AN UPDATE OF BY-CATCH ISSUES IN THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN TUNA FISHERIES

This paper reviews by-catch issues in western and central Pacifc tuna fuheries. By-catches fLom tuna fisheries in these sea areas include wahoo, billfih, carangidr, sharks; and more rarely, marine mammals, turtles, and sea fowl. The author stresses the importance of appropriate and timely data so that managers, researchers and fishers can make suitable analysis and responsible management decisions regarding non-target stocks. Indeed, ongoing and representative by-catch monitoring is put forward as the key to the management and conservation of non-target species. To avoid over- or under reporting of by-catches, observer data collection 13 singled out as the most reliable means of monitoring non-target catches. An example of the positive application of such monitoring is the usefil data provided on cornercially valuable species, e.g., wahoo