A series of public meetings are going to held this summer seeking comments on potential changes in the way commercial and recreational fishermen fish the U.S. quotas for swordfish and bluefin tuna in the Atlantic. In the case of both fish stocks, U.S. fishermen have not been able to catch the U.S. quotas designed to ensure that the stocks are fished sustainably.
It is told that the United States manages the domestic part of these fisheries by taking into account the ecosystem and working to reduce bycatch of turtles and other species. This approach increases expenses for U.S. fishermen and makes it more difficult for them to compete in the marketplace with cheaper imports from fishing nations that subsidize their fleets and do not use an ecosystem approach.
Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service, opined that swordfish are nearly rebuilt, yet our fishermen are only catching 54 percent of the U.S. quota. He added that bluefin tuna are a more complicated story. U.S. fishermen have followed quotas based on scientific recommendations designed to end overfishing. NOAA will also examine novel ways to limit the bycatch of sea turtles, marine mammals, or undersized, prohibited and spawning fish in the bluefin and swordfish fisheries.
It is informed that NOAA received many comments and suggestions during the recent bluefin tuna rulemaking on ways to improve long-term management of bluefin and swordfish. Public comments on bluefin tuna fishery issues will close June 30, while comments on all other issues, including swordfish, will remain open until Aug. 31.
