40 • Sept. 26 - Oct. 9, 2014 • The Log Limits on bluefin tuna in store By Parimal M. Rohit


With the rapidly depleting population of bluefin tuna in the Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Fishery Management Council unanimously voted on Sept. 15 to review a state proposal to impose a two-bluefin-per-angler-per-day pos- session limit.


The two-fish bag limit, which would


apply to recreational fishing, will be discussed again in November. The Sept. 15 vote does not officially change any restrictions on bluefin, but it does indicate that regulatory officials are paying attention to what many cir- cles are reportedly claiming is an over- fishing of tuna. Currently, anglers have a 10-fish bag


limit. According to Kit Dahl of the


National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the state’s pro- posed limitation would not only limit anglers to two bluefin per day but also restrict them to six bluefin with a three-day limitation. Anglers would have to provide documentation that their six-bluefin catch actually occurred in at least three days. A proposal to review a three-fish bag limit was rejected. If ultimately approved, the new


restrictions – which could include alternatives on processing fish on boats – would only apply to bluefin. Dahl told FishRap in an email that a


recent population assessment of bluefin showed the species of tuna was


followed by Mexico. The Monterey Bay Aquarium stated a fully-grown Atlantic bluefin could sell in Japan for $100,000 or more. “Tuna is the second most pop- ular seafood worldwide,” the Monterey Bay Aquarium stated on its website, adding “since the 1960s, the abundance of tuna … [has] decreased globally by up to 90 percent.” In a section on its website


Regulators in California are contemplating whether to enact a two-fish bag limit for bluefin in the Pacific Ocean to help repopulate the tuna species. According to a recent population assessment of Pacific bluefin, the species of tuna is in rapid decline.


“near historically low levels and experi- encing high exploitation rates.” “The problem as identified by sci- entists is high catches of juvenile fish (not yet sexually mature) which for practical purposes at the international management level are defined as fish less than 30 kilograms (66 pounds),” Dahl said. “Bluefin reach maturity in the range of four to six years old.” Whether the proposed regulations will help restore the bluefin population remains to be seen. Dahl said that recreational catches of bluefin tuna within the United States “represents a very small propor- tion of the total fishing impact on the stock ... in the range of less than one percent to four percent.” According to Dahl, the highest number of bluefin is caught in Japan,


Calendar of Events EVENTS


Sept. 26-28 • 19th annual Redondo Beach Lobster Festival, Redondo Beach. Head to Redondo Beach the final weekend of sum- mer with an empty stomach, as the city’s 19th annual Lobster Festival takes place for three days where surf meets turf in the South Bay. All three days will be held at Seaside Lagoon next to Redondo Beach’s King Harbor. Enjoy lobster dinners, a play area for children, merchandise booth, and live bands performing all weekend. Admission is $5 for attendees age 7 and older. Children age 6 and younger are free. Dinner and drink are extra, ranging from $33 to $54 per person. Off-site parking is available at Redondo Beach High School (shuttle available). Festival is from 5 p.m.-11 p.m., Friday, noon-11 p.m., Saturday, and noon-8 p.m., Sunday. Visit lobsterfestival.com or call (310) 376-6911 for complete details.


Sept. 27 • Orville P. Ball Memorial Fishin’ in the Pine, Lake Cuyamaca. The free annual derby is open to kids up to age 15. Trout fishing starts at 6 a.m., and a free lunch will be prepared by the San Diego Anglers Club. Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place in each age group. A grand prize


will be awarded for the largest trout. Sponsored by the Lake Cuyamaca Recreation and Park District, the event will also include live music, clowns, face paint- ing and free drawings. For more details, call (760) 765-0515, or visit lakecuyamaca.org.


Oct. 4 • Fishing Tackle Swap Meet Fundraiser, Long Beach. The Daniel Hernandez Youth Foundation hosts a fish- ing tackle swap meet to help raise money for its programs in teaching fishing, promot- ing sportsmanship, and raising awareness of the environment and marine safety. Founded in 2001, the Foundation has intro- duced thousands of children and families to fishing. Set up starts at 6 a.m.; event runs from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Vendor booths to sell fishing tackle is $40 per space. The event is free to attend and will take place at 251 N. Marina Drive, Long Beach. For more infor- mation, contact Dan Hernandez at (562) 865-3764 or visit danskids.org.


Oct. 11-12 • Fifth annual San Diego Dragon Boat Race, San Diego. Taking over San Diego’s Mission Bay, the Fifth annual Dragon Boat Festival features teams of 16 paddlers competing against each other in a round robin tournament. A team might compete in anywhere between one and six


entitled “Revealing Tuna Secrets,” the Monterey Bay Aquarium stat-


ed greater efforts and measures are needed to sustain the bluefin popula- tion while still allowing for recreational anglers and commercial fisheries to continue fishing for tuna. “Experts warn that without concert-


ed efforts to reduce overfishing and restore depleted stocks, tuna stocks will continue to decline,” according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. “Bluefin are highly migratory, which means many nations, including the U.S. and Japan, need to cooperate on manage- ment plans to maintain global popula- tions.” In the realm of commercial fish-


eries, NOAA reportedly published new requirements to help protect giant bluefin, which can grow to be as large as or larger than humans. One group responsible for manag- ing multilateral efforts of tuna and other fish regulations between the area just east of the Hawaiian Islands and west toward Japan is the Western and


races. The top three teams earn prizes. No experience is required and all participants are novice. The event is organized by the San Diego Alliance for Asian Pacific Islander Americans and San Diego Dragon Boat team. Free entry; visit sddragonboatrace.com.


Oct. 17-19 • Los Cabos Offshore Tournament, Los Cabos, Mexico. A two-day fishing competition, the Los Cabos Offshore Tournament is just ahead of one of the biggest competitive fishing events in Baja California (see below). Taking place near Puerto Paraiso Mall, the Los Cabos Offshore Tournament features competitive fishing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 18 and 19, fol- lowed an awards celebration on the beach at Baja Cantina Beach Club. Visit bisbees.com.


Oct. 21-25 • Black and Blue Marlin Tournament, Los Cabos, Mexico. Organized


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Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s Northern Committee. According to Dahl, the committee adopted “a multi- year rebuilding plan for bluefin which requires countries to half their catch of bluefin less than 30 kilograms.” The Inter-American Tropical Tuna


Commission is the governing body responsible for international manage- ment in the eastern Pacific Ocean and will be meeting in La Jolla in October to discuss how to develop and adopt a population rebuilding plan similar to what the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s Northern Committee adopt. “We’re quite encouraged that the


council recognized the dire straits this fishery remains in,” said Paul Shively, manager of U.S. Oceans (Pacific) at Pew Charitable Trusts. “It’s a fishery in trouble. This is really not about point- ing fingers at anyone. Everyone needs to be part of the solution.” Shively added that Pew Charitable


Trusts had campaigned for a one-fish bag limit, but the two-fish limit was a positive first step in helping repopulate the Pacific Ocean’s bluefin population. “This is really about juvenile fish.


They are not of spawning age. Too many adult fish have been taken. Now there is a desperation to allow juvenile transition into adulthood,” Shively said, adding strict regulations now could eventually resulted in higher bag limits for future generations of fishers. The Pacific Fishery Management


Council will revisit whether to adopt a new policy on bluefin catch limits for anglers at its next meeting, which is set for Nov. 14 to 19 at the Hilton Orange County in Costa Mesa.


by the group as the Los Cabos Offshore Tournament, the Black and Blue Marlin Tournament has been called “The Big Show” in some circles. More than 100 boats participate in this competition, which fea- tures millions of dollars in prizes. It is the world’s richest fishing event, awarding more than $60 million in prize money. Visit bis- bees.com.


Do you have an event you’d like publicized in FishRap’s Calendar of Events? Email event details at least one month in advance to ambrosia@thelog.com, or send a fax to Ambrosia Brody at (949) 660-6172.


Check out the online Event Calendar at thelog.com.


Crossword puzzle solution from page 24


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