Ecologie

Interactions of pacific tuna fisheries :

Richard S Shomura

This publication presents papers and discussions of the First FAO Expert Consultation on Interactions of Pacific Tuna Fisheries held in Noumea, New Caledonia from 3 to 11 December 1991. The objectives of the Consultation included: the identification and documentation of concern related to interactions among fisheries directed at tuna and tuna-like species in the Pacific, the classification of these interactions, the review of information on them and methods for their study, and the formu lation of recommendations for future research. Volume 1 contains: the Summary Report of the Consultation, a review paper on methods for studying interactions in tuna fisheries,thirteen papers presenting new methods and case studies on such interactions, and seven reviews on fisheries interactions related to individual stocks of Pacific tuna and tuna-like species. Volume 2 includes: eleven review papers on the biology, population dynamics and fisheries associated with the stocks o f Pacific tuna, which are supplemented by four additional papers on specific fisheries. The information contained herein demonstrates the potential for interactions occurring between and among the fisheries directed at tunas and tuna-like species. Empirical evidence for such interactions, however, has been available for only few fisheries, and these interactions have been quantified for even fewer fisheries. It is unclear whether interactions are insignificant among fisheries directed at t una and tuna-like species or whether scientists are unable to detect these interactions possibly due to various changes to fisheries and resources, resulting in a too-variable background which conceals the effects of interactions.