Pole-and-line fishing offers one of the most environmentally and socially desirable
ways of catching tuna.
The method is dependent on the availability of small pelagic
fish (baitlish) released live into the sea to attract tuna schools within range of a vessel's
fishing gear.
The report estimates that current live bait requirements for pole and-line tuna are
between 19,000 and 48,000 tonnes per year, with a mean average of 25,000 tonnes.
It finds that live baitfish fisheries have a number of environmental and social impacts,
which together underscore the importance of conducting any expansion of
pole-and-line fisheries within defined sustainable limits.
Potential impacts highlighted
include a reduction in the amount of forage available for the larger piscivorous
species on which susisstence and commercial fisheries depend, incidental
and deliberate capture of juveniles and of species targeted by artisanal fisheries,
overexploitation of live baitfish fisheries and conflict between bait fishers and local
communities or tour Operators.
The report presents several solutions to help mitigate these impacts. It primarily
finds that additional research is needed, especially studies that focus on the complex
interactions between the live baitfish fishery and the local fishing communities,
as well as those related to baitfish culture and other alternative baits.
It concludes that these research initiatives need to be complemented by comprehensive
fisheries management plans in pole-and-line nations.
These plans should include regular stock assesments, be based on the ecosystem approach and the precautionary
principle, and be third party audited on a regular basis.
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Further ReadingYou can view the full report by clicking here. |
