CA/OR/WA Non-Albacore Highly Migratory Species Hook and Line Fishery
U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.
Current Classification on the List of Fisheries
| Category | III |
|---|---|
| Estimated Number of Participants | 124 |
| Target Species | Swordfish, bluefin and yellowfin tuna, common, bigeye, and pelagic thresher shark, shortfin mako shark, dorado, and opah |
| Applicable Take Reduction Plans | None |
| Observer Coverage | None |
| Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured | None documented |
^ Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used. NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.
*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report (SAR).
1 Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.
Basis for Current Classification
Classified as a Category III fishery based on the lack of documented mortality or serious injuries of marine mammals based on the available data.
Distribution
The hook and line fishery for non-albacore highly migratory species (HMS) occurs in both state and federal waters depending on availability of target species. Most effort occurs in the Southern California Bight (SCB) with minimal effort occurring north of Point Conception. The species targeted include tuna (Pacific bluefin, yellowfin, and skipjack), common thresher shark , shortfin mako shark, dorado, and occasionally swordfish.
The fishery operates year-round; effort generally starts during late spring/early summer and starts dropping off towards late fall/early winter, depending on the availability and movement patterns of HMS. The presence of large-scale ocean/climate conditions such as El Niño and La Niña can influence the movement of HMS considerably. A wide variety of depths within the water column may be fished depending on target species and other factors.
Gear Description
The main type of hook and line gear used for non-albacore HMS is troll gear, although other surface hook and line gear such as rod-and-reel and hand lines may be used. Troll gear typically includes one or more lines with lures or baited hooks attached that are trolled through the water column at various depths, depending on the species being targeted.
Management
Commercial fishing for HMS listed in the HMS FMP requires a federal HMS permit, and additional state permits may apply. All U.S. West Coast non-albacore hook and line fisheries are open access. There are no limits to the number of HMS that can be landed, with the exception of Pacific bluefin tuna trip limits specified through the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). Federal logbooks are required.
Historical Information
| Original Category (Year added to the LOF) | III (2022) |
| Original Number of Participants | 124 |
| Basis for Original Classification | Listed as Category III based on the lack of documented mortality and serious injury of marine mammals based on the available data. Additionally, all other hook and line fisheries along the U.S. West Coast are classified as Category III fisheries, reflecting that hook and line fisheries generally appear to pose small risks of serious injuries or mortalities for marine mammal stocks on the U.S. West Coast. |
| Past Names | N/A |
| Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) | None |