Exploratory Albacore Longline Fishing in the Eastern North Pacific Waters During November-December 1982

The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential for establishing a U.S. fishery on North Pacific albacore during winter months in eastern North Pacific waters. An area several hundred miles off the coast of southern California and extending to the longitudes of about the Hawaiian Islands was selected for the study. The purposes of the study were: 1) to conduct exploratory fishing using longline fishing methods to determine if sufficient catches of albacore can be made to support an expansion of the U.S. fishery,2) to make scientific observations to determine oceanographic conditions that may influence albacore distribution and catchability in the area, and 3) to collect scientific data for albacore biology and fishery studies. The scientific observations included: (a) vertical temperature profiles and surface ocean temperature measurements, (b) albacore tagging for migration and stock structure studies, (c) collection of detailed records on fish catch, amount of gear fished, modifications made to fishing gear and fishing tactics, and size composition of tuna caught, and (d) experiments to measure the depth distribution of longline gear during a set. 1983 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) SWFSC (Southwest Fisheries Science Center) Library Public Domain 1930