Foreign Developments Marine Service in cooperation with the sport licensing and manage­ ment agencies of the provinces and ter­ ritories. Separate surveys were con­ ducted early in 1976 by all 13 of the provincial, territorial, and federal agencies involved. Some 50,000 ques­ Canadian Survey Shows tionnaires were mailed out, of which approximately 30,000 completed ques­ Sportfishing is a Big Business tionnaires were returned. These were processed by the Recreational Fisheries Branch and provided the basis for the nationwide figures given in the survey report. Several provinces also used their surveys to develop supplementary information for their own speci fic pur­ Highlights of Canada's nationwide and chinook) catch includes the Cana­ poses. It is planned to repeat the survey angling survey released in mid-year by dian Great Lakes catch. every 5 years. Fisheries Minister Romeo LeBlanc Table I also lists the top 16 species of "The number of anglers and the dol­ leave no doubt that sport fishi ng is big fish landed by anglers in Canada. How­ lars involved reflect the importance of business in that nation. ever, Fisheries and Environment Canada's recreational fisheries," said The survey, carried out in 1976 and Canada points out that Atlantic and LeBlanc. "I am sure the information covering the year 1975, reveals that 6.4 , a signi ficant part of the east provided by the survey will do much to million persons of all ages went coast tidal sport fisheries, are under­ increase public understanding of sport sport in Canada in /975. Of this represented owing to the limited survey fisheries and should have a significant total, 5.4 million were Canadians, and of anglers who fished those waters. influence on the future management of over a million were visiting anglers, Species are ranked in order of total Canada's fisheries resources." primarily from the United States. numbers of fish caught and retained by A final report giving comparable in­ Anglers under 16 and those under the anglers. The first four (yellow perch, formation broken-down by province, legal licensing age in certain provinces brook , walleye, and northern terri tory, and federal area of jurisdic­ made up to 1.7 million of the total, pike) account for over half the total. tion will be available in published form Fisheries and Environment Canada re­ The survey is the most comprehen­ later this year. Additional details may ports. sive of its kind ever carried out in be obtained by writing to the Director, In total, anglers fished 75 million Canada, and the first devoted exclu­ Recreational Fisheries Branch, days and caught al most a quarter of a sively to sport fishing. It was planned Fisheries and Marine Service, 240 billion fish. While brook trout, perch, and organized by the Recreational Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario, walleye, and northern pike topped the Fisheries Branch of the Fisheries and Canada KIA OE6. Iist of most fish landed, the agency listed several marine species among the nation's "premier gamefish." Those

were the Paci fic and Atlantic , Table l.-Numbers offish cau9ht and retained, by species (in thousands). steelhead trout, and blue fin . The All insport catch was: , Fish species ReSidents nonresidents Total Yellow perch (Pe,ca lIavescens) 37.413 5,898 43.311 467,000; coho or silver salmon, Brook trout (Salvellnus 10nNnalls) 37.628 801 38.429 Walleye (SNzostedion vit,eum) 14.664 6.797 21.461 1,221,000; , 503,000; Nonhern pike (Esox lucius) 12.305 3.990 16.295 and bluefin tuna, 540. The rod-and-reel (lctalu,us nebulosus) 7.924 143 8.067 Smallmoulh bass (Mic,ople,us dolomleui) 6.366 1.489 7.855 landed bluefin tuna averaged 845 (Salmo galrdneri) 7.012 729 7.741 pounds each. The Pacific salmon (coho Atlantic tomcod (Mic'ogadus tomcod) 6.309 6.309 Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) 5.638 648 6.286 (Gadus mo,hua) 4.433 4.433 Bass (unspecified) 4.068 289 4.357 Largemouth bass (Mlcropterus salmoides) 3.353 665 4.018 "'Ole: Unless otherwise credited. material in Trout (unspecified) 3.658 79 3.737 this section is from eilher the Foreign Fishery Perch (unspecified) 3.013 170 3.183 Information Rekascs (FFIR). compiled by Sunee Whitefish (unspecified) 1.967 222 2,189 C. Sonu. Foreign Reporting Branch, Fishery De­ Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scomb,us) 1,763 1.763 velopment Division. Southwest Region. NMFS. Others' 41.582 7.654 49.236 NOAA. Terminallsland, CA 90731, or the Inter­ Canada total 199.096 29.574 228.670 national Fishery Releases (I FR) or Language Ser­ 'Numbers caught and retained are not considered to be statistically reliable. vices Daily (LSD) reports produced by the Office 2AlIhough retention of over 18 million rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) is included, the of International Fisheries, NMFS, NOAA, methods of catch and the size of lhe species is such that a relative comparison. for purposes Washington, DC 202.15. of this table. is not meaningful.

Seplember 1978 35 Japanese Seiner Takes projects as design and feasibility aimed at improving economic condi­ Indian Ocean Skipjack studies for a possible major salmon tions in the west coast salmon fishing hatchery at Sherbrooke Lake, N.S., industry where the fleet has been too The Japanese Kyokuyo Fishery's and feasibility and site selection studies large in numbers in relation to the salm­ tuna purse seiner Wukabu Maru No.2 for a possible new hatchery in northeast on available. (499 GT) sucessfully completed its first New Brunswick. All other "B" category salmon ves­ voyage in the Indian Ocean, and re­ In addition, part of the funds will be sellicences will expire either at the end turned to Singapore on 13 April with used to complete the new fish way at of this year or at the conclusion of their 315 tons of skipjack it had caught in 27 Tusket River Falls, N.S., and some 10-year Iife span. depending on when days of fishing after leaving the port on $100,000 will be devoted to major fish the vessel was designated as falling in II March. The vessel left on 21 April passage feasibility studies on the this category. This involves a total of for a second fishing voyage in the In­ Nepisiguit and Tetagouche Rivers in about 480 vessels. dian Ocean after selling the catches to a New Brunswick. As well as these Since 1969, vessel owners have had U.S. packer. speci fic projects, approximately the option of changing from the higher On its first voyage, the Wakaba Maru $150,000 of the CanaJa Works funds category "A" licence to the lower No.2 made a total of 17 sets in waters wi II be spent on general surveys of category "B" licence, which carries a between 30 and 200 nautical miles off stream obstructions and fish habitats in considerably lower licence fee. Romeo the coast of Sumatra, averaging 11.6 New Brunswick with a view to improv­ LeBlanc, Fisheries Minister, explained tons of dai Iy catches or 18.5 tons per ing salmon runs. that the extension is being granted to the set. The vessel's highest catches were The enhancement projects tie in with original "B" licensees because they between 40 and 50 tons a day, a record a comprehensive review and analysis of had no choice in the matter when the essentially equaling those in the estab­ the Atlantic salmon fisheries started last program was introduced in 1969, lished fishing grounds off Papua New year by the Canadian government. The whereas those who subsequently opted Guinea. Fish sizes were relatively small review, expected to be completed later to switch to the "B" category, did so nearer the coast, rangi ng from 1.45 to this year, is examining the biological, with the full knowledge of the condi­ 2.3 kg, but they grew distinctly larger economic, and social factors associated tions of the licences. in the offshore area between 2 and 5.5 with the Atlantic salmon fishery and In order to maintain their status for an kg. will lay the groundwork for a com­ additional 5 years, the 103 vessels The fishing ground west of Sumatra prehensive management plan. includ­ which are eligible to continue in the was chosen because of the infrequent ing the feasibility and appropriateness B. C. sal mon fishery are subject to the occurrences of stormy weather in this of a major enhancement program for following conditions: area during the monsoon season. The eastern Canada. J) The licence privilege is non­ lack of drifting wood and the presence for Atlantic salmon in the New transferable; 2) the vessel must be of strong ground swell rendered con­ Brunswick and Quebec-Gaspe areas owner-operated; and 3) proof must be tacts with fish schools difficult, but the has been banned since 1972 as a con­ provided that the vessel is catching favorable weather encountered in this servation measure to allow the stocks to salmon each year. LeBlanc added that area eventually contributed to the good rebuild. the appeal process remains open for in­ fishing of the first voyage. The Wakaba dividuals affected by the decision who Maru NO.2's current operation repre­ feel there are extenuating cir­ sents the first venture into the Indian British Columbia "B" cumstances in their particular case. Ocean by the Japanese tuna purse sein­ Salmon Vessels Aided ing industry. (Source: FFIR 78-7.) Licences of I03 salmon fishing ves­ Canada Puts $1.25 Million sels in the "B" category in British Col­ Scotland Nuclear Center umbia, Canada, will be extended by 5 Aids Fish Cultivation Into Atlantic Salmon Work years, enabling them to continue Funds totalling $1 .25 million for the fishing until 31 December 1983, ac­ The first nursery for commercial Economic Growth Component of the cording to Fisheries and Environment breeding of and has been Canada Works program will be devoted Canada. The licences were due to ex­ constructed adjacent to an electrical to projects related to Atlantic salmon pire at the end of this year. nuclear center in Hunterston, Scotland. enhancement in the Maritimes and The vessels involved are those which The nursery, administered by Golden l Newfoundland during the current fiscal have been continuously owned and Sea Produce , occupies approximately year, according to Fisheries and Envi­ licensed by the original licensees since 2.5 hectares next to the center and is ronment Canada. Fisheries Minister the Salmon Vessel Licence Control Romeo LeBlanc said that approxi­ Program was put into effect in 1969. 'Mention of trade names or commercial firms mately $750,000 will be spent in New This program, which set a life span of does not imply endorsement by the National Brunswick and Nova Scotia on such 10 years for the "B" licences, was Marine Fisheries Service. NOAA.

36 Marine Fisheries Review complete with large tanks similar to ever, can survive at temperatures 2,000 and 3,000 by tuna longliners, and swimming pools where these species higher than 8 DC, and develops very between 5,000 and 50,000 by pole­ are raised for commercial purposes. well between 12°and 19 D C. Scientists and-liners. The artificially raised fish will be attempt to reduce the maximum limit to Japan's total acceptance of Papua sold to restaurants and individual con­ 18°C. (Source: LSD 78- I I.) New Guinean terms on access and sumers. If flounder sales this year reach fishing fees was expected to influence more than the anticipated 100 I, this the then ongoing negotiation with the nursery will produce one-tenth of the PRC Elver Exports to Gilbert Islands and one scheduled with total flounder consumption in the Unit­ Japan Reach Record High the Solomon Islands, according to in­ ed Kingdom. formed sources in Tokyo. (Source: The fish center will take advantage of Japanese imports of elvers from FFIR 78-7.) the residual ocean water used by the Mainland China during March and nuclear factory to eliminate excessive April this year set an all-time high in heat, but which never has contact with volume for this period of the year at GOOD TUNA CATCHES radioactivity. Normally, this water is nearly 9 tons. The import price was REPORTED OFF JAPAN returned to the sea at higher tempera­ near an all-time high at ¥227,900/kg tures. but in Hunterston it is diverted to (US$47I/pound at ¥220=US$I) in Unusually good catches of bluefin supply a constant stream of warm water March, although it dropped to and skipjack tuna have been reported in through the breeding tanks. The cold ¥ I68,700/kg (US$349/pound in April. waters off the Japanese home islands water of the North Sea during the winter (Source: FFIR 78-7.) this year. Catches of blue fin tuna up to months inhibits growth of the fish due May totaled 3,000-4,000 t, al most to decreased food consumption. At the double the amount caught over the nursery, the warmer water encourages Japan Okays Papua New comparable period last year. Informed consumption and growth year round. Guinea Fishing Terms sources predicted that good fishing for Through this species cultivation bluefin tuna was likely to continue for process, very young fish that by law Negotiations on a provisional fishing some time, since the fishing ground, cannot be caught will be made available agreement which governs Japanese located in a warm water mass sur­ for sale. The nursery will also offer fishing operations within Papua New rounded by large stationary cold water large flounder for fillets, directly com­ Guinea's 200-mile zone came to a set­ masses to the west of the Izu Islands, peting with fishermen who also supply tlement earlier this year as the Japanese appeared to be quite stable. this resource. delegation signed a protocol accepting Catches of skipjack tuna this year up In the tanks, each fish is numbered in full the access and fishing fees as to May totaled approximately 20,000 t, and closely observed by Golden Sea originally proposed by the government more than 1.5 times the catches re­ Produce scientists who select the best of Papua New Guinea. corded over the comparable period last individuals to create various special­ Under the provisional agreement year. The Japanese Fisheries Informa­ ties. This process reportedly may form covering the 9-month period between I tion Service Center was reportedly pre­ two separate : Those that grow May 1978 through 3 I January 1979, dicting continued good fishing for rapidly and become "baby" flounder, Japanese fishermen within Papua New blue fin and skipjack tuna off the and those that are more conducive to a Guinea's 200-mile zone will pay access Japanese home islands into the fall of longer life for the famous fillets. fees at the rate of approximately this year. (Source: FFIR 78-8.) Although most of the complications ¥9,900 (US$43.42 at ¥228=US$I) with flounder have been resolved, the per year for each linear meter of vessel same is not true with sole. It is a more length, and lump sum fishing fee of Black Cod Test Fishing delicate species and the main problem approximately ¥330 million (US$1.4 Conducted off Mexico lies in its refusal to eat, thereby limiting million) for the 9-month period. No growth. limit has been placed on the number of Five Japanese fishing vessels report­ The nursery's success is due to work vessels or the amount of catches. edly arrived in Mexico early this year to initiated more than 10 years ago by the The newly agreed access fee repre­ undertake test fishing for black cod in White Fish Authority in the same elec­ sents a considerable jump over the pre­ waters off the Paci fic coast under the trical center. This commission began vious fee schedule of about license of the Mexican government. experimenting with flounder and scien­ ¥ 150,000/year/vessel. Japanese The test fishing program, if successful, ti fically proved its ideal adaptability for fishing vessels in waters off Papua New will be allowed to evolve into a joint artificial breeding. The optimum ther­ Guinea include 14 tuna purse seiners, venture with an expanded fishing fleet. mal scale for the fish was also discov­ and approximately 400 skipjack pole­ Mexico reportedly wishes to export the ered in their experiments. Flounder and-liners and tuna longliners. Annual bulk of the catches to the United States, does not flourish in temperatures less catches by this fleet usually consisted of allowing some to be shipped to Japan. than 13 °C or above 21°C. Sole, how- 4,600 by tuna purse seiners, between (Source: FFIR 78-7.)

September /978 37