Switching Gears to Protect Ocean Wildlife By Cameron Jaggard, Pew Environment Group

Western Atlantic bluefin tuna migrate thousands of miles annually as they crisscross the ocean. Their travels expose them to intense commercial fishing pressure that has depleted the population of reproductively mature adults by 82 percent since 1970. Because the Gulf of Mexico is the only known spawning ground for this majestic fish, building greater protections for bluefin in those waters is absolutely critical.

Commercial fishermen in the Gulf set surface longlines that stretch on average 30 miles and dangle more than 700 baited hooks. This fishing method targets healthy populations of yellowfin tuna and swordfish, but also incidentally catches and kills more than 80 other types of vulnerable ocean wildlife including bluefin tuna, endangered leatherback sea turtles, blue marlin, sailfish and sharks. The capture of these unwanted species is known as bycatch.

Switching to more selective fishing methods, already approved for use in the Gulf, could eliminate this decades-old problem. Green sticks and buoy gear are two novel alternatives that some commercial fishermen have already adapted for use in the mid-Atlantic, the east coast of Florida, and, to a lesser extent, the Gulf of Mexico. These gears require fewer hooks and allow any unwanted catch to be released within minutes. This significantly reduces the number of non-target animals caught and killed while fishing for yellowfin tuna and swordfish.

The Pew Environment Group and its partners are working to transition the surface longline fishing fleet to these more selective fishing methods and calling on the federal government to prohibit the use of this indiscriminate gear in the Gulf of Mexico. Please visit www.PewEnvironment.org/GulfTuna to learn more about switching gears and email cjaggard@pewtrusts.org to find out how to take action.

Editors note: Please join us for Cameron's presentation at our December general meeting!