Fifteenth Meeting of the Standing Committee
On Tuna and Billfish (SCTB 15)
July 22-27, 2002
Hawaii Convention Center
Conference Room 313C (Oahu Room)
Honolulu, Hawaii USA

sponsored by:
Pelagic Fisheries Research Program, University of Hawaii
Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR)

Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Noumea, New Caledonia

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council
Honolulu, Hawaii

National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu Laboratory

Contact: John Sibert, jsibert@soest.hawaii.edu,
or Dodie Lau, dlau@soest.hawaii.edu

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This page updated May 7, 2003

• SCTB15 Final Report (PDF file, 2.6 MB, posted 5/07/03)
  
• SCTB 15 Meeting Details and Arrangements
• Preparatory Meetings
• Plenary Sessions
• List of SCTB 15 Participants (posted 8/28/02)
• SCTB 15 Executive Summary (posted 8/28/02)
• Report of SCTB 14 Meeting
• List of SCTB 15 Working Papers (posted 8/28/02)
• Working Papers
  
  • Information Reports
    
  • General
    
  • National Tuna Fishery Reports
    
  • Statistics
    
  • Methods
    
  • Fishing Technology
  • Species Research Groups
    
  • Skipjack
    
  • Yellowfin
    
  • Albacore
    
  • Bigeye
    
  • Billfish and Bycatch
    

• Map to UH, Imin Conference Center (PDF file posted 6/28/02)
• Draft Agenda for Statistics Working Group meeting (posted 6/28/02)
• Draft Agenda for Methods Working Group meeting (updated 7/11/02)
• Draft Agenda for Fishing Technology Working Group meeting (updated 7/02/02)

Plenary Sessions

• Main Agenda, (updated 7/22/02)
• Draft Agenda for Statistics Working Group
• Draft Agenda for Methods Working Group
• Draft Agenda for Fishing Technology Working Group (posted 7/17/02)
• Draft Agenda for Skipjack Research Group (posted 6/28/02)
  
• Draft Agenda for Yellowfin Research Group (posted 7/3/02)
• Draft Agenda for Albacore Research Group
• Draft Agenda for Bigeye Research Group
  
• Draft Agenda for Billfish and Bycatch Research Group (updated 7/11/02)
  

• Participants (posted 8/28/02)

• Executive Summary Report (posted 8/28/02)

• Final Report of SCTB14 (692 KB)

Working Papers

• List of SCTB 15 Working Papers
  
  
• Information Reports:
  INFO-1. Sibert, J. Pelagic Fisheries Research Program: Scientific Research in Support of Rational Fishery Management. Pelagic Fisheries Research Program, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii.
  
  INFO-2. Schroeder, B. Prospectus: International longline marine turtle bycatch technical workshop. Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, Maryland.

  
  
  
• General:
  GEN-1. Lewis, A. and P. Williams. Overview of the western and central Pacific Ocean tuna fisheries, 2001. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  GEN-2. O'Malley, J. and S. Pooley. Description and Economic Analysis of Large American Samoa Longline Vessels. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory, Hawaii.
  
  GEN-3. O'Malley, J. and S. Pooley. Economic and operational characteristics of the Hawaii longline fleet in 2000. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory, Hawaii.
  
  GEN-4. Forum Fisheries Agency. Eonomic overview of the tuna fishery. Forum Fisheries Agency, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
  
  
  
• National Tuna Fishery Reports:
  NFR-2. Findlay, J. and D. Bromhead. National tuna fishery report - Tuna and billfish fisheries of the eastern Australian fishing zone. Fisheries and Marine Science, Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra, Australia.
  
  NFR-3. Shaw, W. and M. Stocker. An Update for Canadian Tuna Fisheries in the North and South Pacific Ocean for 2001. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, B.C., Canada.
  
  NFR-4. Xu Liuxiong. National report of China. Ocean College, Shanghai Fisheries University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
  
  NFR-6. Park, T. National tuna fishery report for 2001. Micronesian Fisheries Authority, Pohnpei, FSM.
  
  NFR-7. Amoe, J. Fiji tuna and billfish fisheries. Fisheries Division, Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, Fiji.
  
  NFR-8. Misselis, C. French Polynesia tuna fisheries. Service del la pêche, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
  
  NFR-9. Retnowati, D. Tuna and tuna-like fisheries in Indonesia. Directorate General of Capture Fishery, Sub Directorate of Data and Statistics, Jakarta, Indonesia.
  
  NFR-10. Koh, J-R, D-Y Moon, and D-H An. National tuna fishery report in 2002 - Korea. National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan, Republic of Korea.
  
  NFR-11. Marshall Islands National Tuna Fishery Report 2001-2002. MIMRA Oceanic and Industrial Affairs, Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority, Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands.
  
  NFR-12. Etaix-Bonnin, R. New Caledonia Tuna Fishery. Service de la marine marchande et des pêches maritimes, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  NFR-13. Murray, T., Griggs, L., and P. Wallis. New Zealand Domestic Tuna Fisheries, 1990 - 2001. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd., Wellington and Ministry of Fisheries, Wellington.
  
  NFR-17. Kumoru, L. National tuna fishery report - Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
  
  NFR-18. Barut, N. National tuna fishery report - Philippines. Marine Fisheries Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Quezon City, Philippines.
  
  NFR-20. Sua, D., P. Watt, and R. Imo. Samoa national tuna fishery report. Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries and Meteorology, Apia, Samoa.
  
  NFR-21.Oreihaka, E. Domestic tuna fisheries in the Solomon Islands. Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. Honiara, Solomon Islands.
  
  NFR-22. Wang, S-H, S-B Wang, and C-L Kuo. National report: Update on tuna fisheries of Taiwan in the Pacific Region. Overseas Fisheries Development Council of the Republic of China and Fisheries Administration, Council of Agriculture, R.O.C.
  
  NFR-23. Aho, M. National Fisheries Report for Tonga. Ministry of Fisheries, Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
  
  NFR-24. Ito, R., D. Hamm, A. Coan, and J. Childers. Summary of U.S. fisheries statistics for highly migratory species in the central-western Pacific, 1997-2001. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla.
  
  NFR-25. Naviti, W. Vanuatu tuna fishery report. Department of Fisheries, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
  
  NFR-26. Duong Long Tri. Vietnam fisheries report. Fisheries Information Centre (FICen),Ministry of Fisheries, Hanoi, Vietnam.
  

• Statistics Working Group:
  SWG-1. Lawson, T. Status of data collection, compilation and dissemination. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  SWG-2. Lawson, T. Estimates of annual catches of tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  SWG-3. Williams, P. Estimates of annual catches for billfish species taken in commercial fisheries of the western and central Pacific Ocean. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  SWG-4 (revised 7/26/02). Lawson, T. A. Coan and M. Hinton. Review of Taiwanese catch and effort logsheets. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, National Marine Fisheries Service, SWFSC, and Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).
  
  SWG-5. Lawson, T. Sampling the proportions of bigeye in the catch by purse seiners in the western and central Pacific Ocean. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  SWG-6. Anonymous. Report of the FAO expert consultation on the harmonization of catch certification schemes, 9-11 January 2002, La Jolla, California, United States of America.
  
  SWG-7. Walsh, W. and S. Pooley. Development and application of generalized additive models to correct incidental catch rates in the Hawaii-based longline fishery. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory, Hawaii.
  
  SWG-8. Williams, P. Current status of data available from the Indonesian and Philippines domestic tuna fisheries. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  SWG-9. Crone, P. and A. Coan. Sampling design and variability associated with estimates of species composition of tuna landings for the U.S. purse seine fishery in the central-western Pacific Ocean (1997-2001). National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla.
  
  
  
• Methods Working Group:
  MWG-1. Labelle, M. Testing the accuracy of MULTIFAN-CL assessments of the WCPO yellowfin tuna fishery conditions. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  MWG-2. Hampton, J. Recent enhancements to the MULTIFAN-CL software. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  MWG-3. Wang, C.H. Fundamental limitation of TAC as the goal of fishery management. Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
  
  MWG-4. Kleiber, P. Standardizing longline fishing effort in stock assessment models: Effect of oceanic conditions. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory, Hawaii.
  
  MWG-5. Kolody, D. SCALIA: Application of an integrated analysis stock assessment model to the 2002 SCTB Methods Working Group simulated tuna fishery data. CSIRO Marine Research, Hobart, Australia.
  
  MWG-6. Bigelow, K. Application of an ADAPT VPA model to the simulated population data. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory, Hawaii.
  
  MWG-7. (abstract posted 8/28/02). Maunder, M., M. Hinton, K. Bigelow and S. Harley. Abstract: Statistical comparisons of habitat standardized effort and nominal effort. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), La Jolla, CA, and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory, Hawaii.
  
  MWG-8. Ricard, D. and D. Kolody. Application of production models to the assessment of the SCTB-MWG simulated tuna fishery data. CSIRO Marine Research, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
  

• Fishing Technology Working Group:
  FTWG-1. Coan, A. and G. Sakagawa. The 2001 U.S. purse seine fishery for tropical tunas in the central-western Pacific. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Regional Office, Pago Pago.
  
  FTWG-2. Coan, A. and D. Itano. An update of factors that may have affected U.S. purse seine catch rates in the central-western Pacific Ocean: An examination of fishing strategy and effective fishing effort. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, and Pelagic Fisheries Research Program, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii.
  

  FTWG-3. Gaertner, D. and P. Pallares. The European Union Research Project, Efficiency of Tuna Purse-Seiners and Effective Effort (ESTHER): Scientific report of project. Institute of Research for Development (IRD-UR 109), Sete Cedex, France, and Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), Madrid, Spain.

  FTWG-4. Gaertner, D. and P. Pallares. The European Union Research Project, Efficiency of Tuna Purse-Seiners and Effective Effort (ESTHER): ESTHER scientific documents and abstracts. Institute of Research for Development (IRD-UR 109), Sete Cedex, France, and Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), Madrid, Spain.

  FTWG-5. Reales, M. Efficiency of Tuna Purse-Seiners and Effective Effort (ESTHER): Selected annotated bibliography. Institute of Research for Development (IRD-UR 109), Sete Cedex, France.

  FTWG-6. Morón, J. The WTPO and its significance in the world tuna purse seine fishery. World Tuna Purse Seine Organization.

  FTWG-7. World Tuna Purse Seine Organization (WTPO). WTPO Resolution, WTPO Declaration (2nd Interim Evaluation Meeting, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 18 June 2002).
  
  FTWG-8. Wu, R. An overview of Taiwan distant water purse seine fishery - 2001. Overseas Fisheries Development Council of the Republic of China, Taipei, Taiwan.
  
  FTWG-9. Itano, D. Vessel and gear attributes in the Forum Fisheries Agency Regional Register of Vessels: How much is enough? Pelagic Fisheries Research Program, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii.
  
  FTWG-10. Itano, D. Super superseiner. Pelagic Fisheries Research Program, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii.
  
  FTWG-11. Beverly, S. State of the art longliner 2002. Coastal Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  FTWG-12. Kumoru, L. Status of fish aggregating devices in Papua New Guinea. National Fisheries Authority, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
  
  FTWG-13. Opnai, J. Summary of the progress of the work on the review of the Palau Arrangement. Forum Fisheries Agency, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
  
  

  FTWG-14. Opnai, J. Summary of the FFC species working group meeting on options for bigeye management. Forum Fisheries Agency, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
  
  FTWG-15. Gillett, R., M. McCoy, and D. Itano. Status of the United States Western Pacific tuna purse seine fleet and factors affecting its future. Gillett, Preston and Associates, Lami, Fiji, Pelagic Fisheries Research Program, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii.
  
  
  

• Research Groups:
  RG-1. Wang, S-B, F-C Chang, S-H Wang, and C-L Kuo. Some biological parameters of bigeye and yellowfin tunas distributed in surrounding waters of Taiwan. Overseas Fisheries Development Council of the Republic of China, Taipei, and Fisheries Administration, Council of Agriculture, Taipei, Taiwan.
  
  RG-2. Wang, S-B, F-C Chang, S-H Wang, and S-K Chang. Conversion factors estimated for bigeye and yellowfin tunas distributed in surrounding waters of Taiwan. Overseas Fisheries Development Council of the Republic of China, Taipei, and Deep Sea Fishery Research and Development Center, Fisheries Administration, Council of Agriculture, Taipei, Taiwan.
  

• Skipjack Research Group:
  SKJ-1. Hampton, J. Stock assessment of skipjack tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  SKJ-2. Maunder, M. Status of skipjack tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean in 2001 and outlook for 2002. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), La Jolla, CA.
  
  SKJ-3. Williams, P. A summary of aggregate catch/effort and size composition data available to the SCTB: Skipjack. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  SKJ-4. Sun, C-L and S-Z Yeh. Biological data collection and study on skipjack tuna caught by Taiwanese tuna purse seine fishery - 2001. Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  
  SKJ-5. Lehodey, P. SEPODYM development and application to skipjack population and fisheries. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  
  
• Yellowfin Research Group:
  YFT-1. Hampton, J. Stock assessment of yellowfin tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  YFT-2. Sibert, J. and J. Hampton. Lifetime displacements of tropical tunas: How much ocean do you need to conserve "your" tuna? Pelagic Fisheries Research Program, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii, and Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
  
  YFT-3. Maunder, M. Status of yellowfin tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean in 2001 and outlook for 2002. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), La Jolla, CA
  
  YFT-4. Kikkawa, B. and J. Cushing. Growth of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the equatorial western Pacific Ocean. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory, and Dept. of Commerce, Govt. of Guam.
  
  YFT-5. Williams, P. A summary of aggregate catch/effort and size composition data available to the SCTB: Yellowfin. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  YFT-6. Grubbs, R.D., K. Holland, and D. Itano. Comparative trophic ecology of yellowfin and bigeye tuna associated with natural and man-made aggregation sites in Hawaiian waters. Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, and Pelagic Fisheries Research Program, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii.
  
  
  
• Albacore Research Group:
  ALB-1. Hampton, J. Stock assessment of albacore tuna in the south Pacific Ocean. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  ALB-2. Seki, M. and J. Polovina. A new study to characterize the oceanography of the American Samoa longline fishing grounds for albacore, Thunnus alalunga. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory, Hawaii.
  
  ALB-3. Williams, P. A summary of aggregate catch/effort and size composition data available to the SCTB: South Pacific albacore. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  ALB-4. Millar, C. and P. Williams. Further information on targeting in the south Pacific albacore fishery. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  ALB-5. Griggs, L. Monitoring the length structure of commercial landings of albacore tuna during the 2001-2002 fishing year. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd. (NIWA), Wellington.
  
  ALB-6. Lehodey, P. Preliminary results of SEPODYM application to albacore in the Pacific Ocean. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  ALB-7. Wang, C-H. Estimating the population parameter, r, q and K based on surplus production model. Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  

• Bigeye Research Group:
  BET-1. Hampton, J. Stock assessment of bigeye tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  BET-2. Maunder, M. and S. Harley. Status of bigeye tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean in 2001 and outlook for 2002. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), La Jolla, CA.
  
  BET-3. Polovina, J., M. Seki and R. Brainard. The role of oceanography in the aggregation and vulnerability of bigeye tuna in the Hawaii longline fishery from satellite, moored, and shipboard time series data: An ongoing study. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory, Hawaii.
  
  BET-4. Williams, P. A summary of aggregate catch/effort and size composition data available to the SCTB: Bigeye. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  BET-5. Adam, S., J. Sibert, D. Itano and K. Holland. Analysis of Hawaii Tuna Tagging Project (HTTP) data from a site and size-specific tag-attrition model. Pelagic Fisheries Research Program, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii, and Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology, University of Hawaii.
  
  BET-6. Sun, C-L, M. Maunder, G. Watters, and S-Z Yeh. An update of the application of the A-SCALA method to bigeye tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean. Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, and Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, La Jolla, CA.
  
  
  
• Billfish and By-catch Research Group:
  BBRG-1. Hinton, M. and W. Bayliff. Status of striped marlin in the eastern Pacific Ocean in 2001 and outlook for 2002. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), La Jolla, CA.
  
  BBRG-2. Hawn, D., M. Seki, and R. Nishimoto. An investigation of the life history and ecology of opah and Monchong in the North Pacific. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory, Hawaii.

  BBRG-3. Kleiber, P. and K. Yokawa. Stock assessment of swordfish in the North Pacific using MULTIFAN-CL. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory and National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Shimizu, Japan.

  BBRG-4. Laurs, R.M., C. Boggs, Y. Swimmer, and R. Brill. NMFS Honolulu Laboratory research to reduce sea turtle Bycatch and mortality in pelagic longline fishing. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii, and Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

  BBRG-5. Polivina, J., E. Howell, D. Parker, and G. Balazs. Dive-depth distribution of loggerhead (Carretta carretta) and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) turtles in the central North Pacific: Might deep longline sets catch fewer turtles? National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Honolulu Laboratory, and Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii.

  BBRG-6. Swimmer, Y. and R. Brill. Determining survival, migration, and diving patterns of sea turtles released from longline fishing gear using pop-up satellite archival transmitters. Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii and Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
  
  BBRG -7. Allain, V. Food web study in the tuna ecosystem of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.
  
  BBRG-8. Sun, C-L, H-L Lin, and S-Z Yeh. Age and growth of the young swordfish Xiphias gladius L. in Taiwan waters using otolith. Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  
  BBRG-9. Campbell, R. Sequential changes in swordfish catch rates off eastern Australia and possible implications for the spatial distribution of the local swordfish population. CSIRO Division of Marine Research, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
  
  BBRG-10. Kleiber, P., J. Hampton, M. Hinton, and Y. Uozumi. Update on blue marlin stock assessment. National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu Laboratory; Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia; Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, La Jolla, California; and National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Shimizu, Japan.