The Fishing Year 2005

EPO PS, LP, RG catches by species 609,000 mt Metric tons Year

EPO PS, LP, RG, and LL catches by species 641,000 mt Metric tons Only 41,000 mt recorded for 2004, but more data forthcoming. Anticipate equal to 2003 catches of ___ t mt w/___% BET Year

EPO PS/LP/RG fleet tuna catches by country 34% 28% 25% 23% t 18% 14% 13% 12% 12% 9% 3% 2% 2% 2% 1% 2% Flag Total catch 549,074 mt Total catch 608,570 mt

Purse-seine catch distributions - YFT Average 1990-2004 2005 2004 catches significantly lower in the northern areas off Mexico and Central America in both nearshore and offshore areas, as compared to the 15 year average from 1989-2003. Catches were 111,000 M/T lower than the 2003 catches, and______lower??? than the 1989-2003 average catch. 275,000 mt (212,000 to 413,000) 272,000 mt 1% lower

Purse-seine catch distributions - SKJ Average 1990-2004 2005 Catches of SKJ were somewhat higher in the nearshore areas off Mexico in 2004, possibly because of changes in fishing strategy due to poor YFT fishing. 2004 SKJ catches were 78,000 lower than the 2003 catches, and _______higher than the 15 year average shown here. 144,000 mt (64,000 to 276,000) 263,000 mt 83% higher

Purse-seine catch distributions - BET Average 1994-2004 2005 Prior 1994 BET averaged about 5 MT per Yr. Increased use of FADs resulted in significantly higher catches, with 70,000 t in 2000; Almost all catches within 10N-15S –Almost exclusively FO’s. 2004 BET catches showed a reduction in the coastal areas. 2004 BET catches were about 13,000 M/T higher than the 2003 catches. 2004 BET catch about _____lower than avg. 58,000 mt (35,000 to 94,000) 70,000 mt 21% higher

IATTC field offices Mayagüez La Jolla Ensenada Cumaná Mazatlán Manta Playas Panamá Cumaná Mayagüez La Jolla Close P.R.To C.R // LF-Species Comp; Fish logs; Vessel Charc; Place, debrief; edit Obs; Landings/Cannery Wts; tags Muscle; otoliths; gonads; stomachs; livers for tuna/billfish –Travel to other countries.

Sampling areas 13 Lf/Species Comp Sampling areas; Wells selected for sampling only if same Mo, Set, Area. 10 Surface Fishery Areas Defined for Stock Ass.//2 Areas-N & S for Unass Sets //4 areas N, S, Eq, Ins for FO”s// 3areas-N, S, Ins for Dolph Sets//1 area, entire EPO for Pole-Line catches.

Size compositions - YFT 2005 by Area 2000 - 2005 10 YFT Areas for stock ass.; 872 Wells/670 YFT; Largest catches in N & Inshore on Dolph Sets; Also Signf catch in N & S Unass & S on Dolph Sets; FO Sets only 8% of catch// Largest sizes of YFT in South on Dolph, but LT 2002 Wts from same area Avg Wts LT 2002 in most areas, except slight Incr. in Avg Wt on FO’s Ins & Dolph Set in N/////Avg Wts lowest since 1999//////2002 Bi-modal; 2003 more modes than prevs yrs.

Size compositions - SKJ 2005 by Area 2000 - 2005 8 SKJ Areas/531 Wells////High catch in 1st Half Yr on FO”s & Unass in S (Peru)////2nd half Sign catches on FO”s in N & EQ; Avg Wts GT 2002, but LT 99-2001/////2003 Bi-modal Dist. with Smaller fish in 40-50cm caught in 1st half Yr. in S on FO”s/Unass////Larger fish 60-70cm caught in 2nd Half on FO”s in Equatorial region.

Size compositions - BET 2005 by Area 2000 - 2005 7 Areas used in stock ass. – 165 wells////Since 2001 Highest BET catch on FO”S south///Also 2003 Signf catches in N/EQ region; Small amts caught on Unass sets in 1ST half Yr. off Ecu/Peru /Avg Wt cont to decline 2003. Lowest since 1998; Largest Wts occurred in record catch Yr 2000 2003/2002 showed a mode of smaller BET BT 40-80cm from N/S on FO”s Pacific BFT 4000 t Comerc & Sport 23-35N May-Oct/Comerc to Fish Grow-out RECAP: 1)2003 Tuna Catchof 703,000 MT greatest on record in EPO; 2)ECU/MEX/VENZ caught about 70% of total surface catch; 3)YFT/SKJ/BET Catch Dist showed similar catch areas and Set types as 15 Yr. Avg; 4) YFT Avg Wts lowest since 1999; 5)SKJ Avg Wts GT 2002, but lower than 1999 through 2001 Avg Wts.; 6)BET Avg Wts lowest since 1998

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