypterus 21 STRIPED MARLIN Tetrapturus audax 22 SWORDFISH Xiphias gladius 24 MARLINS, SAILFISHES, SPEARFISH 26 SHORT-BILLED SPEARFISH Tetrapturus angustirostris 30 SHARKS (UNIDENTIFIED) 4 MANTA RAYS Mobulidae 12 SILKY SHARK Carcharhinus falciformis 15 OCEANIC WHITE-TIP SHARK Carcharhinus longimanus 18 SILVER-TIP SHARK Carcharhinus albimarginatus 34 WHALE SHARK Rhincodon typus 36 MAKO SHARKS Isurus spp. 37 PELAGIC STING-RAY Dasyatis violacea 38 CROCODILE SHARK Pseudocarcharias kamoharai 46 TIGER SHARK Galeocerdo cuvier 47 BLUE SHARK Prionace glauca 53
SHARKS AND RAYS BLACKTIP SHARK Carcharhinus limbatus 61 MARINE TURTLE Testudinata 44 LOGGERHEAD TURTLE Caretta caretta 50 GREEN TURTLE Chelonia mydas - HAWKSBILL TURTLE Eretmochelys imbricata - TURTLES OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLE Lepidochelys olivacea - RAINBOW RUNNER Elagatis bipinnulata 5 MACKEREL (UNIDENTIFIED) 11 MACKEREL SCAD Decapturus macarellus 19 DECAPTURUS SPP. Decapturus spp. 23 TREVALLIES (UNIDENTIFIED - JACKS) Caranx spp. 29 AMBERJACKS Seriola spp. 39 AMBERJACK (LONGFIN YELLOWTAIL) Seriola lalandi 53 GREATER AMBERJACK Seriola dumerili 56 PILOT FISH Naucrates ductor 65 AMBERJACK (RIVOLIANA) Seriola rivoliana -
CARANGIDSBAR JACK Carangoides BILLFISH ferdau - BIGEYE TREVALLY Caranx sexfasciatus - BIGEYE SCAD Selar crumenophthalmus - CARANX SPP. (C. ignobilis, C. lugubris) - GOLDEN TREVALLY Gnathanodon speciosus - 9
Table 2. Purse seine species list, by species group and rank (continued)
OCEANIC (PELAGIC) TRIGGERFISHES Balistidae 8 UNSPECIFIED 9 MAHI MAHI Coryphaena hippurus 10 BARRACUDAS Sphyraena spp. 13 OTHER FISH 25 GREAT BARRACUDA Sphyraena barracuda 28 BLACK TRIGGERFISH Melichthys niger 31 WHALE 32 FILEFISHES Cantherines(=Navodon)spp 33 SERGEANT MAJOR Abudefduf saxatilis 40 FILEFISH (SCRIBBLED LEATHERJACKET) Aluterus scriptus 41 TRIPLE-TAIL Lobotes surinamensis 43 DRUMMER (BLUE CHUB) Kyphosus cinerascens 45 FILEFISH (UNICORN LEATHERJACKET) Aluterus monoceros 48 OCEAN SUNFISH Mola mola 49 SQUIDS Ommastrephidae, Loliginidae 51 PACIFIC RUDDERFISH Psenopsis anomala 55 FROSTFISH (SILVER SCABBARDFISH) Lepidopus caudatus 57 BATFISH Halieutaea maoria 58 59
"OTHERS" BATFISHES Platax spp. BIG-SCALED POMFRET Taractichthys longipinnis 60 FLUTEMOUTHS Fistularia spp. 62 FLYING FISHES Exocoetidae 63 LONGFIN BATFISH Platax teira 64 BRAMIDS Brama spp. - MAN-O-WAR FISH Psenes cyanophrys - PORCUPINE FISH (DIODONTIDAE) Diodon hystrix - PORCUPINE FISH Cyclichthys echinatus - RUDDERFISH Centrolophus niger - SEA BREAM Rhabdosargus sarba - REMORA SPP. Remora spp. - SEA HORSE Hippocampus spp. - THERAPON PERCH Therapon spp. - 10
References
Bailey, K.N., P.G. Williams & D.G. Itano (1996). By-catch and discards in the western Pacific tuna fisheries: A review of SPC Data Holdings and Literature. Oceanic Fisheries Programme Technical Report 34. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia.
Lawson, T. (1997). Estimation of bycatch in western and central Pacific tuna fisheries: Preliminary results. Oceanic Fisheries Programme. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea New Caledonia. 11
ANNEX
Table A–1: Target and by-catch species taken by longline vessels fishing in the WCPO (taken from Bailey et al. ,1996).
Species WTP WSP WTeP Retained1
Sharks and rays Black-tip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) –––– Black-tip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)R––– Blue shark (Prionace glauca)AAA N Crocodile shark (Pseudocarcharais kamoharai)CS–N Dogfish (Scymnodon spp.; Squalidae) – R R N Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)–RRY Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)RC–– Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna spp.) S S – – Mako shark (Isurus oxyrhinchus)SCC Y Manta rays (Mobulidae) – R – N Oceanic white tip (Carcharinus longimanus)CC–Y Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus)–CCN School shark (Galeorhinus galeus)–SSY Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)AS–Y Silvertip shark (Carcharinus albimarginatus)CR–Y Smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus pusillus)–R–N Stingray (Dasyatis spp.) A S – N Thresher shark (Alopias spp.) C C C Y Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)RR–N White-tip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus)––––
Scombrids Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga)STTY Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)TTSY Butterfly tuna (Gasterochisma melampus)–SCY Frigate tuna (Auxis thazard)–R–N Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis)SA–N Longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol)–SRY (Northern) bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus orientalis)RRSY Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)ACSN Slender tuna (Allothunnus fallai)–RSN Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii)–STY Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri)CA–Y Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)TTSY
Billfish Black marlin (Makaira indica)AASY3 Blue marlin (Makaira mazara)AASY3 Broadbill swordfish (Xiphias gladius)AASY Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus)AASY Shortbill spearfish (Tetrapturus angustirostris)AASY Striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax)ATSY3
Other fish Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)SSRN Barracouta (Thyrsites atun)–RRN Bass, Hapuka (Polyprion spp.) – – R Y Blue eyes (Pseudomugilidae) – R R – Bluenose (Hyperoglyphe antarctica)––RN Bramids, Ray’s bream, pomfrets (Bramidae) A A C N Dealfish (Trachipterus spp.) R R R N Gemfish (Rexea solandri)–RRY Globefish, porcupine fish (Diodontidae) R R R N Hake (Merluccius australis)––SY Hoki, blue grenadier (Macruronus novaezelandiae)–SSY Kingfish (Seriola spp.) S S R Y 12
Species WTP WSP WTeP Retained1 Lancetfish (Alepisaurus spp.) C C S N Lantern fish (Myctophidae) ––RN Mahimahi (Coryphaena hippurus)CCRY Oarfish (Regalecus glesne)–RRN Oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus)AASN Ragfish (Icichthys australis)––RN Rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata)SS–Y Remora (Remora spp.) R R R N Rudderfish (Centrolophus niger)–RRN Sea perches, gropers (Serranidae) – S – N Escolar (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum)AASN Sunfish (Mola sp.) R C S N Moonfish / opah (Lampris guttatus)AASY Warehou (Seriolella brama)–RRY
Marine reptiles Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)S––N Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)S––N Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)–––N Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)S––N Turtles (unidentified) S S R N
Marine mammals Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)–R–N False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens)–?–N Killer whale (Orcinus orca)––RN Marine mammal (unidentified) R R – N Pilot whale (Globicephalus spp.) – – – N Seal (Pinnipedia) – – S ?
Birds Albatross (Diomedea spp.) – – C N Petrels (Procellaria spp.) – – C N Other seabirds – S S N
LEGEND A: Usually abundant in the longline catch for this area; at least 1 per set on average. C: Commonly taken; usually it would be expected that at least 1 of this species would be taken every 10 sets. R: Rarely taken; there may be only one taken per year for that area or, for some species, only one occurrence ever. S: Seldom caught; taken on few occasions but not considered common or rare in the catch; typically it would be expected that at least 1 of this species would be taken every few months, or may only be taken at certain times of the year for that area (i.e. seasonal), or only in specific parts of that area. T: Usually a target species for fleets in this area; if not the target for all vessels, it is usually abundant in the longline catch; at least 1 per set on average. –: No evidence of longline catch of this species found. 13
Table A–2. Estimated annual catch (t) from the WCPO longline fishery based on catch rates estimated from observer data, 1991–1996. (taken from Lawson, 1997)
Species Species Catch Comp. Species Code MT se cv % RANK YELLOWFIN YFT 30,016 1,629 0.054 22.12 1 ALBACORE ALB 24,396 2,372 0.097 17.98 2 BLUE SHARK BSH 23,705 971 0.041 17.47 3 BIGEYE BET 23,626 1,589 0.067 17.41 4 BLUE MARLIN BLZ 6,587 508 0.077 4.85 5 SWORDFISH SWO 2,935 273 0.093 2.16 6 STRIPED MARLIN MLS 2,856 265 0.093 2.1 7 WAHOO WAH 2,201 128 0.058 1.62 8 SHARKS (UNIDENTIFIED) SHK 1,916 166 0.087 1.41 9 SAILFISH (INDO-PACFIC) SFA 1,795 222 0.124 1.32 10 BLACK MARLIN BLM 1,700 206 0.122 1.25 11 ESCOLAR LEC 1,497 118 0.079 1.1 12 SILKY SHARK FAL 1,468 187 0.128 1.08 13 THRESHER SHARKS THR 1,334 197 0.148 0.98 14 OCEANIC WHITE-TIP SHARK OCS 1,007 83 0.082 0.74 15 TUNA (UNIDENTIFIED) TUN 869 249 0.287 0.64 16 SHORT-BILLED SPEARFISH SSP 864 159 0.184 0.64 17 MARLINS, SAILFISHES, SPEARFISHES BIL 775 121 0.157 0.57 18 SHORT FINNED MAKO SHARK SMA 736 123 0.167 0.54 19 MOONFISH (OPAH) LAG 631 82 0.131 0.47 20 SKIPJACK SKJ 488 49 0.102 0.36 21 GREY REEF SHARK AML 467 94 0.202 0.34 22 MAHI MAHI, DOLPHINFISH, DORADO DOL 461 38 0.083 0.34 23 OILFISH OIL 457 47 0.103 0.34 24 PELAGIC STING-RAY PLS 415 48 0.116 0.31 25 LANCETFISHES ALI 360 32 0.091 0.27 26 UNSPECIFIED UNS 320 27 0.086 0.24 27 POMFRETS AND OCEAN BREAMS BRZ 298 59 0.199 0.22 28 TIGER SHARK TIG 284 93 0.329 0.21 29 BARRACUDAS BAR 277 21 0.076 0.2 30 SNAKE MACKERELS AND ESCOLARS GEP 202 22 0.111 0.15 31 HAMMERHEAD SHARKS SPN 125 31 0.249 0.09 32 SILVER-TIP SHARK ALS 112 37 0.33 0.08 33 MAKO SHARKS MAK 111 20 0.181 0.08 34 PELAGIC THRESHER SHARK PTH 93 36 0.387 0.07 35 CROCODILE SHARK PSK 90 17 0.191 0.07 36 BIGEYE THRESHER SHARK BTH 60 22 0.373 0.04 37 WHITE-TIP REEF SHARK TRB 44 19 0.435 0.03 38 DEALFISH (TRACHIPTERUS SPP.) TRP 35 9 0.255 0 39 OCEAN SUNFISH MOX 15 4 0.259 0.01 40 PACIFIC RUDDERFISH BUP 9 9 1 0.01 41 BLACKTIP REEF SHARK BLR 8 6 0.803 0.01 42 LONG FINNED MAKO SHARK LMA 7 7 1 0.01 43 BLACKTIP SHARK CCL 5 5 1 0 44 DOGTOOTH TUNA DOT 4 1 0.4 0 45 RAINBOW RUNNER RRU 2 0 0.44 0 46 TREVALLIES (UNIDENTIFIED - JACKS) TRE 1 1 0.707 0 47 14
Table A–3. Nominal CPUE (no. of fish per 1,000 hooks) for species encountered in the western tropical Pacific (WTP) longline fishery. (Source of data: Regional Observer database, 1996–1999, for the area 15°N–10°S, 130°E–170°W)
Species Comp. Nominal Species % CPUE RANK YELLOWFIN 28.50% 5.301 1 BIGEYE 22.70% 4.231 2 ALBACORE 7.60% 1.426 3 BLUE SHARK 7.60% 1.423 4 SILKY SHARK 4.50% 0.848 5 OCEANIC WHITE-TIP SHARK 3.30% 0.614 6 BLUE MARLIN 2.30% 0.444 7 SKIPJACK 2.20% 0.414 8 LANCETFISHES 1.70% 0.334 9 SWORDFISH 1.70% 0.321 10 PELAGIC STING-RAY 1.40% 0.273 11 SAILFISH (INDO-PACFIC) 1.30% 0.249 12 POMFRETS AND OCEAN BREAMS 1.20% 0.236 13 WAHOO 1.10% 0.212 14 BLACK MARLIN 0.90% 0.178 15 MAHI MAHI, DOLPHINFISH, DORADO 0.90% 0.172 16 OTHER FISH 0.90% 0.167 17 SHORT FINNED MAKO SHARK 0.90% 0.167 18 UNSPECIFIED 0.80% 0.165 19 OILFISH 0.70% 0.143 20 BARRACUDAS 0.70% 0.140 21 ESCOLAR 0.50% 0.094 22 MOONFISH (OPAH) 0.40% 0.081 23 BLACKTIP SHARK 0.40% 0.079 24 SNAKE MACKEREL 0.40% 0.077 25 STRIPED MARLIN 0.40% 0.074 26 WHIP STINGRAY 0.30% 0.073 27 SHARKS (UNIDENTIFIED) 0.30% 0.062 28 SNAKE MACKERELS AND ESCOLARS 0.30% 0.056 29 BIGEYE THRESHER SHARK 0.20% 0.053 30 TUNA (UNIDENTIFIED) 0.20% 0.053 31 SHORT-BILLED SPEARFISH 0.20% 0.047 32 SHORTSNOUTED LANCETFISH 0.20% 0.041 33 LONG FINNED MAKO SHARK 0.20% 0.038 34 CROCODILE SHARK 0.20% 0.037 35 THRESHER SHARKS 0.10% 0.036 36 PELAGIC THRESHER SHARK 0.10% 0.031 37 GALAPAGOS SHARK 0.10% 0.021 38 SILVER-TIP SHARK 0.00% 0.016 39 ATLANTIC POMFRET (RAY'S BREAM) 0.00% 0.015 40 LONGSNOUTED LANCETFISH 0.00% 0.015 41 DOGTOOTH TUNA 0.00% 0.013 42 SEA SNAKE 0.00% 0.013 43 MARINE TURTLE 0.00% 0.009 44 MARLINS, SAILFISHES, SPEARFISH 0.00% 0.009 45 RAINBOW RUNNER 0.00% 0.008 46 TIGER SHARK 0.00% 0.008 47 GREAT BARRACUDA 0.00% 0.007 48 GREY REEF SHARK 0.00% 0.007 49 HAMMERHEAD SHARKS 0.00% 0.007 50 MANTA RAYS 0.00% 0.007 51 OCEAN SUNFISH 0.00% 0.007 52 LONGTAIL TUNA 0.00% 0.006 53 OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLE 0.00% 0.005 54 UNIDENTIFIED BIRD 0.00% 0.005 55 SICKLE POMFRET 0.00% 0.004 56 BLACKTIP REEF SHARK 0.00% 0.003 57 MAKO SHARKS 0.00% 0.003 58 MARINE (AQUATIC) MAMMAL 0.00% 0.003 59 RAYS, SKATES AND MANTAS 0.00% 0.003 60 GREAT WHITE SHARK 0.00% 0.002 61 NORTHERN BLUEFIN 0.00% 0.002 62 THRESHER SHARK (VULPINUS) 0.00% 0.002 63 BARRACOUTA 0.00% 0.001 64 BIGEYE SAND SHARK 0.00% 0.001 65 DEEPWATER RED SNAPPER 0.00% 0.001 66 DOLPHINS/PORPOISES 0.00% 0.001 67 HAWKSBILL TURTLE 0.00% 0.001 68 LOGGERHEAD TURTLE 0.00% 0.001 69 PILOT FISH 0.00% 0.001 70 SOUTHERN BLUEFIN 0.00% 0.001 71 15
Table A–4. Nominal CPUE (no. of fish per 1,000 hooks) for species encountered in the western sub-tropical Pacific (WSP) longline fishery. (Source of data: Regional Observer database, 1996–1999, for the area 15°S–35°S, 145°E–170°W)
Species Comp. Nominal Species % CPUE RANK ALBACORE 47.90% 15.207 1 YELLOWFIN 21.30% 6.779 2 RUDDERFISH 0.00% 0.000 71 BIGEYE 6.80% 2.171 3 SEA SNAKE 0.00% 0.000 72 BLUE SHARK 4.00% 1.278 4 SILVER-TIP SHARK 0.00% 0.000 73 SWORDFISH 2.90% 0.930 5 BLUENOSE (BLUENOSE WAREHOU) 0.00% 0.000 74 SOUTHERN BLUEFIN 2.40% 0.774 6 DOGTOOTH TUNA 0.00% 0.000 75 SKIPJACK 1.70% 0.549 7 EEL 0.00% 0.000 76 ESCOLAR 1.40% 0.468 8 MACKEREL (UNIDENTIFIED) 0.00% 0.000 77 STRIPED MARLIN 1.40% 0.454 9 MARINE TURTLE 0.00% 0.000 78 SHORT-BILLED SPEARFISH 1.20% 0.384 10 OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLE 0.00% 0.000 79 MAKO SHARKS 1.00% 0.343 11 SLENDER TUNA 0.00% 0.000 80 MAHI MAHI, DOLPHINFISH, DORADO 0.90% 0.289 12 SOUTHERN RAYS BREAM 0.00% 0.000 81 WAHOO 0.80% 0.275 13 LONGSNOUTED LANCETFISH 0.70% 0.224 14 ATLANTIC POMFRET (RAY'S BREAM) 0.60% 0.191 15 MOONFISH (OPAH) 0.40% 0.145 16 OILFISH 0.40% 0.141 17 OCEANIC WHITE-TIP SHARK 0.30% 0.120 18 BLUE MARLIN 0.30% 0.100 19 UNSPECIFIED 0.20% 0.082 20 CROCODILE SHARK 0.20% 0.066 21 BARRACUDAS 0.20% 0.062 22 SILKY SHARK 0.20% 0.062 23 BLACK MARLIN 0.10% 0.052 24 PELAGIC STING-RAY 0.10% 0.051 25 SAILFISH (INDO-PACFIC) 0.10% 0.050 26 DUSKY SHARK 0.10% 0.048 27 FROSTFISH (SILVER SCABBARDFISH 0.10% 0.044 28 LANCETFISHES 0.10% 0.043 29 BIGEYE THRESHER SHARK 0.10% 0.040 30 BRONZE WHALER SHARK 0.10% 0.037 31 SHORT FINNED MAKO SHARK 0.00% 0.027 32 SNAKE MACKEREL 0.00% 0.021 33 POMFRETS AND OCEAN BREAMS 0.00% 0.019 34 GREAT BARRACUDA 0.00% 0.018 35 SNAKE MACKERELS AND ESCOLARS 0.00% 0.014 36 HAMMERHEAD SHARKS 0.00% 0.014 37 DEALFISH (TRACHIPTERUS SPP.) 0.00% 0.013 38 OCEAN SUNFISH 0.00% 0.012 39 OTHER FISH 0.00% 0.012 40 SICKLE POMFRET 0.00% 0.011 41 TUNA (UNIDENTIFIED) 0.00% 0.011 42 THRESHER SHARK (VULPINUS) 0.00% 0.010 43 SHARKS (UNIDENTIFIED) 0.00% 0.009 44 PORBEAGLE SHARK 0.00% 0.008 45 SHORTSNOUTED LANCETFISH 0.00% 0.007 46 PELAGIC THRESHER SHARK 0.00% 0.007 47 TIGER SHARK 0.00% 0.006 48 LONG FINNED MAKO SHARK 0.00% 0.005 49 GEMFISH (SOUTHERN OR SILVER KI 0.00% 0.005 50 PACIFIC RUDDERFISH 0.00% 0.005 51 SCABBARD FISH, FROSTFISH 0.00% 0.003 52 NORTHERN BLUEFIN 0.00% 0.003 53 BARRACOUTA 0.00% 0.003 54 BLACKTIP SHARK 0.00% 0.003 55 WHIP STINGRAY 0.00% 0.003 56 BIG-SCALED POMFRET 0.00% 0.002 57 THRESHER SHARKS 0.00% 0.002 58 BLUE GRENADIER - HOKI 0.00% 0.002 59 MARLINS, SAILFISHES, SPEARFISH 0.00% 0.001 60 RAINBOW RUNNER 0.00% 0.001 61 SOAPFISH 0.00% 0.001 62 AMBERKJACK (GIANT YELLOWTAIL) 0.00% 0.001 63 DOLPHINS/PORPOISES 0.00% 0.001 64 SANDBAR SHARK 0.00% 0.001 65 COOKIE CUTTER SHARK 0.00% 0.000 66 GALAPAGOS SHARK 0.00% 0.000 67 GREAT WHITE SHARK 0.00% 0.000 68 MANTA RAYS 0.00% 0.000 69 RAYS, SKATES AND MANTAS 0.00% 0.000 70 16
Table A–5. Longline composite table of rankings
Table 2. Table 3. Table 4. Sum of Overall Species Rank Rank Rank Ranks Rank YELLOWFIN 1 1 2 4 1 ALBACORE 2 3 1 6 2 BIGEYE 4 2 3 9 3 BLUE SHARK 3 4 4 11 4 SWORDFISH 6 10 5 21 5 BLUE MARLIN 5 7 19 31 6 WAHOO 8 14 13 35 7 SKIPJACK 21 8 7 36 8 OCEANIC WHITE-TIP SHARK 15 6 18 39 9 SILKY SHARK 13 5 23 41 10 ESCOLAR 12 22 8 42 11 STRIPED MARLIN 7 26 9 42 12 SAILFISH (INDO-PACFIC) 10 12 26 48 13 BLACK MARLIN 11 15 24 50 14 MAHI MAHI 23 16 12 51 15 MOONFISH (OPAH) 20 23 16 59 16 SHORT-BILLED SPEARFISH 17 32 10 59 17 OILFISH 24 20 17 61 18 PELAGIC STING-RAY 25 11 25 61 19 LANCETFISHES 26 9 29 64 20 UNSPECIFIED 27 19 20 66 21 SHORT FINNED MAKO SHARK 19 18 32 69 22 BARRACUDAS 30 21 22 73 23 POMFRETS AND OCEAN BREAMS 28 13 34 75 24 SHARKS (UNIDENTIFIED) 9 28 45 82 25 TUNA (UNIDENTIFIED) 16 31 43 90 26 CROCODILE SHARK 36 35 21 92 27 SNAKE MACKERELS AND ESCOLARS 31 29 36 96 28 BIGEYE THRESHER SHARK 37 30 30 97 29 ATLANTIC POMFRET (RAY'S BREAM) 48 40 15 103 30 LONGSNOUTED LANCETFISH 48 41 14 103 31 MAKO SHARKS 34 58 11 103 32 OTHER FISH 48 17 41 106 33 SNAKE MACKEREL 48 25 33 106 34 THRESHER SHARKS 14 36 59 109 35 HAMMERHEAD SHARKS 32 50 37 119 36 PELAGIC THRESHER SHARK 35 37 48 120 37 BLACKTIP SHARK 44 24 56 124 38 MARLINS, SAILFISHES, SPEARFISH 18 45 61 124 39 TIGER SHARK 29 47 49 125 40 LONG FINNED MAKO SHARK 43 34 50 127 41 SOUTHERN BLUEFIN 48 73 6 127 42 SHORTSNOUTED LANCETFISH 48 33 47 128 43 GREAT BARRACUDA 48 48 35 131 44 OCEAN SUNFISH 40 52 40 132 45 WHIP STINGRAY 48 27 57 132 46 SICKLE POMFRET 48 56 42 146 47 SILVER-TIP SHARK 33 39 74 146 48 DUSKY SHARK 48 74 27 149 49 FROSTFISH (SILVER SCABBARDFISH) 48 74 28 150 50 DEALFISH 39 74 39 152 51 BRONZE WHALER SHARK 48 74 31 153 52 GALAPAGOS SHARK 48 38 68 154 53 GREY REEF SHARK 22 49 83 154 54 RAINBOW RUNNER 46 46 62 154 55 THRESHER SHARK (VULPINAS) 48 63 44 155 56 DOGTOOTH TUNA 45 42 76 163 57 NORTHERN BLUEFIN 48 62 54 164 58 SEA SNAKE 48 43 73 164 59 BARRACOUTA 48 64 55 167 60 PACIFIC RUDDERFISH 41 74 52 167 61 PORBEAGLE SHARK 48 74 46 168 62 MANTA RAYS 48 51 70 169 63 MARINE TURTLE 48 44 79 171 64 GEMFISH 48 74 51 173 65 17
Table A–5. Longline composite table of rankings (continued)
Table 2. Table 3. Table 4. Sum of Overall Species Rank Rank Rank Ranks Rank SCABBARD FISH, FROSTFISH 48 74 53 175 66 GREAT WHITE SHARK 48 61 69 178 67 RAYS, SKATES AND MANTAS 48 60 71 179 68 BIG-SCALED POMFRET 48 74 58 180 69 BLACKTIP REEF SHARK 42 57 83 182 70 BLUE GRENADIER - HOKI 48 74 60 182 71 DOLPHINS/PORPOISES 48 69 65 182 72 OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLE 48 54 80 182 73 LONGTAIL TUNA 48 53 83 184 74 SOAPFISH 48 74 63 185 75 AMBERKJACK (GIANT YELLOWTAIL) 48 74 64 186 76 UNIDENTIFIED BIRD 48 55 83 186 77 SANDBAR SHARK 48 74 66 188 78 COOKIE CUTTER SHARK 48 74 67 189 79 MARINE (AQUATIC) MAMMAL 48 59 83 190 80 RUDDERFISH 48 74 72 194 81 WHITE-TIP REEF SHARK 38 74 83 195 82 BIGEYE SAND SHARK 48 66 83 197 83 BLUENOSE 48 74 75 197 84 DEEPWATER RED SNAPPER 48 68 83 199 85 EEL 48 74 77 199 86 MACKEREL (UNIDENTIFIED) 48 74 78 200 87 HAWKSBILL TURTLE 48 70 83 201 88 LOGGERHEAD TURTLE 48 71 83 202 89 PILOT FISH 48 72 83 203 90 SLENDER TUNA 48 74 81 203 91 SOUTHERN RAYS BREAM 48 74 82 204 92 TREVALLIES (UNIDENTIFIED - JACKS) 47 74 83 204 93 18
Table A–6. By-catch species from purse-seine sets on different school associations in the WTP (taken from Bailey et al., 1996)
Anchor– Animal associations Unassoc. Drifting ored Live Dead Whale Species school Log FAD FAD Whales whales shark
Sharks and rays Blue shark (Prionace glauca) –R––––– Oceanic whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus) SSSSSS– Silky shark (C. falciformis) S MMMMM– Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) –R––––– Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) –R––R–S Manta ray (Mobulidae) SS––S–– Pelagic stingray (Dasyatis spp.) –R–––––
Scombrids Frigate tuna (Auxis thazard) SSSS––– Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis) SSSS––– Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) SMMM– ––
Billfish Black marlin (Makaira indica) RRRR––– Blue marlin (M. mazara) SSSS––– Broadbill swordfish (Xiphias gladius) –R––––– Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) RR–R––– Shortbill spearfish (Tetrapturus angustirostris) –––R––– Striped marlin (T. audax) R––––––
Carangids Amberjack (Seriola rivoliana) –LLL––– Bar jack (Carangoides ferdau) –R––––– Bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) –MMM––– Bigeye scad (Selar crumenophthalmus) –––L––– Caranx spp. (ignobilis, lugubris, melampygus) –RRR––– Golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus) –S––––– Greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) –SSS––– Mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus) –LLL––– Pilotfish (Naucrates ductor) SSSSSSS Rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata) SLLL–L–
Other fish Batfish (Platax teira) –SSS––– Bramid (Brama spp.) –R––––– Drummer (Kyphosus cinerascens) –LLL–L– Filefish (Aluterus monoceros) –MMM––– Filefish (A. scriptus) –S––––– Flutemouth (Fistularia spp.) –R––––– Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) –SSS––– Mahimahi (Coryphaena hippurus) SLLL–L– Man-o-war fish (Psenes cyanophrys) –MMM––– Ocean anchovy (Stolephorus punctifer) L–––L–L Ocean triggerfish (Canthidermis maculatus) –LLL–L– Porcupine fish (Diodon hystrix) –R––––– Porcupine fish (Cyclichthys echinatus) –R––––– Rudderfish (Centrolophus niger) –??–––– Sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis) –MMM––– Sea bream (Rhabdosargus sarba) –R––––– Seahorse (Hippocampus spp.) –R––––– Sharksucker (Remora remora) SSSSSSS Therapon perch (Therapon spp.) –R––––– Tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis) –SSS–S–
Marine reptiles Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) –RRR––– Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) –RRR––– Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) –R––––– Sea snake (Pelamis platurus) –R–––––
Notes
1. R : rare, <1/set; S : common in small numbers, 1–10/set; M : common in moderate numbers, 10–100/set; L : common in large numbers, > 100/set; – : not present. Sources of data include various observer reports/data reviewed and pers. obsv. by authors. 19
Table A–7. Estimated annual catch (t) from the WCPO purse seine fishery based on catch rates estimated from observer data (see Lawson, 1997)
UNASSOCIATED SETS ASSOCIATED SETS Species Species Catch Comp. Catch Comp. Species MT se cv % RANK MT se cv % RANK SKIPJACK 236,148 29085 0.123 68.93 1 228,048 19415 0.085 64.32 1 YELLOWFIN 102,016 38216 0.375 29.78 2 103,472 15541 0.15 29.19 2 BIGEYE 2,727 2045 0.75 0.80 3 19,800 4971 0.251 5.58 3 SHARKS (UNIDENTIFIED) 781 353 0.452 0.23 4 548 71 0.131 0.15 5 FRIGATE TUNA 433 433 1 0.13 5 2 0 0.429 0.00 20 DECAPTURUS SPP. 198 150 0.76 0.06 6 325 130 0.4 0.09 6 BLACK MARLIN 100 41 0.419 0.03 7 145 49 0.338 0.04 10 BLUE MARLIN 70 28 0.405 0.02 8 99 28 0.286 0.03 11 RAINBOW RUNNER 44 26 0.605 0.01 9 1,118 224 0.201 0.32 4 OCEANIC (PELAGIC) TRIGGERFISHES 32 12 0.399 0.01 10 296 39 0.133 0.08 7 UNSPECIFIED 12 10 0.812 0.00 11 15 4 0.291 0.00 16 BARRACUDAS 9 7 0.772 0.00 12 50 22 0.449 0.01 13 MANTA RAYS 6 1 0.311 0.00 13 5 4 0.694 0.00 18 PELAGIC STING-RAY 5 5 0.855 0.00 14 1 0 0.363 0.00 24 SAILFISH (INDO-PACFIC) 4 2 0.504 0.00 15 2 2 0.973 0.00 21 MAHI MAHI 1 0 0.673 0.00 16 183 111 0.607 0.05 9 WAHOO 1 1 0.673 0.00 17 25 7 0.283 0.01 14 BULLET TUNA 0 0 0 0.00 18 72 31 0.431 0.02 12 PACIFIC RUDDERFISH 0 0 0 0.00 19 17 15 0.936 0.00 15 MACKEREL (UNIDENTIFIED) 0 0 0 0.00 20 284 85 0.302 0.08 8 OCEAN SUNFISH 0 0 0 0.00 21 4 4 1 0.00 19 WHALE SHARK 0 0 0 0.00 22 9 9 1 0.00 17 SWORDFISH 0 0 1 0.00 23 2 1 0.595 0.00 22 TREVALLIES (UNIDENTIFIED - JACKS) 0 0 0 0.00 24 2 1 0.384 0.00 23 20
Table A–8. Nominal CPUE (kilograms per set) and frequency of occurrence for species encountered in Associated sets from the WCPO purse seine fishery. (Source of data: Regional Observer database for the area 15°N–10°S, 130°E– 170°W)
FREQUENCY FREQUENCY CPUE FOUND IN SETS CPUE FOUND IN SETS Species Kgs/Set % RANK RANK SKIPJACK 19,811.235 84.08% 11 YELLOWFIN 3,351.010 77.12% 22 BIGEYE 2,156.404 39.77% 34 RAINBOW RUNNER 199.074 47.87% 43 SHARKS (UNIDENTIFIED) 69.609 35.64% 55 UNSPECIFIED 40.647 4.58% 615 OCEANIC (PELAGIC) TRIGGERFISHES 28.189 27.64% 76 TUNA (UNIDENTIFIED) 25.191 1.53% 819 MACKEREL SCAD 23.699 10.56% 99 MACKEREL (UNIDENTIFIED) 23.254 9.53% 10 11 MAHI MAHI 19.142 21.44% 11 7 BLACK MARLIN 8.957 6.20% 12 13 ALBACORE 7.160 0.99% 13 25 BLUE MARLIN 6.103 4.94% 14 14 WAHOO 5.402 15.42% 15 8 SILKY SHARK 4.921 7.24% 16 12 BARRACUDAS 4.876 9.75% 17 10 BULLET TUNA 4.139 1.44% 18 21 FRIGATE TUNA 3.955 1.66% 19 18 OTHER FISH 3.537 1.03% 20 24 OCEANIC WHITE-TIP SHARK 3.312 3.51% 21 16 STRIPED MARLIN 1.317 1.44% 22 22 MANTA RAYS 1.056 1.71% 23 17 MARLINS, SAILFISHES, SPEARF 0.575 0.49% 24 29 DECAPTURUS SP. 0.562 1.26% 25 23 FILEFISHES 0.530 0.31% 26 35 BLACK TRIGGERFISH 0.467 0.45% 27 30 SILVER-TIP SHARK 0.458 0.18% 28 41 TREVALLIES (UNIDENTIFIED - 0.382 1.53% 29 20 SWORDFISH 0.369 0.58% 30 28 SAILFISH (INDO-PACFIC) 0.351 0.67% 31 27 WHALE 0.315 0.04% 32 46 MAKO SHARKS 0.148 0.36% 33 34 GREAT BARRACUDA 0.135 0.94% 34 26 TRIPLE-TAIL 0.126 0.09% 35 44 SARGENT MAJOR 0.099 0.22% 36 37 SHORT-BILLED SPEARFISH 0.099 0.40% 37 32 TIGER SHARK 0.090 0.04% 38 47 DRUMMER (BLUE CHUB) 0.081 0.18% 39 42 KAWAKAWA 0.067 0.22% 40 38 FRIGATE AND BULLET TUNAS 0.058 0.27% 41 36 AMBERJACKS 0.036 0.45% 42 31 FILEFISH (SCRIBBLED LEATHERJACKET) 0.036 0.40% 43 33 LOGGERHEAD TURTLE 0.027 0.04% 44 48 CROCODILE SHARK 0.018 0.22% 45 39 FILEFISH (UNICORN LEATHERJACKET) 0.018 0.22% 46 40 MARINE TURTLE 0.018 0.13% 47 43 OCEAN SUNFISH 0.018 0.04% 48 49 SQUIDS 0.009 0.04% 49 50 AMBERJACK (LONGFIN YELLOWTAIL) 0.004 0.04% 50 51 BLUE SHARK 0.004 0.04% 51 52 GREATER AMBERJACK 0.004 0.04% 52 53 PELAGIC STING-RAY 0.004 0.09% 53 45 BATFISH 0.002 0.04% 54 54 BATFISHES 0.002 0.04% 55 55 BIG-SCALED POMFRET 0.002 0.04% 56 56 FLUTEMOUTHS 0.002 0.04% 57 57 LONGFIN BATFISH 0.002 0.04% 58 58 PILOT FISH 0.000 0.04% 59 59 21
Table A–9. Nominal CPUE (kilograms per set) and frequency of occurrence for species encountered in Unassociated sets from the WCPO purse seine fishery. (Source of data: Regional Observer database for the area 15°N– 10°S, 130°E–170°W)
FREQUENCY FREQUENCY CPUE FOUND IN SETS CPUE FOUND IN SETS Species Kgs/Set % RANK RANK SKIPJACK 11,081.440 37.38% 11 YELLOWFIN 5,177.125 23.36% 22 BIGEYE 100.578 3.46% 35 TUNA (UNIDENTIFIED) 2.095 0.45% 418 SHARKS (UNIDENTIFIED) 1.206 5.87% 53 BLACK MARLIN 0.639 3.78% 64 ALBACORE 0.622 0.93% 711 RAINBOW RUNNER 0.585 1.02% 810 SILKY SHARK 0.307 1.65% 99 BLUE MARLIN 0.284 2.31% 10 6 OCEANIC WHITE-TIP SHARK 0.212 1.69% 11 8 WHALE SHARK 0.205 0.09% 12 25 MANTA RAYS 0.101 1.82% 13 7 UNSPECIFIED 0.073 0.53% 14 17 SAILFISH (INDO-PACFIC) 0.067 0.76% 15 12 STRIPED MARLIN 0.066 0.67% 16 15 MACKEREL SCAD - SABA 0.057 0.13% 17 22 MACKEREL (UNIDENTIFIED) 0.056 0.13% 18 23 FRIGATE TUNA 0.045 0.04% 19 29 SWORDFISH 0.037 0.40% 20 19 MARLINS, SAILFISHES, SPEARFISHES 0.032 0.18% 21 21 OCEANIC (PELAGIC) TRIGGERFISHES 0.023 0.22% 22 20 MAHI MAHI 0.020 0.71% 23 14 WAHOO 0.012 0.67% 24 16 OTHER FISH 0.011 0.13% 25 24 WHALE 0.008 0.04% 26 30 BARRACUDAS 0.006 0.76% 27 13 PELAGIC STING-RAY 0.003 0.04% 28 31 BUTTERFLY TUNA / KINGFISH 0.002 0.04% 29 32 SHORT-BILLED SPEARFISH 0.002 0.09% 30 26 FROSTFISH (SILVER SCABBARDFISH) 0.001 0.04% 31 33 GREAT BARRACUDA 0.001 0.09% 32 27 KAWAKAWA 0.001 0.09% 33 28 MARINE TURTLE 0.001 0.04% 34 34 SILVER-TIP SHARK 0.001 0.04% 35 35 BLACKTIP SHARK 0.000 0.04% 36 36 FLYING FISHES 0.000 0.04% 37 37 LOGGERHEAD TURTLE 0.000 0.04% 38 38 22
Table A–10. Purse seine composite table of rankings
Table A-7 Table A-8 Table A-9 Overall Unassoc. Assoc. CPUE CPUE Sum of Overall Species Rank Rank Rank Rank Ranks Rank SKIPJACK 1 1 1 1 4 1 YELLOWFIN 2 2 2 2 8 2 BIGEYE 3 3 3 3 12 3 SHARKS (UNIDENTIFIED) 4 5 5 5 19 4 RAINBOW RUNNER 9 4 4 8 25 5 BLACK MARLIN 7 10 12 6 35 6 BLUE MARLIN 8 11 14 10 43 7 OCEANIC (PELAGIC) TRIGGERFISHES 10 7 7 22 46 8 UNSPECIFIED 11 16 6 14 47 9 MAHI MAHI 16 9 11 23 59 10 MACKEREL (UNIDENTIFIED) 20 8 10 18 56 11 MANTA RAYS 13 18 23 13 67 12 BARRACUDAS 12 13 17 27 69 13 WAHOO 17 14 15 24 70 14 SILKY SHARK 25 25 16 9 75 15 TUNA (UNIDENTIFIED) 25 25 8 4 62 16 ALBACORE 25 25 13 7 70 17 OCEANIC WHITE-TIP SHARK 25 25 21 11 82 18 MACKEREL SCAD 25 25 9 17 76 19 FRIGATE TUNA 5 20 19 19 63 20 SAILFISH (INDO-PACFIC) 15 21 31 15 82 21 STRIPED MARLIN 25 25 22 16 88 22 DECAPTURUS SPP. 6 6 25 39 76 23 SWORDFISH 23 22 30 20 95 24 OTHER FISH 25 25 20 25 95 25 MARLINS, SAILFISHES, SPEARFISH 25 25 24 21 95 26 BULLET TUNA 18 12 18 39 87 27 GREAT BARRACUDA 25 25 34 32 116 28 TREVALLIES (UNIDENTIFIED - JACKS) 24 23 29 39 115 29 SHORT-BILLED SPEARFISH 25 25 37 30 117 30 BLACK TRIGGERFISH 25 25 27 39 116 31 WHALE 25 25 32 26 108 32 FILEFISHES 25 25 26 39 115 33 SILVER-TIP SHARK 25 25 28 35 113 34 KAWAKAWA 25 25 40 33 123 35 WHALE SHARK 22 17 60 12 111 36 MAKO SHARKS 25 25 33 39 122 37 PELAGIC STING-RAY 14 24 53 28 119 38 AMBERJACKS 25 25 42 39 131 39 SARGENT MAJOR 25 25 36 39 125 40 FILEFISH (SCRIBBLED LEATHERJACKET) 25 25 43 39 132 41 FRIGATE AND BULLET TUNAS 25 25 41 39 130 42 TRIPLE-TAIL 25 25 35 39 124 43 MARINE TURTLE 25 25 47 34 131 44 DRUMMER (BLUE CHUB) 25 25 39 39 128 45 CROCODILE SHARK 25 25 45 39 134 46 TIGER SHARK 25 25 38 39 127 47 FILEFISH (UNICORN LEATHERJACKET) 25 25 46 39 135 48 OCEAN SUNFISH 21 19 48 39 127 49 LOGGERHEAD TURTLE 25 25 44 38 132 50 SQUIDS 25 25 49 39 138 51 AMBERJACK (LONGFIN YELLOWTAIL) 25 25 50 39 139 52 BLUE SHARK 25 25 51 39 140 53 BUTTERFLY TUNA / KINGFISH 25 25 60 29 139 54 PACIFIC RUDDERFISH 19 15 60 39 133 55 GREATER AMBERJACK 25 25 52 39 141 56 FROSTFISH (SILVER SCABBARDFISH) 25 25 60 31 141 57 BATFISH 25 25 54 39 143 58 BATFISHES 25 25 55 39 144 59 BIG-SCALED POMFRET 25 25 56 39 145 60 BLACKTIP SHARK 25 25 60 36 146 61 FLUTEMOUTHS 25 25 57 39 146 62 FLYING FISHES 25 25 60 37 147 63 LONGFIN BATFISH 25 25 58 39 147 64 PILOT FISH 25 25 59 39 148 65