West Central Pacific Sample Clauses

West Central Pacific. Total Catch: the purse seine fishery has accounted for between 55% and 60% of the WCP––CA total catch by volume since the early 1990s, with annual catches in the range of 790,000 t. to 1,260,000 t. The majority of the WCP––CA purse seine catch is taken by the four main DWFN fleets –– Japan, Korea, Taiwan and USA. There has, however, been an increasing contribution from the growing number of Pacific Islands fleets, with balance from the Philippines and a variety of other fleets, including several new distant-water entrants into the tropical fishery (e.g. China and New Zealand). Unlike those of other ocean areas, the WCP purse-seine fishery is essentially a skipjack fishery, with that species regularly accounting for 70% to 75% of the purse seine catch. Yellowfin accounts for 20% to 25% while bigeye accounts for only a small proportion (Figure 4). Features of the purse seine catch by species during the past decade include the following. Annual skipjack catches fluctuating between 600,000 t. and 700,000 t. prior to 1998. Catches increased in 1998 and were maintained above 800,000 t. in all subsequent years. Figure 4: Purse Seine Catches in the Western Cexxxxx Xxcific 1972 - 2004 Source: Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx, 2005 Annual yellowfin catches fluctuating considerably between 120,000 t. and 270,000 t. The proportion of yellowfin in the catch is generally higher during El Niño years and lower during La Niña years. Increased bigeye tuna purse seine catches, first in 1997 (33,458 t.) and then again in 1999 (38,327 t.) were due to increased use of drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) since 1996. In recent years, there has been a gradual decline in both the use of drifting FADs and the catch of bigeye. The 2004 purse-seine catch of 1,263,161 t was the highest on record, following catches in excess of 1,200,000 t. in the previous two years. The skipjack part of the catch in 2004 (1,059,061 t –– 84%) was also the highest on record, although the yellowfin catch for that year (179,310 t. –– 14%) was the lowest since 1996. The estimated purse seine bigeye catch for 2004 (24,790 t, –– 2%) continues the declining trend in catches since the record 1999 catch (38,327 t.), primarily due, as stated, to the gradual reduction in fishing effort on drifting FADs over recent years. Taiwan has been the highest producer in the tropical purse seine fishery since 1996 (figure 5). The 2004 provisional catch estimate (198,240 t.) for this fleet was similar to the level taken in 2003, but l5...