INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA COMMISSION
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
TENTH MEETING San Diego, California (USA)
13-17 May 2019
DOCUMENT SAC-10 INF-A(g)
Report of Japan's scientific observer program for tuna longline fishery in the convention area of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
in 2018 calendar year
Japan Fisheries Agency 1-2-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8111, Japan
National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, FRA
5-7-1, Orido, Shimizu, Shizuoka, 424-8633, Japan
Summary In accordance with Resolution C-11-08, Japan commenced its scientific observer program for longline
fishery in the convention area of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) from 1 January 2013. This document provides the scientific observers’ information in 2018 calendar year. In 2018 calendar year, 14 observer trips were conducted on Japanese tuna longline vessels in the Convention Area.
Keywords
Longline, Japan, Scientific observer, Tuna fisheries Introduction
In accordance with Resolution C-11-08, Japan commenced its scientific observer program for longline fishery in the convention area of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) from 1 January 2013. This document provides the scientific observers’ information in 2018 calendar year. Training of the scientific observer
In principal, all scientific observers attend a training class held by Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation of Japan (OFCF) and Japan NUS (JANUS) under Japan’s observer program before their departure for the cruise. The National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries (NRIFSF) provides an observer manual and supervises the training course. Under the course scientific observers are trained in skills necessary for conduct its part, including species identification, data recording protocols etc.
Results i) Observer trip number, observed fishing operations and observer coverage
In 2018 calendar year, 14 observer trips were conducted on Japanese tuna longline vessels. Total number of observed fishing operations of 14 trips was 625 days. Information of the trips is shown in Table 1. The tentative observer coverage in this year was 7.5% by number of operations (625/8,348). ii) Catch records, including bycatch data
Observers recorded every item taken on deck and identified the species by themselves. Observers also collected bycatch data. They took photo of bycatch species according to the procedures given in the observer manual made by NRIFSF scientists. Bycatch experts in NRIFSF identified species using these photos.
The list of species recorded by scientific observer on longline fishery in 2018 was shown in Table 2. In relation to paragraph 3 of Resolution C-11-10, six interactions of oceanic whitetip shark were recorded
by observers in 2 trips (Table 2). Four whitetip sharks were dead discarded and others were released alive. In relation to paragraph 4 of Resolution C-15-04, three interactions of Mobulid ray were recorded by
observers in 2 trips (Table 2). In relation to paragraph 4.a of Resolution C-04-05, three interactions of Sea Turtles were recorded by
observers in 3 trips (Table 2), and all of them were released.
Table 1. Information on the trip of the scientific observer for Japanese tuna longline in the convention areas of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission during 2018 calendar year.
Trip ID Range of latitude
Range of longitude
Start date of operation
End date of operation
Number of operations
Number of hooks
Trip 1 12.0-12.2S 122.0-122.2W 2018/1/1 2018/1/8 8 26,271 Trip 2 10.6-14.3S 98.8-112.4W 2018/1/1 2018/3/2 56 142,101 Trip 3 7.7-16.0S 119.5-126.5W 2018/1/2 2018/2/1 28 66,400 Trip 4 4.9N-10.4S 119.5-143.1W 2018/1/1 2018/2/10 31 81,480 Trip 5 5.3-9.2S 124.1-130.8W 2018/2/14 2018/4/11 52 131,116 Trip 6 7.3-12.0S 112.8-117.1W 2018/1/1 2018/1/22 20 49,572 Trip 7 17.3-22.0S 81.7-85.3W 2018/6/5 2018/7/28 52 154,020 Trip 8 7.1-18.1S 119.9-125.6W 2018/6/11 2018/8/16 61 180,630 Trip 9 3.0N-14.2S 129.5-149.0W 2018/7/22 2018/11/21 74 223,355 Trip10 13.1-16.0S 89.8-103.4W 2018/9/9 2018/11/12 61 163,530 Trip 11 1.7-16.0S 127.0-149.8W 2018/7/22 2018/11/21 69 193,045 Trip12 8.7-9.1S 111.9-112.6W 2018/11/22 2018/12/10 19 62,985 Trip13 9.1-15.0S 92.3-112.6W 2018/10/2 2018/12/28 80 194,616 Trip14 9.7-11.3S 113.7-115.8W 2018/12/18 2018/12/31 14 38,142
Total - - - - 625 1,707,263
Table 2. List of species recorded by scientific observer on longline fishery in the Convention Area in 2018 calendar year (Unit: Number of individuals).
Trip
Species
Albacore 45 8 179 19 12 0 263
Yellowfin tuna 2 186 17 23 111 19 358
Bigeye tuna 95 498 168 217 499 150 1627
Skipjack tuna 1 10 5 2 12 10 40
Sailfish 0 0 0 2 0 0 2
Black marlin 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Blue marlin 4 17 15 4 24 0 64
Spearfishes 4 21 9 7 25 10 76
Striped marlin 0 22 5 9 5 12 53
Sword fish 85 130 112 133 191 86 737
Other teleosts 102 121 294 164 170 164 1015
Thresher sharks 0 80 3 49 16 4 152
Shortfin mako 0 2 0 1 2 0 5
Blue shark 10 229 105 46 153 32 575
Oceanic whitetip shark 0 0 0 2 4 0 6
Other Sharks 4 277 96 110 196 135 818
Sting ray 27 32 194 101 316 81 751
Mobulid Rays 0 1 0 0 0 2 3
Other Rays 0 0 2 0 3 0 5
Sea Birds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sea Turtles 0 1 0 0 1 1 3
Mammals 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
Unidentified 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 379 1635 1205 889 1740 707 6555
1 2 5 Total3 4 6
Fig 1. Line setting locations of Japanese tuna longline for the trips with the scientific observer onboard in the convention areas of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission during 2018 calendar year (Trip 1 to 6). Acknowledgement
We greatly appreciate all scientific observers for their efforts in order to collect valuable data and samples on the Japanese longline vessels. We would also like to express special thanks to all crews of the longline vessels for their understanding and cooperation to the observer program.
1
August, 2018
Report of Japan's scientific observer program for tuna longline fishery in the convention area of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
in 2017 calendar year
JAPAN
Japan Fisheries Agency
1-2-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8111, Japan
National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, FRA
5-7-1, Orido, Shimizu, Shizuoka, 424-8633, Japan
Summary
In accordance with Resolution C-11-08, Japan commenced its scientific observer program for longline
fishery in the convention area of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) from 1 January 2013.
This document provides the scientific observers’ information in 2017 calendar year. In 2017 calendar year, 17
observer trips were conducted on Japanese tuna longline vessels in the Convention Area.
Keywords
Longline, Japan, Scientific observer, Tuna fisheries
Introduction
In accordance with Resolution C-11-08, Japan commenced its scientific observer program for longline
fishery in the convention area of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) from 1 January 2013.
This document provides the scientific observers’ information in 2017 calendar year.
Training of the scientific observer
In principal, all scientific observers attend a training class held by Overseas Fishery Cooperation
Foundation of Japan (OFCF) and Japan NUS (JANUS) under Japan’s observer program before their departure
for the cruise. The National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries (NRIFSF) provides an observer manual
and supervises the training course. Under the course scientific observers are trained in skills necessary for
conduct its part, including species identification, data recording protocols etc.
Results
2
i) Observer trip number, observed fishing operations and observer coverage
In 2017 calendar year, 17 observer trips were conducted on Japanese tuna longline vessels. Total number
of observed fishing operations of the 17 trips was 920 sets. Information on the 17 trips are shown in Table 1.
The tentative observer coverage rate was calculated to be 8.6% (920/10,746).
ii) Catch records, including bycatch data
Observers recorded every items taken on deck and identified the species by themselves. Observers also
collected bycatch data. They took photo of bycatch species according to the procedures given in the observer
manual made by NRIFSF scientists. Bycatch experts in NRIFSF identified species using these photos.
Species information from Trips 1-5, 8-9 and 11-13 whose data have already been checked are available at
this stage. The list of species from these trips was shown in Table 2. In relation to paragraph 3 of Resolution
C-11-10, fifty-two interactions of oceanic whitetip shark were recorded by observers in 5 trips (Table 2).
Twenty-five whitetip sharks were dead discarded and others were released alive. In relation to paragraph 4 of
Resolution C-15-04, fifteen interactions of mobulid ray were recorded by observers in 4 trips (Table 2). In
relation to paragraph 4.a of Resolution C-04-05, eleven interactions of sea turtles were recorded by observers in
4 trips (Table 2), and all of them were released.
3
Table 1. Information on the trip of the scientific observer for Japanese tuna longline in the convention
areas of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission during 2017 calendar year.
Trip ID Range of
latitude
Range of
longitude
Start date of
operation
End date of
operation
Number of
operation
Number of
hooks
Trip 1 10.1-14.0S 105.9-111.9W 2017/1/1 2017/1/26 23 55,200
Trip 2 7.9-13.4S 107.2-111.6W 2017/1/1 2017/1/30 28 73,440
Trip 3 7.0-13.7S 106.7-117.8W 2017/2/4 2017/4/17 67 171,520
Trip 4 3.1N-8.8S 124.6-136.0W 2017/4/4 2017/5/24 46 122,310
Trip 5 14.3-18.0S 108.1-114.6W 2017/6/22 2017/9/1 69 166,800
Trip 6 5.8N-18.7S 112.7-137.8W 2017/7/12 2017/9/4 46 111,775
Trip 7 16.3-21.3S 79.3-86.2W 2017/6/26 2017/8/12 47 145,644
Trip 8 5.4-13.0S 110.6-134.4W 2017/7/28 2017/10/26 87 282,500
Trip 9 7.0-18.8S 117.9-123.3W 2017/7/26 2017/11/2 93 237,920
Trip 10 16.9-17.9S 86.3-87.1W 2017/8/25 2017/9/13 19 60,469
Trip 11 7.1-14.5S 116.2-130.3W 2017/9/1 2017/12/31 110 360,005
Trip 12 6.0-12.9S 114.1-122.5W 2017/10/13 2017/12/24 70 166,617
Trip 13 9.1-14.3S 102.5-111.3W 2017/10/8 2017/12/11 59 141,120
Trip 14 9.5-13.0S 110.5-112.6W 2017/12/3 2017/12/31 27 68,510
Trip 15 7.3-13.1S 112.7-123.2W 2017/10/5 2017/12/31 81 194,400
Trip 16 7.2-9.3S 120.2-123.9W 2017/12/15 2017/12/31 16 40,420
Trip 17 6.7-12.1S 107.9-118.1W 2017/11/26 2017/12/31 32 80,410
Total - - - - 920 2,479,060
4
Table 2. List of species recorded by scientific observer on longline fishery in the Convention Area in 2017
calendar year (Unit: Number of individuals).
Trip
Species
Albacore 10 33 33 90 1337 138 544 257 18 28 2488
Yellowfin tuna 32 36 60 204 223 317 439 150 130 293 1884
Bigeye tuna 168 232 566 557 621 822 775 1130 607 522 6000
Skipjack tuna 11 6 41 41 45 47 62 19 19 22 313
Sailfish 0 2 3 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 10
Black marlin 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 2 1 7
Blue marlin 7 12 26 39 3 25 16 26 28 24 206
Spearfishes 27 9 20 42 144 111 187 100 41 87 768
Striped marlin 3 5 12 5 25 15 27 19 35 33 179
Sword fish 24 120 129 127 154 145 261 468 281 86 1795
Other teleosts 63 281 363 270 1295 936 1195 2422 629 926 8380
Thresher sharks 0 23 96 32 11 96 63 40 12 71 444
Shortfin mako 0 3 1 4 5 9 25 12 5 10 74
Blue shark 26 101 305 78 90 127 270 246 236 135 1614
Oceanic whitetip shark 0 0 28 8 0 6 7 3 0 0 52
Other Sharks 20 410 375 231 81 417 576 387 509 329 3335
Sting ray 38 208 229 255 90 123 621 286 563 263 2676
Mobulid Rays 0 0 0 0 0 4 6 3 2 0 15
Other Rays 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Sea Birds 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 5
Sea Turtles 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 2 0 4 12
Mammals 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 6 0 10
Unidentified 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2
Total 430 1481 2288 1984 4134 3340 5078 5575 3126 2834 30270
Total3 41 2 5 8 9 11 12 13
5
Fig 1. Line setting locations of Japanese tuna longline for the trips with the scientific observer onboard
in the convention areas of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission during 2017 calendar year (Trip 1
to 13).
6
Fig 1. Continued.
7
Fig 1. Continued.
8
Acknowledgement
We greatly appreciate all scientific observers for their efforts in order to collect valuable data and samples
on the Japanese longline vessels. We would also like to express special thanks to all crews of the longline
vessels for their understanding and cooperation to the observer program.
1
Report of Japan's scientific observer program for tuna longline fishery in the convention area of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
in 2017 calendar year
Japan Fisheries Agency
1-2-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8111, Japan
National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, FRA
5-7-1, Orido, Shimizu, Shizuoka, 424-8633, Japan
Summary
In accordance with Resolution C-11-08, Japan commenced its scientific observer program for longline
fishery in the convention area of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) from 1 January 2013.
This document provides the scientific observers’ information in 2017 calendar year. In 2017 calendar year, 17
observer trips were conducted on Japanese tuna longline vessels in the Convention Area.
Keywords
Longline, Japan, Scientific observer, Tuna fisheries
Introduction
In accordance with Resolution C-11-08, Japan commenced its scientific observer program for longline
fishery in the convention area of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) from 1 January 2013.
This document provides the scientific observers’ information in 2017 calendar year.
Training of the scientific observer
In principal, all scientific observers attend a training class held by Overseas Fishery Cooperation
Foundation of Japan (OFCF) and Japan NUS (JANUS) under Japan’s observer program before their departure
for the cruise. The National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries (NRIFSF) provides an observer manual
and supervises the training course. Under the course scientific observers are trained in skills necessary for
conduct its part, including species identification, data recording protocols etc.
Results
INTER-AMERICAN TROPI CAL TUNA COMMISSION
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
TENTH MEETING San Diego , California (USA)
13-17 May 201 9
DOCUMENT SAC-10 INF-A(h)
2
i) Observer trip number, observed fishing operations and observer coverage
In 2017 calendar year, 17 observer trips were conducted on Japanese tuna longline vessels. Total number
of observed fishing operations of the 17 trips was 920 sets. Information on the 17 trips are shown in Table 1.
The observer coverage rate was calculated to be 8.5% (920/10,852).
ii) Catch records, including bycatch data
Observers recorded every item taken on deck and identified the species by themselves. Observers also
collected bycatch data. They took photo of bycatch species according to the procedures given in the observer
manual made by NRIFSF scientists. Bycatch experts in NRIFSF identified species using these photos.
The list of species from these trips was shown in Table 2. In relation to paragraph 3 of Resolution C-11-10,
fifty-seven interactions of oceanic whitetip shark were recorded by observers in 8 trips (Table 2). Twenty-seven
whitetip sharks were dead discarded and others were released alive. In relation to paragraph 4 of Resolution
C-15-04, twenty-two interactions of mobulid ray were recorded by observers in 6 trips (Table 2). In relation to
paragraph 4.a of Resolution C-04-05, nineteen interactions of sea turtles were recorded by observers in 10 trips
(Table 2), and all of them were released.
3
Table 1. Information on the trip of the scientific observer for Japanese tuna longline in the convention
areas of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission during 2017 calendar year.
Trip ID Range of
latitude
Range of
longitude
Start date of
operation
End date of
operation
Number of
operations
Number of
hooks
Trip 1 10.1-14.0S 105.9-111.9W 2017/1/1 2017/1/26 23 55,200
Trip 2 7.9-13.4S 107.2-111.6W 2017/1/1 2017/1/30 28 73,440
Trip 3 7.0-13.7S 106.7-117.8W 2017/2/4 2017/4/17 67 171,520
Trip 4 3.1N-8.8S 124.6-136.0W 2017/4/4 2017/5/24 46 122,310
Trip 5 14.3-18.0S 108.1-114.6W 2017/6/22 2017/9/1 69 166,800
Trip 6 5.8N-18.7S 112.7-137.8W 2017/7/12 2017/9/4 46 111,775
Trip 7 16.3-21.3S 79.3-86.2W 2017/6/26 2017/8/12 47 145,644
Trip 8 5.4-13.0S 110.6-134.4W 2017/7/28 2017/10/26 87 282,500
Trip 9 7.0-18.8S 117.9-123.3W 2017/7/26 2017/11/2 93 237,920
Trip 10 16.9-17.9S 86.3-87.1W 2017/8/25 2017/9/13 19 60,469
Trip 11 7.1-14.5S 116.2-130.3W 2017/9/1 2017/12/31 110 360,005
Trip 12 6.0-12.9S 114.1-122.5W 2017/10/13 2017/12/24 70 166,617
Trip 13 9.1-14.3S 102.5-111.3W 2017/10/8 2017/12/11 59 141,120
Trip 14 9.5-13.0S 110.5-112.6W 2017/12/3 2017/12/31 27 68,510
Trip 15 7.3-13.1S 112.7-123.2W 2017/10/5 2017/12/31 81 194,400
Trip 16 7.2-9.3S 120.2-123.9W 2017/12/15 2017/12/31 16 40,420
Trip 17 6.7-12.1S 107.9-118.1W 2017/11/26 2017/12/31 32 80,410
Total - - - - 920 2,479,060
4
Table 2. List of species recorded by scientific observer on longline fishery in the Convention Area in 2017
calendar year (Unit: Number of individuals).
Trip
Species
Albacore 10 33 33 90 1337 586 1700 138 544
Yellowfin tuna 32 36 60 204 223 83 80 317 439
Bigeye tuna 168 232 566 557 621 564 629 822 775
Skipjack tuna 11 6 41 41 45 14 10 47 62
Sailfish 0 2 3 1 0 4 0 0 0
Black marlin 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0
Blue marlin 7 12 26 39 3 14 1 25 16
Spearfishes 27 9 20 42 144 69 2 111 187
Striped marlin 3 5 12 5 25 25 1 15 27
Sword fish 24 120 129 127 154 121 219 145 261
Other teleosts 63 281 363 270 1295 598 1425 936 1195
Thresher sharks 0 23 96 32 11 13 10 96 63
Shortfin mako 0 3 1 4 5 7 1 9 25
Blue shark 26 101 305 78 90 46 143 127 270
Oceanic whitetip shark 0 0 28 8 0 2 0 6 7
Other Sharks 20 410 375 231 81 30 78 417 576
Sting ray 38 208 229 255 90 14 76 123 621
Mobulid Rays 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 6
Other Rays 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sea Birds 0 0 0 0 5 0 22 0 0
Sea Turtles 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 4
Mammals 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0
Unidentified 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Total 430 1481 2288 1984 4134 2192 4400 3340 5078
Trip
Species
Albacore 368 257 18 28 2 44 0 0 5188
Yellowfin tuna 140 150 130 293 141 144 7 36 2515
Bigeye tuna 250 1130 607 522 268 621 114 230 8676
Skipjack tuna 0 19 19 22 2 10 1 13 363
Sailfish 0 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 15
Black marlin 0 2 2 1 0 1 0 1 10
Blue marlin 0 26 28 24 17 17 4 6 265
Spearfishes 0 100 41 87 28 53 2 27 949
Striped marlin 0 19 35 33 20 34 12 17 288
Sword fish 61 468 281 86 59 694 76 136 3161
Other teleosts 467 2422 629 926 109 851 103 318 12251
Thresher sharks 0 40 12 71 27 28 5 14 541
Shortfin mako 3 12 5 10 0 6 0 0 91
Blue shark 44 246 236 135 68 170 29 48 2162
Oceanic whitetip shark 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 1 57
Other Sharks 19 387 509 329 180 725 82 233 4682
Sting ray 14 286 563 263 41 627 105 104 3657
Mobulid Rays 0 3 2 0 1 0 0 6 22
Other Rays 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 1 10
Sea Birds 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31
Sea Turtles 0 2 0 4 1 3 0 1 19
Mammals 0 2 6 0 0 0 0 1 13
Unidentified 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Total 1370 5575 3126 2834 965 4038 540 1193 44968
7 8 91 2 3 4 5 6
16 17 Total10 11 12 13 14 15
5
Fig 1. Line setting locations of Japanese tuna longline for the trips with the scientific observer onboard
in the convention areas of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission during 2017 calendar year
6
Fig 1. Continued.
7
Fig 1. Continued.
8
Fig 1. Continued.
9
Fig 1. Continued.
Acknowledgement
We greatly appreciate all scientific observers for their efforts in order to collect valuable data and samples
on the Japanese longline vessels. We would also like to express special thanks to all crews of the longline
vessels for their understanding and cooperation to the observer program.
1
Report of Japan's scientific observer program for tuna longline fishery in the convention area of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
in 2016 calendar year
JAPAN
Japan Fisheries Agency
1-2-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8111, Japan
National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, FRA
5-7-1, Orido, Shimizu, Shizuoka, 424-8633, Japan
Summary
In accordance with Resolution C-11-08, Japan commenced its scientific observer program for longline
fishery in the convention area of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) from 1 January 2013.
This document provides the scientific observers’ information in 2016 calendar year. In 2016 calendar year, 13
observer trips were conducted on Japanese tuna longline vessels in the Convention Area.
Keywords
Longline, Japan, Scientific observer, Tuna fisheries
Introduction
In accordance with Resolution C-11-08, Japan commenced its scientific observer program for longline
fishery in the convention area of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) from 1 January 2013.
This document provides the scientific observers’ information in 2016 calendar year.
Training of the scientific observer
In principal, all scientific observers attend a training class held by Overseas Fishery Cooperation
Foundation of Japan (OFCF) and Japan NUS (JANUS) under Japan’s observer program before their departure
INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA COMMISSION
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
NINTH MEETINGLa Jolla, California (USA)
14-18 May 2017
DOCUMENT SAC-09 INF A(i )
2
for the cruise. The National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries (NRIFSF) provides an observer manual
and supervises the training course. Under the course scientific observers are trained in skills necessary for
conduct its part, including species identification, data recording protocols etc.
Results
i) Observer trip number, observed fishing operations and observer coverage
In 2016 calendar year, 13 observer trips were conducted on Japanese tuna longline vessels. Total number
of observed fishing operations of 13 trips was 831 sets. Information of the trips is shown in Table 1. The
observer coverage rate was calculated to be 7.18% by number of operations (831/11,572).
ii) Catch records, including bycatch data
Observers recorded every items taken on deck and identified the species by themselves. Observers also
collected bycatch data. They took photo of bycatch species according to the procedures given in the observer
manual made by NRIFSF scientists. Bycatch experts in NRIFSF identified species using these photos.
The list of species recorded by scientific observer on longline fishery in 2016 was shown in Table 2. In
relation to paragraph 3 of Resolution C-11-10, sixteen interactions of oceanic whitetip shark were recorded by
observers in 7 trips (Table 2). Seven oceanic whitetip sharks were dead discarded and others were released alive.
In relation to paragraph 4 of Resolution C-15-04, eighteen interactions of Mobulid ray were recorded by
observers in 5 trips (Table 2). In relation to paragraph 4.a of Resolution C-04-05, sixty-seven interactions of
Sea turtles were recorded by observers in 6 trips (Table 2), and all of them were released.
3
Table 1. Information on the trip of the scientific observer for Japanese tuna longline in the convention
areas of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission during 2016 calendar year.
Trip ID Range of
latitude
Range of
longitude
Start date of
operation
End date of
operation
Number of
operation
Number of
hooks
Trip 1 14.4-14.7S 121.3-121.5W 2016/1/1 2016/1/3 3 8,010
Trip 2 6.3-13.9S 104.8-111.5W 2016/1/1 2016/2/29 54 149,974
Trip 3 6.3-15.8S 105.5-114.8W 2016/1/1 2016/4/22 94 236,976
Trip 4 9.1-30.5S 80.4-119.8W 2016/5/2 2016/11/8 157 408,027
Trip 5 4.9-12.8S 116.8-130.5W 2016/7/10 2016/10/30 107 344,466
Trip 6 7.0-11.8S 111.4-124.8W 2016/8/8 2016/10/19 68 161,840
Trip 7 11.3-19.6S 109.8-114.1W 2016/8/19 2016/10/20 61 158,389
Trip 8 9.5-15.1S 119.0-135.8W 2016/8/5 2016/11/3 78 202,800
Trip 9 11.5-14.3S 110.0-123.0W 2016/9/17 2016/10/16 26 62,080
Trip 10 18.4-18.9S 114.7-116.6W 2016/9/4 2016/9/21 18 45,832
Trip 11 12.0-13.4S 102.3-102.8W 2016/10/12 2016/10/24 13 33,150
Trip 12 9.7-13.5S 102.9-112.0W 2016/9/29 2016/12/31 82 194,500
Trip 13 9.8-13.4S 104.8-111.3W 2016/10/19 2016/12/31 70 183,920
Total - - - - 831 2,156,522
4
Table 2. List of species recorded by scientific observer on longline fishery in the Convention Area in 2016
calendar year (Unit: Number of individuals).
Trip
Species
Albacore 1 1 51 834 337 281 452
Yellowfin tuna 10 78 95 95 558 503 93
Bigeye tuna 24 592 469 1218 1492 1123 954
Skipjack tuna 1 8 26 13 81 49 11
Sailfish 0 2 0 0 2 0 0
Black marlin 0 0 1 4 0 1 1
Blue marlin 0 43 79 11 26 12 6
Spearfishes 1 35 78 165 111 52 268
Striped marlin 0 13 18 111 18 7 84
Sword fish 4 386 265 358 417 211 94
Other teleosts 4 295 177 3147 2342 1271 955
Thresher sharks 1 29 15 20 52 27 8
Shortfin mako 0 0 1 8 7 7 10
Blue shark 12 225 131 194 240 132 78
Oceanic whitetip shark 0 1 1 0 6 2 1
Other Sharks 0 309 55 101 655 530 62
Sting ray 7 318 108 379 246 138 133
Mobulid Raya 0 3 0 0 4 0 0
Other Rays 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Sea Birds 0 0 0 2 0 0 1
Sea Turtles 0 34 25 1 3 0 0
Mammals 0 0 0 0 4 0 0
Unidentified 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 65 2372 1597 6661 6601 4346 3211
6 71 2 3 4 5
5
Table 2. Continued.
Trip
Species
Albacore 261 102 191 0 28 13 2552
Yellowfin tuna 152 47 33 55 239 98 2056
Bigeye tuna 727 310 333 232 680 865 9019
Skipjack tuna 8 4 0 1 15 25 242
Sailfish 0 0 0 0 0 1 5
Black marlin 1 0 1 0 2 1 12
Blue marlin 14 6 2 3 21 23 246
Spearfishes 53 58 85 26 229 161 1322
Striped marlin 40 7 33 17 45 21 414
Sword fish 277 35 24 51 122 444 2688
Other teleosts 597 182 187 279 326 803 10565
Thresher sharks 38 13 1 45 26 88 363
Shortfin mako 14 13 9 10 5 3 87
Blue shark 145 40 24 61 94 253 1629
Oceanic whitetip shark 4 0 0 0 0 1 16
Other Sharks 74 90 0 33 93 893 2895
Sting ray 166 193 4 39 137 334 2202
Mobulid Raya 3 0 0 1 0 7 18
Other Rays 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Sea Birds 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Sea Turtles 0 0 1 0 3 0 67
Mammals 0 0 0 0 0 1 5
Unidentified 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Total 2575 1100 928 853 2065 4035 36409
8 9 10 11 12 13 Total
6
Fig 1. Line setting locations of Japanese tuna longline for the trips with the scientific observer onboard
in the convention areas of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission during 2016 calendar year (Trip 1
to 13).
7
Fig 1. Continued.
8
Fig 1. Continued.
9
Fig 1. Continued.
10
Acknowledgement
We greatly appreciate all scientific observers for their efforts in order to collect valuable data and samples
on the Japanese longline vessels. We would also like to express special thanks to all crews of the longline
vessels for their understanding and cooperation to the observer program.