, .-- 

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS 

MAY 1985 

OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR NMFS ALBACORE PROGRAM 

Richard H. Parrish 

Assisted by: 

Norman W. Bartoo Patricia J. Donley 

Samuel F. Herrick, Jr. Pierre M. Kleiber 

R. Michael Laurs Rodney R. Mclnnis 

Jerry A. Wetherall 

NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFC- 52 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

Southwest Fisheries Center 
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), organized in 1970, hasevolved into an 

agency which establishes national policies and manages and conserves our oceanic, coastal, and atmospheric resources An organizational element within NOAA, the Office of Fisheries is responsible for 

fisheries policy and the direction of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 

In addition to its fornial publications. the NMFS uses the NOAATechnicaI Menioranduni series to issue 

informal scientific and technical publications when complete formal review and editorial processing are 

not appropriate or feasible Documents within this series, however, reflect sound professional work and 

niay be referenced in the fornial scientific and technical literature 
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS 

This TM series IS used for documentation and timely communication of preliminary resub. imWim reponS. or 

special purpose information. and have not received cornpleIe formal revew. edWfial control. or dela~lSd edlbn0 

MAY 1985 

OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR NMFS ALBACORE PROGRAM 

Richard H. Parrish 

Assisted by 

Norman W. Bartoo, Patricia J. Donley, 

Samuel F. Herrick, Jr., Pierre M. Kleiber 

R. Michael Laurs, Rodney R. Mclnnis, Jerry A.' Wetherall 

Southwest Fisheries Center 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

Pacific Environmental Group 

Monterey, California 93942 

NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFC-52 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Malcolm Baldrige. Secretary 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Anthony J. Calio, Deputy Administrator 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

William G. Gordon. Assistant Administrator for Fisheries 
Preliminary Albacore Operational Plan 

The Southwest Fisheries Center/Southwest Region operational plan for albacore is 

designed to fulfill the goals of the National Marine Fisheries Services strategic 

plan for the North Pacific Albacore Fishery Program. The operational plan's 

structure is based on the final options field of the strategic plan (Parrish and 

Mackett 1984, Admin. Rept. LJ-84-9) 

1. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING AND OPERATIONS 

Importance. The National Marine Fisheries Service's Albacore Program will be 

successful only if it helps to insure the continuance of a healthy U.S. albacore 

fishery. To accomplish this, the albacore resource must be maintained at 

productive levels, the U.S. fishermen must have access to the resource, and the 

albacore fleet must remain efficient in order to remain competitive. The National 

Marine Fisheries Service feels that the best way to achieve these objectives is to 

maintain constituent input to NMFS planning, to continue established communications between the fishermen and NMFS personnel, to develop cooperative fishery 

advisory services, and to expand cooperative field programs involving research 

vessels, chartered fishing boats, and industry sponsored vessels. 

Present Situation. Currently there is considerable citizen input to NMFS albacore 

planning. The strategic plan was developed from criteria and goals established at a 

constituent workshop. Personnel from NMFS are heavily involved in the annual 

fishermen's meetings, and there is considerable effort in cooperative advisory 

services and at sea research projects including exploratory fishing, gear development, and tagging programs. 

Future Needs. The long term needs necessary to insure citizen participation in the 

NMFS albacore program are primarily dependent upon the establishment of a policy 

through which this participation can be affected. 
2 

The principal short term needs include reporting back to the participants of the 

constituent workshop, informing the fishermen of the results of the strategic 

planning effort, and establishing a NMFS/Industry committee to plan a cooperative 

field program. 

Operational Elements 

A. Constituent workshops 

1. Presentation of NMFS strategic and operational plans at a second constituent workshop. 

2. Incorporation of input from the second workshop to the operational plan. 

Inform fishermen and industry concerning the strategic and operational plans. 

Develop a joint NMFS/Industry committee to plan cooperative field work. 

1. Field experiments. 

2. Exploratory fishing. 

3. Gear development. 

4. Environmental monitoring. 

5. Tagging programs. 

6. 

C. 

Work in 1985 

A. Report the results of the constituent workshop, strategic planning and 

the development of the operational plan to the fishermen at their annual 

meetings. 

B. Establish a committee to coordinate NMFS/Industry cooperative programs. 

2. FISHERY DATA AND STATISTICS 

Importance. A fishery data and statistics system which addresses the need to 

gather, archive, and distribute fishery data, both domestic and international, is a 

necessary prerequisite for a successful north Pacific albacore program. Industry 

and NMFS products (reports, advisories, etc.) are required by several different user 

groups including NMFS, industry, boat owners, recreational users, and other 

scientific users. Activities under this section form a basis for many other elements 

of the plan. 
3 

Present Situation. The Southwest Region is currently collecting data and editing 

and disseminating landing, processing and marketing information principally 

through the mechanism of the "Fishery Market News Report." In addition, the 

SWFC is collecting, archiving and distributing data and scientific products in a 

diffuse system. Fishery data, both foreign and domestic, are collected, stored and 

disseminated from one data base to those requesting data. Scientific products are 

distributed by each laboratory or division to those requesting information and, in 

some cases, to prearranged distributions. Environmental data are stored in a 

separate data base and some of these data are available on request. Custom 

tailored scientific data products (Le., transformed, mapped, etc.) are not generally 

available. A centralized contact for all information does not currently exist. 

Some potential user groups are unaware of information available or how to access 

it. 

Future Needs. The long term needs of this section include definition of the 

interaction of the Center and the Region in the area of datahnformation gathering 

and dissemination. Also, a Center/Region policy on the availability of data and 

scientific products to various user groups needs to be stated. This may include 

limitations on costs contributed by the Center/Region, limitations on user groups, 

etc. Promotion of Center/Region data and products should be addressed. Additional long term needs include the need to maintain incoming data availability. 

In the short term, gathering and storing data must be continued. Coordination of 

the Center/Region needs and roles should be accomplished. Data and product 

availability as stated above should be maintained. 

Operational Elements 

A. Definition of long range goals for data and information dissemination system. 

1. Identify current potential users. 

2. Define user needs. 

3. Identify level of Region/Center involvement. 

Work in 1985 

1. 

2. 

3. Assign responsibility for collection. 

Identify areas of common data needs of the Center and Region. 

Coordinate common Center/Region data use. 
4 

B. Design and implementation information system 

Work in 1985 

1. Maintain current data and collection activities 

Southwest Region. 

Landings data. 

Cannery receipts. 

Ex-vessel value. 

Production data. 

Southwest Fisheries Center. 

U.S. landings data. 

U.S. logbook/interview program. 

Size composition of U.S. catch. 

Foreign Fishery data. 

Research Data 

3A. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. 

Importance. International cooperation for science and technology serves two 

functions. First it addresses the need to maintain a scientific dialogue with 

scientists of the other major fishing countries. This allows the U.S. to access 

scientific information and data on a more complete and timely basis than is 

possible otherwise. It provides the U.S. with the opportunity to involve scientists 

from foreign countries in research areas on topics that they are in a better position 

to address because of data or expertise. Secondly, this section addresses a need for 

some segments of the U.S. industry (particularly boat owners) to monitor fisheries 

technology developments in the fishing fleets of foreign countries. 

Present Situation. The collection of data from foreign sources useful for albacore 

fishery monitoring, stock assessment and management analysis is the joint reponsibility of the SWR and SWFC. In particular, statistics on albacore market 

conditions, trade activity and other aspects of economics are primarily from the 

SWR, whereas foreign fishery statistics and biological and oceanographic data from 
5 

foreign fishery agencies are assembled by the SWFC. NMFS access to Japanese 

fishery data for north Pacific albacore is facilitated by the informal research 

partnership established in 1975 between Japan and the U.S. and later expanded to 

include Canada. Taiwan and South Korea have also been welcome participants, 

although their role in the fishery is minor. In view of recent international trends 

toward restricted access to tuna fishery data, the NMFS arrangement with the 

Japanese on north Pacific albacore is both auspicious and of critical importance. 

While continued access to Japanese north Pacific albacore data seems assured for 

the near future, it is less certain in the long run. With continued indications that 

the albacore harvest is close to its maximum sustainable level and with increasing 

overlap of fishing grounds and the resulting direct competition for albacore, the 

political climate surrounding the fishery could change. Rising tensions would likely 

alter the entire process of communication between albacore scientists of the 

participating countries, and result in greater restrictions on data exchange. 

Future Needs. The long term needs of this activity include providing for a stable 

forum for regular exchanges of both scientific data and information. Additionally, 

regular exchanges of scientific personnel to work on topics of need are needed. 

The long term need associated with fishery technology is to arrange a regular 

monitoring of the foreign fisheries and their associated literature. 

The best course for NMFS to follow in the short term is to maintain a good working 

relationship with the Japanese, Canadians and others and to adhere to terms of the 

informal agreement. This requires reciprocal data exchange. To fulfill its side of 

the agreement, NMFS should continus to collect data in the U.S. fishery, assemble 

these in a timely fashion, and distribute them to the foreign partners. 

Foreign fishery data should be used only for purposes intended and agreed upon, and 

not in any way which would improve the competitive position of U.S. albacore 

vessels or unnecessarily put foreign fishermen in a bad light. In regard to the 

latter point, great care must be exercised in using any Japanese drift gill net 

statistics (salmon, squid, albacore, pomfret, etc.). 

Good relations should be fostered by continuing the practice of exchanging 

scientists between the SWFC and Japanese research laboratories. In addition, 

specific projects should be identified which could be pursued jointly by U.S. and 
6 

Japanese scientists. In many cases such collaboration would accelerate our 

acquisition of new information on the Japanese fisheries and lead to improved 

understanding of existing data bases. 

Operational Elements. 

A. Exchange of scientific data and information. 

1. Albacore workshop series. 

2. 

3. Exchange of guest scientists. 

Personal contacts with foreign scientists. 

-.. 

8. Gathering industrial fishery data. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Definition of industry's needs for fisheries and scientific information. 

Identification of current channels of acquiring information. 

Development of a policy concerning the acquisition and use of industrial 

information. 

Work in 1985 

1. Participation in North Pacific Albacore Workshop. 

38. FISHERY MANAGEMENT 

Importance. High sea fishing for north Pacific albacore is conducted by several 

nations, primarily Japan, U.S., Canada, South Korea, and Taiwan. These fishing 

fleets are expanding the areas in which they operate, using a variety of gear types. 

As the level of harvest by all nations approaches the estimated MSY, the need for 

close monitoring of the various fisheries to assess the cumulative impact of fishing 

on the stock becomes more critical. The albacore fishing nations would be in a 

better position to act when the stock shows signs of overfishing if they had 

established a common data base and criteria for identifying overfishing beforehand 

rather than trying to react to a resource crisis without prior consultation. 

Present Situation. Formal arrangements for exchange of albacore fishery data 

among nations do not exist. Fishing data reported by U.S. fishermen are provided 

on a voluntary basis. Informal exchanges of data among researchers have been 

effective between Japan and the U.S. Cooperation between U.S. albacore 
7 

fishermen and scientists also has been good. Those individuals directly involved in 

these informal exchanges generally do not believe that formalizing their arrangements is urgent or even desirable at this time. 

Future Needs. Should management of the north Pacific albacore fisheries become 

necessary in the future, it could not be undertaken by any single nation or even two 

nations. A multilateral compact will be. needed to address albacore management 

issues. 

Operational Elements 

A. Establish an international framework for the collection and dissemination of 

fisheries and scientific information. 

Establish a new international framework for management of international and 

domestic north Pacific albacore fisheries. 

6. 

Work in 1985 

1. Report on Japanese interest in international information exchange and 

management. 

Develop draft criteria for when stock needs protection. 

Evaluate formal versus informal data exchange. 

2. 

3. 

4. Determine whether unilateral regulation of the U.S. albacore fishery 

would conserve the resource. 

3C. DEVELOPMENT AND INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION FOR RESEARCH 

AND MANAGEMENT 

PART 1. STOCK STRUCTURE STOCK ASSESSMENT 

Importance. This section of development and integration of information for 

research and management addresses the need to provide managers with sound, 

accurate descriptions of the conditicn of the population of north Pacific albacore 

and the various stocks within it. If the United States is to realize its goal of 

increasing its catches of north Pacific albacore to 35,000 mt by 1995 and not 

overharvest any one segment of the population, accurate assessments of each of 

the stocks being fished is essential. Further, because the fishery is multinational 
8 

and the delineation of the stocks being fished is not clearly understood, the 

assessments made can change as the various segments of the fishery change their 

fishing patterns and catch levels. 

Present Situtation. Currently the Southwest Fisheries Center realizes the critical 

importance of defining the stock structure of the north Pacific albacore and 

assessing the condition of the stock(s). Considerable effort is being devoted to 

studies which should eventually lead to a usable definition of the stocks being 

exploited. Effort is being devoted to assessment of the population. The annual 

albacore workshop is designed to address the international aspects of this. Stock 

assessment is presently based on the analysis of domestic and foreign catch 

statistics, logbooks and biological sampling of the U.S. fishery. Work has recently 

begun to assess the size/age structure of the portion of the albacore fishery in the 

traditional area of the U.S. fishery using exploratory fishing with alternative 

fishing gear. 

Future Needs. The long term needs of this activity include defining the 

approximate boundaries of each stock. Simulation modeling (see 3C Part 5) should 

be used to assess the accuracy and precision needed, in stock definition, to allow 

adequate stock assessments. Preliminary estimates of population dynamics rates 

are available; however, our knowledge of mortality rates and recruitment is very 

limited. 

In the short term, analyses need to be carried out to estimate the accuracy and 

precision needed in stock structure definition. These can be used to design future 

field studies. Current field work, tagging, and age structure estimation should be 

continued to maintain continuity and provide information needed for assessments. 

Periodic assessments and fishery monitoring should be continued. 
9 

Operational Elements 

A. Definition of Pacific albacore stocks. 

1. Analysis of genetic stock structure. 

a. Mitochondrial DNA 

b. Chromosomal kyrotyping. 

c. Electrophoresis. 

Field studies to define fishery stocks. 

a. Tagging studies to describe geographical distribution. 

b. Population biology 

2. 

1. 

2. 

3. Geographical variation in parasites. 

c. Modeling to evaluate the implications of variations in stock structure. 

Geographical variation in growth rates. 

Geographical variation in birthday distribution. 

Work in 1985 

1. Evaluate the potential of methods for describing genetic stocks of 

albacore. 

2. Continuation of tagging. 

3. Analysis of tag returns for development of modeling based on the 

presently available tagging data. 

4. Modeling approaches. 

B. Development of age/size composition time series for the catch by gear type 

and model area. 

1. U.S. catch. 

2. Japanese catch. 

Work in 1985 

1. 

2. 

Fill in missing sizes in age-growth work 

Continuation of sampling of the U.S. catch for length frequencies and 

logs. 

3. Development of age/size composition time series for the U.S. catch by 

model area using new growth data and the MacCall algorithm. 
10 

4. Development of age/size composition time series for the Japanese catch 

by gear type by model area. 

C. Determination of population age structure. 

1. Gillnetting and longline experiments and/or exploratory fishing in U.S. 

fishery areas. 

Analysis of length frequencies of Japanese gillnet and longline data. 

Determine methods for aging older albacore. 

Determine age composition of albacore on the spawning grounds. 

Calculate mortality rates of adult albacore based on 4. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

Work in 1985 

1. Gillnetting and longline exploratory fishing to evaluate size and age 

structure of the California model area. Use of a chartered fishing vessel 

is proposed. (Appendix 11) 

2. Development of pilot study to determine methods for aging older 

albacore. 

D. Determination of stock size. 

1. Develop cohort analyses of albacore based on one and two stock 

hypotheses. 

Develop indices of recruitment based on one and two stock hypotheses. 

Use modeling approaches to assess stock size (See Modeling Section). 

2. 

3. 

Work in 1985 

1. See Appendix I 
11 

PART 2. EXPAND INTERNAL NMFS COOPERATION 

ON FULL SPECTRUM OF SCIENTIFIC UNDERTAKINGS 

Importance. Components of the National Marine Fisheries Service which impact 

the albacore program are scattered among many organizational units. Therefore, 

close cooperation and communication are necessary to insure efficient utilization 

of resources and non-duplication of effort. 

Present Situation. The presently established albacore committee is responsible for 

the coordination of albacore activities within the Southwest Fishery Center and the 

Southwest Region. It also provided scientific expertise and staff support for the 

development of the NMFS Albacore Strategic Plan. A number of the elements of 

the strategic plan are the reponsibility of NMFS orgainzational units other than the 

SWFC and SWR; the mechanism through which the strategic and operational plans 

are to be coordinated with the other NMFS organizational units is not yet 

established. 

Future Needs. There are both short and long term requirements for the 

development of a policy which defines the overall responsibility for the implemention and coordination of the NMFS Albacore Strategic Plan. 

Operational Elements 

A. Conduct cooperative planning between NMFS organizational units participating in the Albacore Program. 

B. Maintain Center/Region communications. 

Work in 1985 

1. Develop joint Center/Region operational plan for long term research 

and management of the North Pacific Albacore resource. 
12 

PART 3. EXPAND STUDIES OF RELATIONSHIPS AMONG 

THE FISH AND THE ENVIRONMENT 

Importance. Albacore range over a large expanse of the north Pacific during their 

life cycle. Their abundance, distribution, migration rates, availability and vulnerability to capture are regulated by behavioral and physiological responses to 

environmental factors. Understanding the relationships between the fish and their 

environment is considered a prime prerequisite for maintaining and enhancing the 

U.S. fishery as the exploitation rate of the combined foreign and domestic fleets 

increases. 

Present Situation. Currently the SWFC has a large share of its research effort 

directed toward developing environmental data bases, conducting experiments to 

determine behavioral and physiological responses of albacore to environmental 

factors and analyzing the relationships between albacore catch rates and environmental conditions. 

Future Needs. Long term needs include the development of multidisciplinary 

environmental monitoring systems for the north Pacific ocean/atmosphere system, 

determination of how individual albacore react to environmental conditions and 

development of methods to integrate this information to the population level. All 

of this is necessary if NMFS is going to help the U.S. fishery to expand. In 

addition, when the combined international fishery approaches MSY, this same 

information will be necessary to design a management regime which will allow the 

fishery to remain at a highly productive state. 

Short term needs include the development of environmental indices and the 

determination statistical relationships between albacore catch and environmental 

factors. In addition, work is necessary to define the environmental state of the 

preferred albacore habitat. 
13 

Operational Elements 

A. Field experiments to define the habitat, aggregation and migration of 

albacore. 

1. Experiments on factors occurring at time and space scales affecting 

individual fish. 

a. Determination of the oxygen tolerance of albacore. 

b. Acoustic tagging to determine small scale movements of albacore in 

response to gradients of temperature, oxygen, depth and water 

clarity (ocean color). 

c. Determination of metabolic rates of albacore at different energetic 

states. 

2. Experiments and analyses on environmental factors occurring at time 

and space scales affecting fishing operations. 

a. Development of data base for factors which affect daily CPUE of 

longline, gillnet, jig and baitboat fisheries. 

b. Development of functional relationships between smaller scale environmental factors and the availability and vulnerability of albacore 

to capture. 

Work in 1985 

1. Field studies using the JORDAN or a chartered fishing vessel are 

proposed to carry out acoustic tagging and to determine the O2 

tolerance of albacore. 

Analysis of environment factors affecting catch and CPUE of jig boats in 

the U.S. fishery. 

2. 

B. Analysis of albacore/environment relationships occurring at time and space 

scale of interest to industry and management. 

1. Large scale analyses of habitat/environmental conditions in relation to 

physiological factors. 

Development of time series indicies of large scale environmental processes affecting the timing, routes and rates of albacore migration. 

2. 
14 

3. Development of time series indices of large scale environmental processes affecting year class size of albacore. 

Development of descriptive and predictive models of interactions among 

the environment, fishing effort and catch of albacore (also see related 

work in the modeling section). 

4. 

Work in 1985 

1. Comparison of geographical fields of oxygen concentration and oxygen 

tolerance from experimental program. 

Development of time series of environmental data for modeling purposes. 

Initiation of time/space modeling of albacore catches and environmental 

processes in the northeastern Pacific. 

2. 

3. 

PART 4. CONDUCT SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURE, 

FUNCTIONING AND PERFORMANCE OF U.S. ALBACORE INDUSTRY 

Importance. This research addresses the need to provide a comprehensive 

description of the structure, operatioh and performance of the harvesting, processing and retail trade sectors that comprise the U.S. albacore fishery. This includes 

determining how these sec tors respond individually and collectively to changes in 

their operating environments. Research in this area is directed toward providing 

evaluations of policy alternatives designed to assure economic stability in the U.S. 

albacore fishery. 

Present Situation. Currently, the SWFC is conducting studies that focus on the 

economic performance of vessels, both individually and as a fleet, that participate 

in the north Pacific albacore fishery: specifically, their dependence on albacore 

versus alternative species and how their performance is affected by changes in 

their operating parameters. 

Future Needs. Develop analytical framework that predicts, with a stated degree of 

confidence, the magnitude and time/area distribution of U.S. fishing effort for 

north Pacific albacore for given biological, economic and policy conditions. 
15 

Establish the economic linkages between the albacore harvesting, processing and 

retail sectors and integrate these sectors into a comprehensive albacore economics 

component. Incorporate the economics component into the albacore fishery 

simulation model. 

Operational Elements 

A. Develop model of within season decision-making behavior of U.S. fishermen 

for whom the north Pacific albacore fishery is an operating alternative. 

1. Analysis of within season fishing/non-fishing activities and their associated costs and earnings for fishing vessels participating in the north 

Pacific albacore fishery. 

2. Given discrete choices in terms of fishing for albacore, fishing for 

alternative species, or not fishing, develop a stochastic model that 

predicts how U.S. fishing vessels allocate their time among these 

activities in response to changes in conditions affecting their fishing 

operations. 

Work in 1985 

1. Obtain and analyze economic and catch effort data on individual 

albacore vessels's fishing trip and between trip activities. 

Assemble and review background information and material related to 

multi-species/multi-purpose vessel discrete choice modeling. 

Formulate model of time/area/species decision-making behavior of U.S. 

vessels participating in the north Pacific albacore fishry. 

2. 

3. 

B. Analysis of albacore demand at the retail market level: canned white meat 

tuna and alternative product forms. Initiate Work in 1986. 

C. Analysis of domestic processing and distribution of albacore tuna. Initiate 

work in 1987. 

D. Integration of albacore harvesting, processing and retail analyses into a 

comprehensive albacore socio-economic component. Initiate work in 1987. 
16 

E. Introduction of albacore socio-economic component into "North Pacific 

Albacore Fishery Policy Analysis System". Initiate work in 1988. 

PART 5. DEVELOP FISH/FISHERY/ENVIRONMENT MODELS FOR MANAGEMENT. 

Importance. Modeling and the attendant preparation of fishery and environmental 

information is intended to be a prime factor in the development and evaluation of 

potential policies for determining if the north Pacific albacore fishery would 

benefit from management. Modeling will be useful for investigating questions 

concerning the degree of exploitation of the resource and the degree of competition among various gear types. These are important questions in dealing with 

problems of allocation of the resource. The model will also be merged with an 

economic model of the US fishery (3C. part 4.) to allow investigation of the 

efficiency of proposed management schemes in promoting the development and 

preservation of the economic viability of the fishery and the biological viability of 

the resource. 

Present Situation. A modeling effort concerned with albacore in the north Pacific 

has been underway for some time now in the SWFC. The focus of effort is to 

produce a simulation model that deals with recruitment, growth, migration, natural 

death, and harvest of albacore in a region covering most of the Pacific Ocean north 

of the equator. The model should predict albacore catch by space, time, and gear 

type in response to input data on recruitment, effort, and relevant environmental 

parameters. A working version of such a model has been implemented on computer 

facilities at the SWFC. The present version presumes constant environmental 

conditions, that is, parameters such as recruitment, migration, and catchability do 

not vary from year to year (though there may be patterns of seasonal variation 

within each year). 

A workshop has been held to consider the problem of incorporating environmental 

driving functions so that the model will be responsive to variation in environmental 

conditions. As results from 3C. Part 3. become available, appropriate environmental driving variables will be added to the model. The report of the workshop 

lists the features of the model that should be considered for environmental driving 

inputs and outlines which researchers are engaged in relevant investigations. 
In progress now is the extensive process of organizing input data for the model. 

This involves extracting catch, effort, and size sample data from data bases 

dealing with the principal fisheries which harvest albacore in the north Pacific, 

organizing the data for input into the model, and analyzing the data to obtain 

estimates of other necessary input parameters. We have just finished extracting 

U.S. catch/effort data and organizing U.S. size sampling data into a form which 

allows facile juxtaposition of size distribution plots. This is being done to look at 

spatial and temporal variation in size distribution with a view to determining 

appropriate ways to use substitute size distributions for strata with no sample data. 

We have recently received revised data from Japan. Some of the data need to be 

punched, and some of the data tapes have not arrived yet. The tapes include catch 

and effort data and sampling data to get size distributions in catch. When all is 

ready, we can proceed as with the U.S. data. 

Another area of work concerns the estimation of model input parameters. The 

purpose here is to estimate a historical series of recruitment rates and toeestimate 

gear specific and size specific catchability coefficients. It is planned to do this 

using various schemes for cohort analysis including length structured and age 

structured cohort analysis. One of the contemplated methods is under development 

at present. Effort to investigate robustness of some of the procedures is underway 

using an individual fish model that is under developement. 

Future Needs. Long term requirements for the development of the model are 

essentially of three types. First, we must maintain sources of data for determining 

the catch, effort, location and size/age composition of the various gear types and 

nations. Second, we must determine how the environment affects recruitment, 

growth, migration, natural mortality and the exploitation of albacore in the north 

Pacific. Where these affects are found to be significant, we must develop 

functional relationships between the life history processes and the causal, or 

associated, environmental factors. Third, we must evaluate the effect of stock 

size on recruitment and improve our estimates of recruitment, migration, and 

na tu r a1 mort a1 i t y . 

Short term needs for model development are primarily those associated with the 

development of historical catches by sizejage for the various gear types and 

nations. This includes development of new methodology for analyzing age/size 
18 

composition of catches, updating data sources to include the revised Japanese 

information and the assembly of age/size specific catches by gear type by model 

area. 

Operational Elements (See Appendix I) 

A. Incorporation of environmental driving functions. 

1. 

2. 

Second workshop on environmental input to the model. 

Reformulate model with environmental driving functions. 

Work in 1985 

1. Dependent upon results of albacore-environment research. 

B. Assembly of fishery data for input to model. 

1. Revise data base. 

2. Keep data base updated with latest fishery statistics. 

Work in 1985 

1. 

2. 

Revise data base by eliminating substituted length frequency samples. 

Incorporate the recently received updates of Japanese catch/effort and 

size sampling data. 

C. Estimation of input parameters using two approaches. 

1. Invostigate best way to use length sample data to assemble aggregate 

catch-at-length data. 

2. Assemble aggregate catch-at-length data. 

3. Length structured analysis. 

4. 

5. Translate catch-at-length to catch-at-age. 

6. Classical cohort analysis. 

Investigate robustness of MacCall's ageing procedure. 

Work in 1985 

1. Investigate best way to use length sample data to assemble aggregate 

catch-at-length data. 

2. Assemble aggregate catch-at-length data. 

3. Length structured analysis. 
19 

4. Investigate robustness of MacCall ageing procedure. 

D. Use of the Albacore Model. 

1. Maintain list of management questions that the model can be adapted to 

answer. 

Adapt model to investigate questions of gear competition. 

Amalgamate albacore model with economic model of albacore fishery. 

2. 

3. 

PART 6. CONDUCT STUDIES TO GAIN 

AN UNDERSTANDING OF GEAR COMPETITION 

Importance. Gear competition can be defined as the degree to which catch by one 

unit of fishing gear diminishes the potential catch of another unit of gear. 

Competition can exist within a gear type exploiting a given portion of the life 

cycle or among several gear types possibly exploiting different portions of the life 

cycle. 

It is a qualitative generality that the greater the exploitation rate, the greater the 

competition among units of fishing gear. Given a suitable model of an exploited 

fishery and the fisheries exploiting it, gear competition can be quantitatively 

evaluated in various ways. The Albacore Model (3C. Part 5.) is one method. Using 

it we will be able to evaluate, under various conditions, the marginal effect of one 

gear type on another. the 

benefit we would expect a gear type to realize if a second gear type were not 

deployed at all, or if the effort of the second gear type were increased by some 

factor. 

ye will also be able to evaluate questions such as: 

Tagging data can also be useful in evaluating the potential for competition between 

gear operating in different areas due to exchange of fish between the areas. What 

is required is intensive tagging in each area followed by close observation of the 

fishery statistics as well as the tag returns in each fishery. 

Present Situation. Earlier studies using general production models suggest that 

albacore catches in the north Pacific are approaching the MSY level. This suggests 
20 

that competition between the three traditional gear types, ie., longlining, bait 

boats, and trolling, is potentially already a significant factor. Yield-per-recruit 

studies have shown that the fisheries on the younger age groups are impacting 

fisheries based on older age groups. The U.S. fishery which has the youngest age 

composition of the north Pacific albacore fisheries, therefore, undoubtedly impacts 

the Japanese fisheries. The recent expansion of the Japanese albacore fisheries 

has largely occurred on younger albacore. The Japanese fisheries, therefore, 

impact the U.S. however, yield-per-recruit models, which do not take 

reproduction into account, are inadequate to test the full effects of one fishery or 

gear type on another. 

fishery; 

Future Needs. The long term requirements necessary to evaluate the effects of 

gear competition include several types of information. Monitoring of the U.S. 

fishery for catch effort and age/size composition must be continued and we must 

continue to receive similiar information on the various foreign fisheries. This 

information allows a partial evaluation of the effects of the gear types which catch 

younger albacore, ie., trolling, on those which catch older albacore,ie., longlining. 

However, knowledge of the underlying stock-recruitment relationship is necessary 

before the effects can be fully evaluated and little evaluation of the effects of the 

Japanese longline fishery on the U.S. troll fishery can be made without this 

information. 

In the short term, we need to develop time series of the catch by age/size of the 

various north Pacific albacore fisheries and to use the albacore model to test 

potential effects of gear competition under different assumed recruitment relation 

ships. 

Operational Elements 

A. 

B. 

Adapt albacore model to address questions of gear competition. 

Formulate plans for intensive tagging to deal with specific gear competition 

issues. 

Work in 1985 

1. See Section 3C. Part 5D and Appendix I. 
21 

4. FISHERY ADVISORIES AND EXTENSION 

Importance. Fishery advisories and extension services play important roles in the 

research program on North Pacific albacore. They are conducted as part of a 

system where fishery and environmental data required for research studies are 

obtained from fishermen and other segments of the industry in return for fishery 

advisory information which fishermen and others in the industry use to optimize 

planning and operating to promote a viable U.S. albacore fishing industry. A 

fishery advisory and extension program is essential for the U.S. to realize its goal 

to increase its catch of North Pacific albacore and for NMFS to obtain the data 

bases essential to provide management advice to assure optimum productivity of 

the resources. 

Present Situation. Currently the SWFC fishery advisory operations consist of a 

seasonal forecast of where and when albacore are expected to be available for 

harvesting by U.S. fishermen and biweekly narrative bulletins containing current 

fishing activities. A summary of fishery data from the previous year's fishing is 

also provided near the start of a new fishing season. In addition, reports of 

cooperative research conducted with the albacore fishing industry through the 

American Fishermen's Research Foundation (AFRF) are distributed to interested 

fishermen. Numerous presentations dealing with recent research findings and 

general information about albacore are given each year to commercial and 

recreational fishermen and the interested public. 

The albacore fishing industry is providing considerable information and assistance 

in response to the fishery advisory information supplied by the SWFC. Fishermen 

keep voluntary logbooks, conduct tagging experiments, recover and report tagged 

albacore. They also collect specimens for research, and collect oceanographic and 

marine weather cjata. In addition AFRF provides vessel time for research studies 

and support for tagging, biological and fishery-oceanography studies. 

Future Needs. A number of future needs for fishery advisory information have 

been identified by constituents and are contained in the report of the constituent 

workshop for long-range planning, NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFC-37. These involve 

improved or expanded environmental information for use in locating potentially 
22 

productive fishing areas, improved weather and ocean conditions information for 

vessel safety, and improved and ex?anded information on albacore availability, 

abundance, distribution and size composition. The albacore task force identified 

data needs including additional fishery, oceanographic, economic etc. data for use 

in research and eventually policy analyses that fishermen could provide in exchange 

for improved advisory information. Also fishery managers and policy makers will 

require some of the expanded fishery advisory information requested by fishermen. 

Operational Elements 

A. Definition of policy 

1. Investigate feasibility, costs and benefits of various forecasting and 

advisory systems scenarios. 

Interact with constituents to accomplish (1) 

Continue present effort until decision is made. 

2. 

3. 

5. ALBACORE FISHERY DEVELOPMENT 

Importance. Albacore fishery devslopment includes activities leading to the 

development, testing and delivery of high quality product to the consuming public. 

New fishing areas, gear development, product development, product quality, 

marketing and financial assistance to processors, fishermen, and marketers are all 

critical to the realization of a 35,000 mt annual U.S. fishery. Ideally, development 

of the fishery, aimed at increasing production, proceeds concurrently with development of markets adequate to utilize the increased production. Therefore a 

coordinated SWR/SWFC/industry program represents the most efficient course of 

action. 

Present situation. The recent closure of west coast canneries coupled with 

increasing catches have necessitated concentration of NMFS efforts on the 

development of new products and markets for albacore. Financial assistance to 

vessels experiencing temporary economic difficulty has also been made available 

through the Fisheries Loan Fund. 
23 

Future Needs. For the most part, long term needs are difficult to pinpoint. World 

economic conditions and policy can drastically shift, and the success or failure of 

on-going projects often dictate future needs. Some areas of albacore market 

development that do lend themselves to long term planning include potential for 

future export market development (not feasible at this time), capitalization of the 

fishery, both shore based and vessels, and the eventual transfer of market 

development responsibility from government to industry. 

In the short term, ongoing efforts to develop, test, and domestically market new 

fresh and frozen product forms will continue. The Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant 

Program, augmented by direct assistance from National Marine Fisheries trade and 

development specialists, is currently the major tool being utilized in a cooperative 

government/industry albacore development program. 

Operational Elements 

A. Fishery Development 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Investigate potential for increasing U.S. share of t o t a l c a t c h 

Investigate potential for increasihg efficiency 

Conduct gear research program on fishing strategies 

Work in 1985 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Continue SWR/SWC coordination and cooperation 

Complete assessment of alternative fishing gear research. 

Consider the award of S-K grant funds for exploratory fishing in the 

Southwestern Pacific. 

B. Product Development 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Actively assist in the development of new products. 

Encourage the improvement of on-board preservation methods 

Improve quality of albacore products to the consumer. 
24 

Work in 1985 

1. Complete assessment and disseminate results of FY-84 S-K grants that 

tested on-board processing methods to improve quality control and 

grants that develop new product forms. 

Conduct FY-85 S-K solicitation for albacore projects that will build on 

past work and investigate new products and quality control measures. 

2. 

C. Market Development 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Assist industry, including foundations, to promote albacore consumption. 

Assist in developing alternative domestic and foreign markets. 

Assist industry in making use of the surplus food commodity program if 

requested. 

Work in 1985 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

Publish analysis of domestic and export market potential for albacore. 

Complete assessment of FY-84 S-K albacore marketing grants. 

Participate in foreign and domestic food shows. 

Advise and cooperate with development foundations and other industry 

groups in marketing albacore products. 

Investigate the possibility of including albacore products in the surplus 

food commodity program. 

Conduct FY-85 S-K solicitation for albacore marketing projects that 

complement past successful projects. 

D. Financial Assistance 

1. 

2. Provide financial assistance. 

Measure financial assistance needs of the entire industry. 

Work in 1985 

1. Continue present level of financial assistance through the Fisheries Loan 

Fund and Fishery Obligation Guarantee Programs. 
25 

9. RECREATIONAL FISHING 

Importance. Albacore is a highly prized species in the southern California sport 

fisheries. In some parts of the year, recreational fishing for albacore generates a 

significant portion of the income for the sport fishing industry, With an estimated 

two million recreational fishermen in southern California, all opportunities to 

increase their access to marine fishing are important for NMFS to pursue. 

Present Situation. There is growing concern among recreational fishermen's groups 

concerning sport fishing opportunities. They have argued that fish taken in a sport 

fishery have greater economic value than fish taken commercially and that the 

sport fishery should therefore have preference over commercial fisheries. 

Future Needs. The need for recreational fishing opportunities including access 

(Le., charterboats, marinas, etc.) is expected to increase. The amount of fish 

needed to support the expanding sport fishery will also grow. Should allocation 

between recreational and commercial fisheries become necessary, managers will 

need to know what the tradeoffs would be economically, biologically and socially. 

We will need a better understanding of the economic impact of the sport fishery in 

order to assess potential tradeoffs concerning albacore. The proposed work 

requires angler surveys and other appropriate data collecting activities to compile 

a substantial body of information on the demographic characteristics of albacore 

anglers. This information will be used to determine the economic valuation and 

motivational significance of various factors hypothesized to effect the quality of 

the albacore angling experience. Other proposed work will analyze the demand for 

California albacore angling in order to derive a net economic value for this 

recreational activity, particularly, the effect on angler economic benefits and 

participation rates stemming from marginal changes in access prices, the individual's socio-economic circumstances and real or perceived changes in albacore 

angling qualitative factors. 
26 

Operational Elements 

Expand recreational fishing opportunities and improve the recreational experience. 

A. 

6. 

C. 

D. 

Estimate value of albacore to recreational fishery. 

Determine what access improvements are needed. 

Determine what conditions detract from the recreational experience. 

Assist recreational fishermen with information on albacore biology and on 

environmental conditions. 

E. Economic valuation of California angling for albacore tuna 

Work in 1985 

1. Advise recreational fishermen's organizations of available environmental 

data. 

2. Evaluate the southern California albacore recreational fishery. 

3. Report on sources of conflict between commercial and recreational 

fishermen off southern California. 

Provide a statistical and analytical data base to be used in analyzing 

albacore partyboat angling activity and the corresponding net economic 

value derived from this activity. 

a. Angler surveys 

b. Demand analysis 

4. 
27 

z 

4 
28 

Appendix I1 

ALBACORE FIELD RESEARCH BY VESSEL TYPE 

CHARTERED FISHING VESSELS 

Population age structure. 

Knowledge of the age structure of the albacore present in the different fishing 

areas is one of the most critical factors required for analyses of the effects of the 

various fishing fleets on the population and on each other. The age structure of the 

albacore population in the various regions is presently estimated by using the 

age/size structure of the catch of the vessels operating in the region. The real age 

structure of albacore in a region may differ from that observed in the catches due 

to the age selection of the gear type used in the region. For example, jig boats 

catch the youngest albacore, mostly 2 and 3 year olds; bait boats catch a somewhat 

older distribution of fish; and longliners catch mostly young adults, 4 to 6 year olds, 

and some older fish. Therefore the only feasible way to assess the age structure of 

albacore in the traditional U.S. fishing areas is to fish an array of gear that is 

capable of catching albacore over a wide range of ages/sizes. This could be done 

by using jig, bait and longline gear in the same area at the same time. However, 

this would require a multivessel experiment and would be very expensive. The 

method which we are presently using is the use of gillnets with a wide range of 

mesh sizes. Recent work with this gear suggests that it is feasible; however, the 

JORDAN has not proven to be suitable for gillnetting. The proposed future 

research on the age structure of albacore in the traditional U.S. fishing areas will 

involve chartering commercial gillnet vessels which have both the equipment and 

experience necessary for handling large volumes of gear. 

Work in 1985 

Charter vessel for 20 days to operate offshore of southern and central 

California. 

Proposed work in 1986 

Charter vessel for 30 days to operate offshore of Oregon and Washington. 
29 

Habitat definition 

Albacore range over a huge portion of the north Pacific; however, their occurrence 

in fishable concentrations is restricted in both time and space. This is assumed to 

be caused by interactions between environmental factors and the behavior characteristics of albacore. Success in albacore fishing is largely dependent upon finding 

these fishable concentrations and one aspect of the research program is centered 

upon gaining an understanding of the environmental factors associated with these 

concentrations of albacore. The research need for this type of information is due 

to the fact that there have been extended periods of time in the past when 

albacore have not been available in various portions of the traditional U.S. fishing 

grounds. It is important that we know if these variations are due to fluctuations in 

the abundance of albacore or if they are unrelated to the abundance and caused by 

particular sets of environmental conditions. Past research suggests that fishable 

concentrations of albacore are often associated with frontal formations; however 

to date temperature and salinity measurements alone have not been found to 

adequately describe the associations. The proposed albacore behavioral research 

involves tracking albacore, which have been tagged with a sonic device, and in 

measuring their associated environment including a grid of depth profiles consisting 

of temperature, salinity, oxygen concentration, and water clarity. Associated 

research will apply the small scale behavioral results to large scale environmental 

data fields including satellite remote sensing data on sea surface temperature and 

ocean color. 

Proposed work in 1985-87 

Charter vessel for 15 days to operate offshore of southern and central 

California. 

or 

NOAA vessel for 15 days to operate offshore of southern and central 

California. 
30 

NOAA RESEARCH VESSELS 

RV CROMWELL 

Albacore which enter the fishery in the Pacific Northwest appear to migrate 

through the central Pacific via the Kuroshio extension and the area downstream 

from it. The U.S. fishery is expanding into the central Pacific and fishing success 

here as well as the time of arrival and abundance of albacore in the Pacific 

Northwest appear to be associated with the environmental conditions in the 

Kuroshio extension and the region to the east of it. NMFS work in this region is 

presently centered on an evaluation of resources and environmental features 

associated with sea mounts. This work is being carried out by other elements of 

the Honolulu lab. Since the CROMWELL is scheduled to work in the area, there is 

an excellent opportunity to schedule hydrographic surveys and albacore resource 

studies in this transitional region. 

Work in 1985 

30 days of vessel time with the RV CROMWELL in the central north Pacific 

RV CROMWELL 

The US. albacore industry is proposing exploratory fishing in the South Pacific in 

1986. We are therefore proposing that the RV CROMWELL carry out exploratory 

fishing and oceanographic descriptive work in association with the industry 

sponsored vessels. This work will also be carried out in cooperation with the 

ORSTOM sponsored albacore research program and hopefully, in cooperation with 

the New Zealand albacore research program. 

Proposed work in 1986 

30 days of vessel time (plus transit time) with the RV CROMWELL to operate 

in the South Pacific in February 1986, 
31 

Proposed work in 1987 

The RV CROMWELL is expected to operate approximately 180 days in the 

South Pacific during 1987. The proposed work includes an as yet undetermined number of vessel days for albacore research which will be coordinated 

with the ORSTOM and New Zealand programs. 

INDUSTRY SUPPORTED RESEARCH 

Commercial gillnetting for albacore is developing. This development is likely to 

occur outside of the 200 mile zone. Presently we have very little information 

concerning the potentials of this fishery. The Oceanic Division is planning to have 

an observer on board one of the gillnetters for about 30 days during the summer of 

1986. 

The industry is again sponsoring a taqging program which will result in the tagging 

of about 2000 albacore in 1985. The program is directed at tagging 2-3 year old 

albacore and will involve from 15-18 albacore fishing vessels. Total costs to the 

industry will be about $18,000. The Coastal Division will coordinate the work with 

the industry, handle tag recoveries and analyze the results. 

Several albacore vessels are expected to participate in a NMFShndustry program 

to acquire oceanographic observations. 
RECENT TECHNICAL MEMORANDUMS 

Copies of this and other NOAA Technical Memorandums are available from the National 

Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22167. Paper copies vary in 

price. Microfiche copies cost $3.50. Recent issues of NOAA Technical memorandums from the 

NMFS Southwest Fisheries Center are listed below: 

NOAA TM-NMFS SWFC 42 

43 

44 

45 

46 

47 

48 

49 

50 

51 

The Hawaiian Monk Seal on Laysan Island: 1982 

D. J. ALCORN 

(April 1984) 

Atlas of airborne sea surface temperature observations in 

nearshore California waters, 1980-1983. 

P. N. SUND 

(July 1984) 

Potential impact of deep seabed mining on the larvae of 

tunas and billfishes. 

W. M. MATSUMOTO 

(July 1984) 

Sampling commercial rockfish landings in California. 

A. R. SEN 

(July 1984) 

Histopathological manual for monitoring health of striped 

bass in relation to pollutant burdens. 

J. A. WHIPPLE, M. JUNG, R. B. MacFARLANE and 

R. FISCHER 

(August 1984) 

Hawaiian monk seal population research, Lisianski Island, 

1982. 

H. S. STONE 

(August 1984) 

Interpreting spotted dolphin age distributions. 

J. BARLOW and A. A. HOHN 

(August 1984) 

Observations of the Hawaiian Monk Seal on Laysan Island 

from 1977 through 1980. 

B. W. JOHNSON and P. A. JOHNSON 

(October 1984) 

Hawaiian Monk Seal observations on French Frigate Shoals, 

1980. 

P. A. JOHNSON and B. W. JOHNSON 

(October 1984) 

Estimating dolphin juvenile survival rates from the proportion 

of calves nursing. 

T. POLACHECK 

(October 1984)