Geographical catch distribution of yellowfin and skipjack tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, 1967-1970, and fleet and total catch statistics, 1962-1970

ENGLISH: Logbook records of tuna vessels fishing in the eastern Pacific Ocean were used to prepare charts showing the distribution of yellowfin tuna and skipjack catches by i-degree area, by quarter of the year, and by gear, for the years 1967-1970. Recent changes in the geographical distribution of yellowfin catch are illustrated. Also given are annual catch statistics and the composition of the international tuna fishing fleets which operated in the Commission's Yellowfin Regulatory Area each year, 1962-1970. SPANISH: Los registros de los cuadernos de bitácora de los barcos pesqueros de atún en el Océano Pacífico oriental se usaron para preparar gráficos que presentan para los años de 1967-1970, la distribución de captura del atún aleta amarilla y barrilete por área de 1 grado, trimestre del año y, por las artes. Se ilustran los recientes cambios en la distribución geográfica de la captura del atún aleta amarilla. Se presentan también las estadísticas de captura anual y la composición de la flota internacional de pesca, que explota cada año el Area Reglamentaria de la Comisión, 1962-1970. (PDF contains 95 pages.)

A review of the Japanese longline fishery for tunas and billfishes in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, 1967-1970

ENGLISH: This report deals with the Japanese longline fishery for tunas and billfishes from 1967 through 1970, extending the studies made by Kume and Joseph (1969a, 1969b). The distribution of effort and catch is discussed and evaluated, and the changes in apparent abundance are examined. An analysis is made of the sexual maturity and size composition of the fish, and a brief comparison of the size composition of the catches from the longline and the surface fisheries is included. SPANISH: Este informe analiza la pesca palangrera japonesa de atunes y peces espada desde 1967 a 1970, ampliando los estudios hechos por Kume y Joseph (1969a, 1969b). Se discute y avalúa la distribución del esfuerzo y la captura, y los cambios en la abundancia aparente. Se hace un análisis de la madurez sexual y de la composición de talla de los peces y una breve comparación entre la composición de talla de los peces capturados en la pesca palangrera y la epípelágíca. (PDF contains 166 pages.)

Fish and habitat community assessments on North Carolina shipwrecks: potential sites for detecting climate change in the graveyard of the Atlantic

The Monitor National Marine Sanctuary (MNMS) was the nation’s first sanctuary, originally established in 1975 to protect the famous civil war ironclad shipwreck, the USS Monitor. Since 2008, sanctuary sponsored archeological research has branched out to include historically significant U-boats and World War II shipwrecks within the larger Graveyard of the Atlantic off the coast of North Carolina. These shipwrecks are not only important for their cultural value, but also as habitat for a wide diversity of fishes, invertebrates and algal species. Additionally, due to their unique location within an important area for biological productivity, the sanctuary and other culturally valuable shipwrecks within the Graveyard of the Atlantic are potential sites for examining community change. For this reason, from June 8-30, 2010, biological and ecological investigations were conducted at four World War II shipwrecks (Keshena, City of Atlanta, Dixie Arrow, EM Clark), as part of the MNMS 2010 Battle of the Atlantic (BOTA) research project. At each shipwreck site, fish community surveys were conducted and benthic photo-quadrats were collected to characterize the mobile conspicuous fish, smaller prey fish, and sessile invertebrate and algal communities. In addition, temperature sensors were placed at all four shipwrecks previously mentioned, as well as an additional shipwreck, the Manuela. The data, which establishes a baseline condition to use in future assessments, suggest strong differences in both the fish and benthic communities among the surveyed shipwrecks based on the oceanographic zone (depth). In order to establish these shipwrecks as sites for detecting community change it is suggested that a subset of locations across the shelf be selected and repeatedly sampled over time. In order to reduce variability within sites for both the benthic and fish communities, a significant number of surveys should be conducted at each location. This sampling strategy will account for the natural differences in community structure that exist across the shelf due to the oceanographic regime, and allow robust statistical analyses of community differences over time.

The commercial fishery of Lake George, Uganda (East Africa)

A shallow, highly productive, tropical lake is descrihed with a brief history of its commercial fishery. Three separate assessments of the present (1967-1970) yield are compared, with an apparent confirmation of the values derived from Fishery Department statistics over a period of 20 years. The seasonal change in the catch is noted with, an apparent anomaly shown by ohservations of canoe landings. Long-term trends during the period 1950-1969 are considered with a brief discussion of possible future trends in the fishery.