Dolphin
Interactions with the Eastern Tropical Pacific Tuna Purse Seine
Fishery (Tuna/Dolphin Program)
  On December
17, 2003, the U.S. Department of State published
a notice in the Federal Register (68 FR 70332) seeking
applications and nominations for the Scientific Advisory
Subcommittee of the General Advisory Committee to the
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. This subcommittee
provides public input and advice to the United States
Section to IATTC, and this advice is used in formulating
policy and positions for meetings of the IATTC and its
subsidiary bodies. Nominations must be submitted to the
Department of State by February 17, 2004. For instructions
about nomination procedures and more information related
to the subcommittee, please see Federal
Register notice (68 FR 70332)
On
June 26, 2003, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA Fisheries, renewed the affirmative finding for the Republic
of Ecuador under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This renewal
allows the continued importation into the United States of
yellowfin tuna and yellowfin tuna products harvested in the
eastern tropical Pacific Ocean by Ecuadorian purse seine vessels
with greater than 400 short tons (362.8 mt) carrying capacity.
The affirmative finding renewal was based on a review of documentary
evidence submitted by the Republic of Ecuador and obtained
from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission and Department
of State. This finding remains in effect through March 31,
2004. Affirmative finding requirements and instructions for
applying for an affirmative finding may be found at 50 CFR
216.24 (f).
On
January 22, 2003, the United States District Court
for the Northern District of California issued an order
(HTML, PDF)
that stayed the implementation of the final finding.
This order was issued in relation to a suit
filed against the Secretary of
Commerce on December
31, 2002, in an effort to repeal NOAA Fisheries’ decision.
On December
31, 2002, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries),
on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, made a finding
(html, PDF),
based on the results of required research, information
obtained under the International Dolphin Conservation
Program (IDCP), and any other relevant information,
that the intentional deployment on or encirclement
of dolphins
with purse seine nets is not having a “significant
adverse impact” on any depleted dolphin stock
in the ETP. This finding changed the definition of
dolphin-safe
to be that in which dolphins can be encircled or chased,
but no dolphins can be killed or seriously injured
in the set in which the tuna was harvested, as applied
to
tuna harvested in the ETP by purse seine vessels with
carrying capacity greater than 400 short tons and sold
in the United States.
NOAA Fisheries' determination
was based largely on a recently
completed suite of research projects mandated under section
304(a)(3) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended
by the International
Dolphin Conservation Program Act. NOAA Fisheries conducted
the research to determine, if despite the low levels of
mortality, the intentional chase and encirclement of dolphins
by the tuna industry is having a "significant adverse impact" on
any of the depleted dolphin stocks. The
research results, including those of a two-month
long chase-recapture
experiment on dolphins in the ETP, and
other relevant information were considered by the Secretary
for the final dolphin-safe
determination. To
view the scientific research results and more in-depth
information about the finding, click
here.
Press
Release
Final Decision
Expert Panel Opinions
Science
Report
MMC Comments html pdf
IATTC Comments pdf
Background
In the late 1950s, fishermen discovered that yellowfin tuna
in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) aggregated beneath
schools of dolphin stocks. Since that discovery, the predominant
tuna fishing method in the ETP has been to encircle schools
of dolphins with a fishing net to capture the tuna concentrated
below. Hundreds of thousands of dolphins died in the early
years of this fishery. However, since 1998, there have been
approximately 2000 dolphins killed in this fishery each year
- down from 133,000 in 1986. This is almost a 99% reduction
in dolphin mortality due to international cooperation and
the efforts of fishermen employing dolphin saving fishing
techniques.
Although dolphin mortality
has declined dramatically in recent years, there are three
dolphin stocks currently listed as depleted: northeastern
offshore spotted dolphin,
coastal spotted dolphin, and
eastern spinner dolphins.
For quick information about the interactions between the tuna
purse seine fishery and dolphins in the ETP, visit these fact
sheets:
For more in-depth
information about interactions between the tuna purse seine
fishery and dolphins in the ETP, visit these links:
For additional
information about the NOAA FisheriesTuna/Dolphin Program,
visit the NOAA Fisheries Southwest
Region and NOAA Fisheries
Southwest Fisheries Science Center's web sites.
Photo Credit:
NMFS file photo
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