Pelagic Fisheries Research Program (PFRP) Over the Period 1993–2003

Research and writing: Noreen M. Parks Editing: John Sibert Layout:May Izumi Cover Photo: Richard Herrmann ~ UH-NOAA~ Executive Summary This report highlights the accomplishments of the Pelagic Fisheries Research Program (PFRP) over the period 1993–2003. Operating from the University of Hawaii-Manoa, the program supports the scientific research needs of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. More than 70 projects have been funded to address questions in fisheries biology, oceanography, statistics and modeling, genetics, protected species, fisheries economics and socio-cultural issues. The PFRP has played a leading role in promoting research in support of the ecosystem approach to fisheries. Through its links with the University of Hawaii, the PFRP is able to assist in training new fisheries scientists. In its scientific collaborations and participation in multinational forums for fisheries management, the PFRP also has played an important role in fostering international cooperation for the sustainable management of pelagic fisheries throughout the central and Western Pacific. Responding to emerg- ing scientific needs for responsible fisheries stewardship, the program continues to sponsor cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research. i ii THE PACIFIC OCEAN—HEART OF THE BLUE PLANET, HOME TO THE WORLD’S RICHEST FISHERIES If you hitched a ride on a space shuttle circling the globe, during much of the voyage the Pacific Ocean would dominate your view of Earth. Our “blue planet” owes much of its liquid character to the Pacific, which covers nearly one third of the globe—an area larger than all the landmasses combined. More than twice the size of the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific encompasses over 64 million square miles, spanning from pole to pole and stretching more than 9,000 miles along the equator from Asia to the Americas. Simply put, the Pacific Ocean is Earth’s largest geographic feature. The central and western reaches of the Pacific—from 150° west longi- tude (just east of Hawai‘i) to the shores of Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand—com- prise about 40 percent of the entire If you hitched a ride on a space shuttle circling the globe, during much of the voyage the Pacific Ocean ocean area. This vast realm contains would dominate your view of Earth. (Courtesy of NASA.) the planet’s highest diversity of marine life, including fisheries that are masters of the high seas, ranging roughly three-quarters of the ocean- supply direct economic benefits to freely throughout the upper waters of wide catch each year. Over the last two some two dozen countries and food to the open ocean. While each species has decades, tuna catches have expanded millions of people around the world. unique traits and behaviors, in general steadily, chiefly due to the growth of the The character of these fisheries relates tunas and billfish grow rapidly and purse seine fishery. Throughout the closely to that of the 200-plus high possess champion-like stamina. 1990s CWP tuna catches averaged islands and about 2,500 low islands and Clocking speeds of up to 30 miles an about 1.6 million metric tons (mt)* atolls sprinkled sparsely across this hour, they migrate over distances of annually, with an all-time record set in ocean sector. Most of these specks of many hundreds of miles, guided prin- 1998 at 2.04 million mt. The prelimi- land rise steeply from the seafloor, have cipally by seasonal changes in ocean nary estimate for 2002 was nearly 1.9 no continental shelf, and generally lack temperatures and concentrations of million mt—almost half of the esti- the lakes and streams that provide prey. During warm seasons some of mated world tuna catch. nutrients to support ocean life in the these streamlined nomads travel as far coastal waters of larger landmasses. as northerly latitudes on par with Japan Geopolitics and Fisheries Thus while nearshore fisheries are and southerly latitudes of New Management immediate and significant resources for Zealand. Another key feature of these The total landmass of the Pacific Pacific island peoples, they represent fishes is their prolific reproduction. island nations and US Pacific holdings only a tiny fraction of the region’s Spawned mainly in the open seas, their represents only a tiny fraction of the marine wealth. larvae ride on ocean currents far and CWP.However, each political entity has Tunas and billfish (such as sword- wide. Thus, the fisheries targeting these jurisdiction over an exclusive econom- fish and marlins) are sometimes called species span the Pacific, and under- ic zone (EEZ) extending 200 miles off- the “petroleum of the Pacific” for their standing their ecology and sustainably shore, and this combined area amounts economic importance. Their delectable managing those fisheries poses a huge to 28 percent of all EEZs worldwide. meat and prowess make them some of and complex challenge. The substantial US stake across the the most popular fish sought for food The tuna fisheries are by far the region includes the State of Hawai‘i— and sport. In contrast to fish that dwell most valuable component of the com- near the seafloor or spend much of mercial pelagic fisheries of the central their lives near land, these “pelagic” fish and western Pacific (CWP), producing *one metric ton = 1.102 US "short" tons (2204 pounds) 1 countries whose primary aim is to maximize commercial catches destined for international export; to the indus- trialized United States, whose stated policy goals include sustainable fisheries and the conservation of marine resources. Notwithstanding these dis- Northern Hawaiian parities, the management of shared Mariana Wake I Islands stocks of highly migratory species can Islands succeed only with multinational coop- Johnston eration and participation. Achieving Atoll Guam effective, sustainable fisheries manage- Palmyra I ment demands timely and accurate sci- Howard & Baker Is entific information. With its highly Jarvis I developed capacity for research, the United States has played and must con- American tinue to play a leading role in providing Samoa a scientific foundation for fisheries policy and facilitating international cooperation. The declining state of world fisheries further underscores the critical need for sustainable management of Pacific fish populations. Globally, fish provide approximately one fifth of ani- mal protein in the human diet, and about one billion people rely on fish as their primary protein source. Humans directly consume about 80 million mt extending about 1500 miles, from of fish annually, and the United Exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Paciﬁc Hawai‘i Island to Kure Atoll—Guam; Nations Food and Agriculture Islands. Western Paciﬁc Regional Fisheries the Northern Mariana Islands; Organization expects demand to Management Council jurisdiction shown in American Samoa; Johnston Atoll; red. (Courtesy WPRFMC) increase by as much as 50 percent over Palmyra; and Wake, Jarvis, Howland the coming decade as the world popu- and Baker islands. Together, the eco- lation grows. At the same time, several nomic zones of these far-flung territo- decades of increasing fishing pressure ries is about 1.5 million square nautical have left the majority of important fish miles—nearly half of the EEZ waters stocks depleted or in decline. Recent under US control. projections suggest the contribution of Adding to the political complexity fish to the global food supply will like- of the region are the fishing interests of ly decrease over coming years as other countries (Japan, China, Taiwan, demand for fish rises and production Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, Spain levels out and then falls. In addition, and others) that operate “distant-water” growing concerns over the effects of fleets in the CWP under license agree- industrial fishing on marine ecosys- ments with local governing authorities. tems—in particular the discarded And, interspersed within and around bycatch and incidental catches of pro- this mosaic of marine jurisdictions are tected species—have sharpened the areas of international waters—the urgency of improving our understand- unregulated “high seas” where a lack of ing and stewardship of ocean official control seriously hampers effec- resources. tive fishery management. The essential function of the CWP The interests of the stakeholder pelagic fisheries in world food supplies nations of the CWP and their abilities and their unique and highly migratory to exploit fish resources vary consider- character makes US leadership in the ably, from the developing island scientific management of these fish- nations whose fisheries represent the eries vital and inescapable. bulk of natural resource wealth; to the 2 The Pelagic Fisheries Research 2,000,000 Program—A Unique Program to 1,800,000 Other Meet Unique Needs 1,600,000 Purse seine Responsibility for US fisheries man- 1,400,000 Pole-and-line Longline agement in CWP waters lies with 1,200,000 NOAA Fisheries and the Western Pacific 1,000,000 Regional Fisheries Management Catch (mt) 800,000 Council (WPRFMC), headquartered in 600,000 Honolulu. When the council was estab- 400,000 lished under the Magnuson-Stevens 200,000 Fishery Conservation and Management 0 Act in 1976, fisheries for highly migrato- 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 ry species in the Pacific were relatively undeveloped, and the council received no explicit authority for regulating 2,000,000 them. Elsewhere in the world, interna- 1,800,000 SKIPJACK tional fisheries organization played a 1,600,000 YELLOWFIN 1,400,000 BIGEYE role in managing fisheries, but in the ALBACORE 1,200,000 CWP no such groups existed. During 1,000,000 the 1980s as Pacific pelagic fisheries rap- Catch (mt) 80,000 idly expanded, the fisheries council rec- 60,000 ognized this uncontrolled growth could 40,000 have potentially disastrous effects and 20,000 the council urged Congress to amend 0 the MSFCMA to include tunas and bill- 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 fish.

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