Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region 2004 Annual Report June 2005 Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Honolulu, Hawaii Cover photo: Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus) Similar in general appearance to yellowfin tuna (the other species known as ahi), the bigeye may be recognized by its plump body, its larger head and its unusually large eyes. Adult bigeye tuna are the deepest occurring of all tuna species, with the depth range of greatest concentration at 150 to 250 fathoms. Smaller bigeye (20-30 pounds) may be encountered in shallower waters in the vicinity of seamounts or floating objects, including fish aggregation buoys. The availability of bigeye tuna in Hawaii has increased as a result of an expansion of the domestic longline fleet and an extension of the fleet's fishing range to as far as 800 nautical miles from port. The peak in Hawaii's landings of bigeye tuna occurs during the winter season (October-April), which is the off-season for harvesting other tuna species. Bigeye tuna is harvested in Hawaii primarily by longline boats which set hooks at the deep swimming depths of this species. Bigeye tuna is a minor component of the catch made by the small-boat handline (ika-shibi) fleet off the island of Hawaii. It is rarely caught by trollers. The longline catch of bigeye tuna is marketed primarily through the Honolulu fish auction. Most of the handline (ika-shibi) catch is sold through the fish auction in Hilo and through the intermediary buyers on the island of Hawaii. Virtually all bigeye is sold fresh. Caught in deeper, cooler water, bigeye tuna typically has a higher fat content than yellowfin and is preferred over yellowfin by more discriminating sashimi buyers. For less discriminating raw fish consumers, the two species are interchangeable. They are also interchangeable with other tuna and marlin species for grilling purposes. (http://www.state.hi.us/dbedt/seafood/bigeye.html) A report of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA77FC0008 i Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region 2004 Annual Report Printed on June 30, 2005 Prepared by the Pelagics Plan Team and Council Staff for the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 ii Table of Contents Table of Contents............................................................................................................................ ii I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 A. Background............................................................................................................................. 1 B. Report Content........................................................................................................................ 2 C. Report Appraisal ..................................................................................................................... 2 D. Plan Team Members............................................................................................................... 2 II. Summary .................................................................................................................................... 6 A. Plan Administration................................................................................................................ 6 B. Island Areas ............................................................................................................................ 6 C. Species .................................................................................................................................... 7 Mahimahi ................................................................................................................................. 7 Blue marlin............................................................................................................................... 7 Striped marlin........................................................................................................................... 8 Sailfish...................................................................................................................................... 8 Shortbill spearfish .................................................................................................................... 8 Skipjack tuna............................................................................................................................ 8 Yellowfin tuna.......................................................................................................................... 9 Wahoo ...................................................................................................................................... 9 D. Gear......................................................................................................................................... 9 Troll fisheries ........................................................................................................................... 9 III. Issues......................................................................................................................................... 9 IV. 2004 Region-wide Recommendations...................................................................................... 9 V. Plan Administration .................................................................................................................. 9 A. Administrative Activities....................................................................................................... 9 B. Longline Permits.................................................................................................................. 10 C. Foreign Fishing Permits....................................................................................................... 14 D. Protected Species Conservation............................................................................................ 14 E. USCG Enforcement Activities.............................................................................................. 17 F. NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement Pacific Islands Enforcement Division ........ 19 Tables 1. Names of Pacific pelagic management unit species 4 2. Total 2002 pelagic landings in the western Pacific region 5 ii Appendices Appendix 1- American Samoa Tables Page 1 American Samoa 2004 estimated total landings by pelagic species and by 1-9 gear type 2 American Samoa 2004 commercial landings, value, and average price by 1-10 pelagic species 3 American Samoa 2004 longline effort, kept and released by the three sizes 1-12 of longline vessels 4 American Samoa 2004 longline effort and catch by boats < 50’ long and > 1-14 50’ long inside and outside of the restricted areas less than 50 miles from shore 5a American Samoa 2004 longline bycatch percentages for the three sizes of 1-16 longline vessels 5b American Samoa 2004 trolling bycatch 1-16 6 American Samoa 1996-2004 catch per 1000 hooks by species for the alia 1-45 longline fishery, comparing logbook and creel survey data. 7 American Samoa catch/1000 hooks for the three sizes of longline vessels 1-47 for 2000-2004 8 American Samoa estimated average weight per fish by species from the 1-50 Offshore Creel Survey Interviews and from Cannery Sampling Figures 1 American Samoa annual estimated total landings of Tuna and non-Tuna 1-18 2 American Samoa annual estimated total landings of Mahimahi by gear. 1-19 3 American Samoa annual estimated total landings of Wahoo by gear. 1-20 4 American Samoa annual estimated total landings of Blue Marlin by gear. 1-21 5 American Samoa annual estimated total landings of Sailfish by gear. 1-23 6 American Samoa annual estimated total landings of Skipjack Tuna by gear. 1-24 7 American Samoa annual estimated total landings of Yellowfin Tuna by gear. 1-26 8 American Samoa annual estimated total landings of Bigeye Tuna by gear. 1-27 9 American Samoa annual estimated total landings of Albacore by longlining. 1-28 10 American Samoa annual commercial landings of Tunas and Non-Tuna 1-29 PMUS. 11 Number of American Samoa boats landing any pelagic species, tunas, and 1-30 non-tuna PMUS. 12 Number of American Samoa boats landing any pelagic species, by longlining, trolling, and all methods. 1-32 13 Number of American Samoa fishing trips or sets for all pelagic species by 1-34 method. 14 Number of American Samoa hours fished for all pelagic species by 1-36 longlining 15 Thousands of American Samoa longline hooks set from logbook and creel 1-38 iii survey data. 16 American Samoa pelagic catch per hour trolling and number of trolling 1-40 hours 17 American Samoa trolling catch rates for Blue marlin, Mahimahi, and 1-41 Wahoo. 18 American Samoa trolling catch rates for Skipjack and Yellowfin Tuna. 1-43 19 American Samoa catch per 1000 hooks of Albacore for the Alia longline 1-44 fishery, Comparing Logbook and Creel Survey Data 20 American Samoa annual inflation-adjusted revenue in 2003 dollars for Tuna 1-52 and Non-Tuna PMUS 21 American Samoa average inflation-adjusted price per pound of Tunas and 1-54 Non-Tuna PMUS. 22 American Samoa average inflation-adjusted revenue per trolling trip 1-56 landing pelagic species. 23 American Samoa average inflation-adjusted revenue per longline set by 1-58 alias landing pelagic species. Appendix 2-Guam Tables Page 1. Guam 2004 creel survey-pelagic species