Prices paid for both frozen and fresh bigeye on the Japanese sashimi market and in Hawaii are the highest of all the tropical tunas. It is probable, however, that the surplus production model is not an appropriate model for bigeye stock assessment, making the results of this analysis inconclusive. Since about 1994, a rapid increase in purse seine catches of juvenile bigeye, first in the eastern Pacific and, in the past two years in the western and central Pacific, has created further uncertainty regarding the sustainability of the current levels of exploitation. The Pacific-wide purse seine catch of mostly juvenile bigeye has increased from less than 20,000 tons per year prior to 1992 to almost 80,000 tons in 1997. This may reduce the profitability of the longline fisheries, especially for the smaller Pacific Island countries.
Problems also exist with estimating bigeye catch by purse seiners.
Also, the coverage of purse seine trips in the western and central Pacific is relatively low as compared to the eastern Pacific. The capability of comparing current and future adult biomass to a predetermined reference point is also intended. This type of information is typically required for fisheries management purposes. Funding for this project awarded in October 1999. Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, Honolulu, Hawaii.