Page 12. MAINE COASTAL NEWS November 2009
Commercial Fishing News
SUPPORT FOR LISTING ATLANTIC BLUE FIN TUNA AS ENDANGERED
WASHINGTON, DC - Tom Strickland, Assis- Atlantic bluefin tuna are harvested in and its adjacent seas. The 48 member coun- the threats of extinction for bluefin tuna,”
tant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and both commercial and recreational fisheries, tries to ICCAT will meet November 6-15 in Strickland noted. “Unless, ICCAT adopts
Wildlife and Parks, announced that the and a single bluefin tuna can sell for tens of Recife, Brazil. The management of the Atlan- significantly strengthened management and
United States supports a proposal submitted thousands of dollars. The species is tradi- tic bluefin tuna, will be the subject of much compliance measures, specifically measures
by the principality of Monaco to list the tionally consumed fresh in Mediterranean discussion at this November meeting, and to address IUU harvest, the United States will
Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in countries and is also one of the most sought the United States will be pursuing stricter exert complete and vigorous support for
Appendix I of the Convention on the Interna- after species for the sashimi market in Japan regulation of bluefin tuna fishing. Monaco’s CITES Appendix I listing pro-
tional Trade in Endangered Species of Wild and in the overall global market. Fishing has “The eyes of the world will be focused on posal.”
Flora and Fauna (CITES). CITES Appendix-I led to precipitous population declines of ICCAT and its effectiveness in addressing
listing affords a species stringent protection both stocks.
and prohibits all international commercial The Eastern stock of the Atlantic bluefin
trade. The fifteenth regular meeting of the tuna has declined precipitously in the last 10 Research to Manage of Red Tide
CITES parties is scheduled for March 13-24, years. Based on estimated catches, scientists
NOAA has awarded $457,000 in com- gies.
2010 in Doha, Qatar (CoP15). Strickland will estimated the spawning stock biomass in
petitive grant funding to support three “Forecasts of Alexandrium abundance
lead the United States’ delegation to CoP15, 2007 to be 78,724 tons. This contrasts with the
projects to better track and manage out- and bloom extent are critical to help state
on behalf of the U.S. government. biomass peak estimated for 1958 at 305,136
breaks of toxic red tide algae that threaten managers prepare in advance to minimize
“We understand the dire situation with tons. The decline over the 50-year historical
public health and New England’s shellfish impacts on local communities,” said Darcie
respect to Atlantic bluefin tuna, and the U.S. period ranging from 1957 to 2007 is estimated
industry. The grant covers the first year of Couture, director of Biotoxin Monitoring
intends to vigorously support Monaco’s at 74.2%, the bulk of which (60.9%) was in the
what will be multi-year projects. Anticipated from the Maine Department of Marine Re-
proposal at the upcoming CITES Confer- last 10 years. Threats to the eastern stock
to cost almost $1.5 million over the next three sources. “With that information as a guide,
ence,” Strickland said. “We greatly appreci- include overharvesting and illegal, unregu-
years, they will be carried out by the Woods we can focus our shellfish monitoring efforts
ate Monaco’s leadership to bring bluefin lated, and unreported (IUU) fishing by Euro-
Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Univer- to make more selective harvesting closures
tuna conservation and management to the pean and Mediterranean fishing fleets. The
sity of Maine and the University of Texas. and, once red tide starts to move out, more
world’s attention.” Western Atlantic spawning stock has de-
Findings will improve forecasts and may lead efficient re-openings.”
Monaco’s proposal would require a clined by 82.4% from 49,482 tons in 1970 to
to novel strategies to prevent and control “The work NOAA has supported previ-
two-thirds majority of the 175 CITES parties 8,693 tons in 2007. In the past, decade, the
blooms of the red tide, or, Alexandrium ously in the Gulf of Maine region has led to
present and voting at CoP15 in order to be Western stock has stabilized at a very low
fundyense algae. remarkably accurate seasonal red tide fore-
adopted. population level. Many experts correlate this
Paralytic shellfish poisoning, a poten- casts—the first-ever predictions of this kind
The Atlantic bluefin tuna is a long-lived stabilization to stronger management and
tially fatal illness contracted by humans for harmful algae,” said Quay Dortch, NOAA
species, found in the entire extent of the compliance measures adopted for that stock,
when they consume shellfish contaminated oceanographer and coordinator of the inter-
North Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas, including scientifically based harvest quotas
by toxins produced by the red tide algae, agency Ecology and Oceanography of Harm-
particularly the Mediterranean Sea. The fish- and a catch documentation scheme to ensure
forces closures of productive shellfisheries ful Algal Blooms program. “The innovative
ery is managed as two separate stocks sepa- rigorous compliance by United States fish-
every year. In 2005, lost shellfish sales ideas behind these three new projects will
rated by the 45ºW meridian: the Eastern At- ers.
caused by red tide closures in Maine and enable us to answer some of the remaining
lantic and Mediterranean (‘Eastern’) stock, The management of the bluefin tuna is
Massachusetts alone totaled $23 million. difficult questions to improve predictions.”
and the Western Atlantic (‘Western’) stock. regulated by the International Commission
States have rigorous monitoring programs Woods Hole researchers will explore
The separation between the stocks is based for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
for PSP that ensure seafood safety. how the algae’s cysts, which act like seeds
on separate spawning grounds, genetic dif- (ICCAT). ICCAT is an inter-governmental,
In July 2009, a red tide event also caused and form the next year’s bloom, are deposited
ferentiation, differing ages for reaching regional fishery management organization
an unprecedented near-complete shutdown and moved along the seafloor. This knowl-
sexual maturity, and the apparent absence of responsible for the conservation of tunas
of shellfish harvesting in Maine. In response, edge is critical for the seasonal prediction.
spawning in the middle of the North Atlantic. and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean
NOAA provided emergency funding to sup- Additionally, the University of Maine team
port red tide surveys to supplement forecasts will explore how some non-harmful algae in
and help managers plan monitoring strate- the Gulf of Maine may inhibit Alexandrium’s
SNOWE ON HERRING LIMITS
The SSC itself has acknowledged the
Continued from Page 11.
shortcomings of its data set and has called
proposed to NMFS an experimental fishery for NMFS to fund a new benchmark
for Acadian redfish. If found to be assessment of Atlantic herring. When our
successful, this proposal could benefit the scientists clamor for better data, it is the
lobster and herring fisheries by diversifying responsibility of the Federal government to
the bait supply and reducing pressure on the heed that call and ensure that our fisheries
herring stock. Furthermore, it could provide managers are capable of setting limits that
additional fishing opportunities for meet the MSA’s mandate of achieving, “on
groundfishermen, as redfish is managed a continuing basis, the optimum yield” from
under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery our oceans. A new herring benchmark
Management Plan. As such, in addition to assessment will help achieve this goal and I
prioritizing a herring assessment, I request urge you to prioritize such research.
that you expedite review of this redfish Sincerely,
proposal to determine whether it is viable OLYMPIA J. SNOWE
under the terms of current law. United States Senator
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