Our studies and participation in the management process help lead to sound fishery management.

How the Pacific Albacore Tuna Fishery is managed:

Fisheries management is more about how fishermen interact with their environment than managing fish. Managers base how much fish can be caught based upon stock assessments and management decisions made at a variety of levels depending on how far the fish travel. North Pacific Albacore Tuna are one of the highly migratory species that transit waters ranging from near shore to international oceans. For this reason, the fishery is managed through state, federal, and international agencies in the United States. At the state level landings data is collected to help with stock assessments and a clear understanding of where fish are unloading. Federal management of fisheries occurs between 3 and 200 miles offshore, also called the US EEZ. U.S. fishermen receive a landings permit to harvest fish and land them in the U.S.  

u.S./Canada Treaty

Actively permitted U.S. fishermen also have the right to land in Canadian treaty ports after a historic treaty was signed in 1981 between the United States and Canada. The treaty and its regime are renegotiated every three years and allows vessels on both sides of the border to fish collectively and access each other’s designated ports.  

iNternational Fisheries Management

At the international level Albacore Tuna are managed by both IATTC and WCPFC. Managers meet annually at a joint northern committee meeting to discuss a variety of topics including albacore. The recommendations are made by the northern committee to their Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO). Commissioners at the RFMO level adopt conservation and management measures to ensure healthy harvests.