Annual Oregon Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) Report, 2016

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Heath, Christian

Publish Date: 2016

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Cedric Cooney

Job Position: Natural Resources Data and Systems Manager

Telephone: 503-947-6094

E-Mail Address: cedric.x.cooney@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) is a highly migratory species found worldwide in temperate seas. Albacore caught off Oregon belong to the North Pacific stock and are generally juvenile and sub-adult fish that have not spawned. During their trans-Pacific migrations, albacore are targeted at different times of the year by fisheries of several nations including the United States, Canada, Taiwan and Japan. The United States west coast fishery harvests this stock during the summer and early fall months. Albacore has been fished commercially off Oregon since 1929 when the fishery expanded north from the traditional grounds off Southern California. For many years, both bait-boats and jig-boats fished for albacore off Oregon, but in recent years jig-caught (troll-caught) albacore have been predominantly landed. However, bait fishing with live anchovies is growing in popularity with an increasing number of vessels employing this technique with much success, especially late in the season, for the past several years. The west coast fleet consists primarily of 20 to 60 foot ‘combination’ boats with multiple permits to fish crab, salmon, or groundfish at other times of the year. There are also several large freezer boats (>60 ft.) that travel the North and South Pacific year-round while primarily fishing for albacore. Commercial albacore landings in Oregon were first recorded in 1929, and have been highly variable through the years, ranging from a low of 27,600 pounds in 1936 to a high of almost 38 million pounds in 1968. In the last decade, landings in Oregon have averaged 9.5 million pounds per year. Beginning in 2005 under the Highly Migratory Species Fisheries Management Plan, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) required vessels to submit logbook data while fishing for albacore inside the 200 mile Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). Prior to this, the logbook program was voluntary and only vessels fishing outside the EEZ were required to submit logbooks under the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act.

Purpose:

Time Period of Content: 1987-2016

Geographic Extent: Oregon Coast

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF

Data Quality Information

Lineage-Source: Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission Contract No. 17-40C Subcontract of NOAA Award Number NA16NMF4370321

Data Information

No data information was supplied.

Entity and Attribute Information

Attributes Description: Field attribute information is available in the attached file(s).

Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Unknown