New Tuna Regs

[keeperreaper]

SM,
There is new findings that at 47" they are sexually mature and also that the "old" belief of two distinct groups of bft might actually be one and the same. There is evidence of "mixing" as some scientists call it. Some tagged fish from our waters have been recaught over there in the Meditteranean. National Geographic sheds some light on the increasing issue at hand.

[Slick Moedee]

KR,
Could you share where you are getting the size at maturity information/findings?

I understand the two stock theory, and lets just note that it is just a theory, and with the deployment of pop-up satellite tags the level of mixing in far greater than previous estimated. I am also aware that the studies in otolith microconstituent analysis that can used to determine geography of spawning, ether Med or GOM are making great strides in shedding some light on the stock theory.

[Slick Moedee]

Also, the National Geographic article in primarily focus on the Eastern Atlantic Stock (The med), and does not get into the same level of detail for the West. Great article, just comes up shy of who the forces are behind the effort being deployed there.

[keeperreaper]

A lot of that information can be found at the UNH tuna lab where I tag juveniles for them. Also any information given to the public that will help the tuna and their sustainablity (NG article) is a good thing. The fishery for juveniles has always been around but who wanted to fish for them when you could target giants and make some $$$$$$. In the 80's and 90's you would see pod after pod of sbfts all over the place in much greater quantities than present day.

[Slick Moedee]

Perhaps I missed one of Molly's papers, or miss interpreted some of her findings. Do you happen to know the specifc paper that eludes to the 47"? Thanks.

I agree with you that any/all attention that is shed on this issue is essential to the general public. A few 'Plant Earth' type documentarys, been a while since any were dedicated to BFT, would be a great follow-up to the NG article.

[keeperreaper]

I will find the info for you. Nuno I believe had some input on that if memory serves me right. Molly I thought was putting pop up tags on the giants with Cookie Murray instead of focusing on the babies. In either case the more the info the better the situation is for the fishery. Mismanagement has led to the collapse of other fisheries and that everyone will agree on. Let the small grow up and let the largest of the fish breed because once the large are removed from the population the life cycle pyramid erodes on all sides. If the little ones are removed the process is just advanced that much quicker.