MFR PAPER 1166

A Uniform U.S. West Coast Logbook forAlbacore, Thunnus a/alunga (Bonnaterre),

and Coastwide Albacore Fishery Data System

R. MICHAEL LAURS, CHARLES HOOKER, LARRY HREHA, and RICHARD LINCOLN

Adequate catch and effort statisticsare required to evaluate the effects ofharvesting and environmental factorson exploited fish populations for it isonly through the understanding ofsuch relationships that the aims offishery research and management canbe fully realized. A uniform U.S.West Coast Albacore Logbook wasadopted in 1973 to improve the sys­tem for collecting catch and effort in­formation for the U.S. fishery on al­bacore tuna, Thunnus alailingo(Bonnaterre). The purpose of this paperis to describe the design of the logbook,the system for handling the logbookdata on a U.S. Pacific coast wide basis,and the dissemination of albacore catchinformation to cooperating fishermen inreturn for keeping logbook records.

The new uniform U.S. West CoastAlbacore Logbook is intended to sim­plify record-keeping for the fishermenby making necessary only one log­book for the entire U.S. albacore

R. Michael Laurs is with the LaJolla Laboratory, SouthwestFisheries Center, National MarineFisheries Service, NOAA, LaJolla, CA 92038. Charles Hookeris with the California Departmentof Fish and Game, Long Beach,CA 90802. Larry Hreha is with theFish Commission of Oregon, As­toria, OR 97103. Richard Lincolnis with the Washington State De­partment of Fisheries, Aberdeen,WA 98502.

fishery with a format that is efficientand easy to use. Also, it is designedto obtain more complete informationon the U. S. al bacore fishery and toprovide a common system of record­keeping among the States so that in­formation obtained can be more readi­ly processed and made available tofishermen and resource managers.

A voluntary albacore tuna logbookhas been issued by the California De­partment of Fish and Game since1954 (Craig. 1963) to California alba­core fishermen, and by the FishCommission of Oregon since 1967 toOregon albacore fishermen. Prior tousing logbooks, both states collectedcatch locality and fishing effort infor­mation by interviewing fishermen en­gaged in albacore fishing. Fishermeninterviews were continued by theStates after the States adopted log­books and are being continued in con­junction with the new ones to obtaininformation from fishermen who didnot keep logbooks. Until 1973, therewas no logbook or formal interviewsystem for collecting catch and effortinformation for the Washington alba­core fishery. However, boats fishingout of Washington ports often keptlogbooks issued by Oregon andCalifornia.

Since the mid- I950' s, fisheries sci­entists have recognized the desirabil­ity of adopting a uniform coast widelogbook and data system for the alba­core tuna fishery, and representatives

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of state and federal agencies have de­veloped tentative formats for them.Added impetus for this cooperativeeffort was provided in 1973 as a resultof American Fishermen's ResearchFoundation's active involvement inalbacore research, using fisherman­generated funds derived from a self­imposed tax on albacore landings. Thisprogram also stimulated funding byNOAA's Sea Grant Program of a3-year coordinated project in albacorestudies via the Pacific Marine FisheriesCommission. This project materiallyfacilitated completion of the uniformlogbook and data system, and providedlimited funding for additional field per­sonnel to aid in their implementation.

DESIGN OF THE LOGBOOK

The design of the logbook resultedfrom the cooperative efforts of fisheryscientists of the National MarineFisheries Service (NMFS), CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Game, FishCommission of Oregon, WashingtonDepartment of Fisheries, PacificMarine Fisheries Commission, andmembers of the albacore fishing in­dustry.

The logbook measures 8V2 x I Iinches, and contains sufficient logsheets for 36 weeks. It is bound by aplastic spiral so that the pages can befolded back enabling the logbook tobe hung on the bulkhead if desired.Heavy-gauge paper stock is used forthe cover (Fig. I) and fold-out flap,

Figure 1.-Cover of uniform U.S, West Coast Albacore Logbook,

WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

FISH COMMISSION OF OREGON

COAST

LOGBOOK

'In addition. the technicians measure the forklength of samples of fish from catches,

California, Oregon, and WashingtonState fisheries agencies canvass thewaterfront prior to the start of the al­bacore fishing season and distributelogbooks to vessels that do not havethem. A small number of logbooksare mailed by NMFS to fishermen re­questing them.

Most of the logbook records arecollected by State fishery technicianswho visit the waterfront regularly dur­ing the fishing season while the boatsare unloading. The technicians alsoobtain catch and effort information byinterviewing fishermen who did notkeep a logbook. 2 About 20 percent of

u.S. WEST

ALBACORE

DISTRIBUTION OFLOGBOOKS AND COLLECTIONOF LOGBOOK RECORDS

U. S, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME

The logbook is distributed to alba­core fishermen by an albacorefishermen's association, the statefisheries agencies, and N MFS, Fachyear, the Western Fishboat OwnersAssociation mails a logbook and a fet­ter endorsing the use of the logbookto its approximately 625 membersrepresenting about 70 percent of thetonnage capacity of the U.S. albacorefleet. Fishery technicians from the

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of fish, type of feed, temperature"edges" or "fronts," water color,bird flocks, etc.

1 Reference to trade names does nOI imply en·dorsement by the National Marine FisheriesService, NOAA,

and National Cash Register (NCR)'"carbonless" paper is used for thelogbook sheets, Instructions for usingthe logbook are printed on the fold­out flap which is insel1ed under the"carbon" of the NCR paper to pre­vent carry through. The inside of thecover contains information on what todo in the event that a tagged fish iscaught (Fig. 2), and on the inside ofthe back cover is a length-weighttable for albacore.

The logbook is divided into twoportions: I) an albacore fishing opera­tions information sheet; and 2) fishinglog sheets for keeping daily records.The fishing operations informationsection (Fig. 3) provides data on thecomposition and characteristics of thealbacore fishing fleet so that changesin fleet efficiency may be evaluatedand the summarized logbook datamay be more readily standardizedfrom year to year. Fishermen are re­quested to provide information on thesize, speed, and hold capacity of thevessel, navigation, radio, and specialequipment, refrigeration type, crewsize, and crew fishing experience.

The fishing log sheets (Fig. 4) con­sist of daily entries divided intonecessary information, desired infor­mation, and remarks. Fishermen arerequested as a minimum to fill out thenecessary information category andare encouraged to also complete thedesired information category and re­cord pertinent remarks. The neces­sary information category includesdata essential for the calculation ofcatch per unit of effort including catchlocalities, amount of catch, amount offishing effort, and type of fishing gearused. The desired information cate­gory includes data which are useful inevaluating catch per unit of effortstatistics and in studies involvingcatch per unit information derivedfrom the logbook records. The de­sired information includes an estimateof the amount of fish in the areafished, estimated weight of fishcaught, sea surface temperature, windconditions, and sea conditions.

Under remarks fishermen are re­quested to record observations thatmay be of interest such as movement

THENATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE WILL PAY $ 2.00 FOREACH TAG RETURNED (SOME FISH HAVE MORE THAN ONE TAG).

FOR

IWRITE:I

REWARD $1ALBACORE TUNA TAGS

• WHERE• WHEN .... FISH WAS CAUGHT• HOW ,..• LENGTH OF FISH (TIP OF LOWER JAW TO

FORK OF TAl L )

Figure 2.-lnslde cover of logbook containing Informationconcerning recovery of tagged albacore.

boat-days in a season for which catchand effort data were recorded, and c)the mean number of days that boatskept logbooks (or interview data areavailable) are higher in 1973 and 1974than they were on the average duringthe 1961-1970 period.

We expect that the increase in log­book and interview coverage whichwas observed between 1973, when the

Table I.-Number 01 boats lhal kept logbooks orwere interviewed, number of boat.days tor whichcatch and effort data were recorded, and meannumber of days boats kept logbooks or interview dataare available.

Number Mean numberof Number of of days

Year boals baal-days log kept

1961·70 '418 ' 6.025 '14.41973 470 7,260 15.51974 520 10,333 19.9

'Mean value for 1961-1970.FORWARD TO NMFS ADDRESS ON TAG, TO AFRF

4904 N, HARBOR DRIVE, SAN DIEGO, CALIF., OR

STATE FISHERIES AGENCIES.

FISHING OPERATIONS IN FORMATIOJ'

CREW SIZE (INCLUDING CAP'!'AINl' _

VESSEL LENGTH (DOCl:MENTED FEETl OVERALL LENGTH (FEET) _

VESSEL HORSEPOWEH CRUISING SPEED _

HOLD CAPACITY (NET TONS) _

CAPTAIN'S NAME _

VESSEL J'AME RADIO CALL SIGN _

CAL F&G NO. ORE. NO. OTHER NO, _the logbook records are mailed byfishermen to one of the State fisheriesagencies or NMFS.

About 900 of the new logbookswere distributed to fishermen for useduring the 1973 and 1974 albacorefishing seasons. In 1973, logbooks orinterviews were received from 470boats for a total of 813 trips represent­ing 7.260 boat-days of fishing. The lat­ter represents about 26 percent of the27,416 total number of boat-days offishing for the 1973 fishing season asestimated by California Departmentof Fish and Game (Hooker, pel'S,commun.). In 1974, logbooks or in­terviews were received from 520boats for a total of 999 trips repre­senting 10,333 boat-days of fishing.An estimate of the total number ofboat-days for the 1974 fishing seasonis not available at this time.

I t can be seen in Table 1 that a) thenumber of boats which kept logbooksor were interviewed, b) the number of

Figure 3.-Flshlng operallons information sheet fromU,S, West Coast Albacore Logbook.

NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT

CJ RDF

CJ LORAN

= RADAR

= OMEGA

= OTHER (SPECIFY)

REFRIGERATION TYPE

= ICE

= BRINE

= SPRAY BRINE

= BLOWER

= OTHER (SPF:CIFYl

CAP'!'. ALBACORE FISHING EXPERIENCE= 0 SEASONS= I-~ SEASONS

= 3-10 SEASONS

= > 10 SEASONS

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RADIO P.QUIPME~"f

c:J AM

= CB= VHF= SSB= OTHER (SPECIFY)

SPECIAL EQUIP~1ENT= HYDRAULIC POWERGURDY SYSTEM

= LINE PULLER= XBT

= SOUNDER.D WlTH WHITELINE

= SEA SURFACE TEMPER­ATURE SENSOR

= OTHER (SPECIFY)

CREW nSHING EXPERIENCE

NUMBER WITH 0 SEASONS

NUMBER WITH 1-3 SEASONS

NUMBF.R WlTH 3-10 SEASONS

NUMBER WITH >10 SEASONS

Vessel Name _ Radio Call Sign Year__

DATE NECESSARY INFORMATION DESIRED INFORMATION REMARKSIN PORTO IN TRANSITO BAITINGO FISHINGD AMT. fiSH IN AREA:

VERY MANYO MANYO FEWO NONE 0POSITION(S)

AVE. WT. FISH SEA TEMP

AVE. WIND SPEED(KTS): CALM 0 <10 0NO. FISH CAUGHT 10-200 20-300 >30 0JIG 0 POLE & LINE 0 HOURS FISHED___ SEA CONDITIONS: CALMO ROUGH 0LINES TR OLLED POLES FISHED MODERATE 0 UNWORKABLE 0IN PORTO IN TRANSIT 0 BAITINGO FISHINGO AMT. fiSH IN AREA:

VERY MANY 0 MANY 0 FEW 0 NONE 0POSITlON(S)

AVE. WT. FISH SEA TEMP

AVE. WIND SPEED(KTS): CALM 0 <10 0NO. FISH CAUGHT 10-200 20-300 >30 0JIGO POLE & LINE 0 HOURS FISHED ___ SEA CONDITIONS: CALMO ROUGH 0LINES TROLLED POLES FISHED MODERATE 0 UNWORKABLE 0IN PORTO IN TRANSIT 0 BAITINGO FISHINGO AMT. fiSH IN AREA:

POSITION(S)VERY MANY 0 MANY 0 FEW 0 NONE 0

AVE. WT. FISH SEA TEMP

AVE. WIND SPEED(KTS): CALM 0 <100NO. FISH CAUGHT 10-200 20-300 >30 0JIG 0 POLE & liNE 0 HOURS FISHED___ SEA CONDITIONS: CALMO ROUGHO

LINES TROLLED POLES fiSHED MODERATE 0 UNWORKABLE 0IN PORTO IN TRANSITO BAITINGO FISHINGO AMT. fiSH IN AREA:

POSITlON(S)VERY MANY 0 MANY 0 FEW 0 NONE 0

AVE. WT. FISH SEA TEMP

AVE. WIND SPEED(KTS): CALM 0 <10 0NO. FISH CAUGHT 10-200 20-300 >30 0JIG 0 POLE & LINE 0 HOURS FISHED ___ SEA CONDITIONS: CALMO ROUGH 0LINES TROLLED POLES FISHED MODERATE 0 UNWORKABLE 0IN PORTO IN TRANSITO BAITINGO FISHINGO AMT. FISH IN AREA:

POSITlON(S)VERY MANY 0 MANY 0 FEW 0 NONE 0

AVE. WT. FISH SEA TEMP

AVE. WIND SPEED(KTS): CALMO <100NO. FISH CAUGHT 10-200 20-300 >300JIG 0 POLE & LINE 0 HOURS FISHED ___ SEA CONDITIONS: CALMO ROUGH 0LINES TROLLED POLES FISHED MODERATE 0 UNWORKABLE 0IN PORTO IN TRANSITO BAITINGO FISHINGO AMT. FISH IN AREA:

POSITION(S)VERY MANYO MANYO FEWO NONE 0

AVE. WT. FISH SEA TEMP

AVE. WIND SPEED(KTS): CALM 0 <10 0NO. FISH CAUGHT 10-200 20-300 >30 0JIG 0 POLE & LINE 0 HOURS FISHED ___ SEA CONDITIONS: CALMO ROUGH 0LINES TROLLED POLES FISHED MODERATE 0 UNWORKABLE 0IN PORTO IN TRANSITO BAITINGO FISHINGO AMT. FISH IN AREA:

POSITION(S)VERY MANY 0 MANY 0 FEW 0 NONE 0

AVE. WT. FISH SEA TEMP

AVE. WIND SPHD(KTS): CALM 0 <'0 0NO. FISH CAUGHT 10-200 20-300 >30 0JIG 0 POLE & LINE 0 HOURS FISHED___ SEA CONDITIONS: CALMO ROUGH 0LINES TROLLED POHS fiSHED MODERATE 0 UNWORKABLE 0

INSERT FOLDED COVER FLAP UNDER YELLOW COpy

Figure 4.-Flshlng log .heellrom U.S. West Coasl Albacore Logbook.

17

new logbook was introduced and portsampling was expanded, and 1974 willcontinue. In general it appears thatfisherman acceptance of the logbookand interview system has increasedand we anticipate that the acceptancewill increase more as fishermen be­come more familiar with the data col­lection system and are provided feed­back from it.

COASTWIDE DATA SYSTEM

A coastwide albacore data systemhas been developed to provide amechanism whereby the albacorecatch and effort data collected by theindividual States may be combinedand uniformly standardized to obtaininformation over the entire range ofthe U.S. albacore fishery in a timelymanner. This information is thenreadily available for resource assess­ment, fishery-oceanography, andother studies involving that segmentwhich is harvested by the U.S.fishery, or the entire north Pacific al­bacore population if the U.S. data arecombined with similar data from othernations fishing on the north Pacificpopulation of albacore. Concerningthe latter, for example, a study wasrecently initiated between the N MFSand the Japanese Far Seas Fisheriesagency to cooperatively study thepopulation dynamics of the northPacific albacore.

The processing, standardization,and management of the U.S. logbookdata are shared by the states andNMFS. Processing, including editingand quality control, is accomplishedby state fishery personnel who ex­amine each logbook for completenessand errors. (California and Oregonhave capabilities for complete process­ing of the albacore fishery data col­lected by their respective fisheryagencies, while at present, some pro­cessing of data collected by the Stateof Washington fishery agency isshared by California and NMFS.)Boat lengths, radio call signs, andvessel registration or license numbersare checked through State registrationrecords. Catch locations, which areusually recorded as Loran coordi­nates, are also assigned to a 1°latitude-longitude quadrangle. In addi-

tion, code numbers are assigned tothe records for each vessel for lateruse to protect the confidentiality ofthe information provided. The dataare keypunched and transferred tomagnetic computer tape, and furtherquality control is exercised. The as­signment of the data to the proper 1°quadrangle is checked and the aver­age weight for fish landed is comparedagainst arbitrary limits to eliminateunrealistic weight data. The landingdate on the log is also checked againstthe landing date on the state recordsof the buyer's receipts. The states usethe finalized data tapes to prepare var­ious summaries for their needs.

In addition, a computer tape con­taining the edited information fromthe logbooks with boat names re­placed by code numbers is preparedfor transfer to NM FS. These scien­tists check by computer for duplica­tion of records and a final basic datatape is prepared. The fishing effortthen is standardized using a modifiedversion of the computer programFPOW (Berude and Abramson, 1972)as described by Laurs, Clemens, andHreha3 . The fishing effort standariza­tion involves a three-way process toadjust for differences in fishing poweramong I) vessel length, 2) time duringthe fishing season, and 3) geographicarea of fishing. Fishing effort for jigvessels of all length classes is ex­pressed in terms of a 4S-foot jigboatand estimates of mean standardizedcatch per unit effort are computed byIS-day period and I° quadrangle.Paucity of information has limited at­tempts to generate catch per unit datafor baitboats, and efforts are beingmade to increase the logbook cov­erage of baitboats which catch about25 percent of the albacore taken inthe U.S. albacore fishery.

The standardized catch per unit ofeffort data for the U.S. albacorefishery are put on computer tape byNMFS where they are archived andare being used in albacore researchstudies. In addition, copies of thedata tape(s) for the entire fishery or

3Laurs, R. M., H. B. Clemens. and L. H.Hreha. Catch per unit effort of albacore tuna,Thunnlls alalunga (Bonnaterre) caught by U.S.jig vessels during 1961-1970. In preparation.

18

for a specified portion are available tothe state fishery agencies. Also shouldthe north Pacific albacore tuna popu­lation come under some form of man­agement, the data could be readilyavailable to resource managers in arelatively timely manner.

The processing, merging, and stan­dardization of the albacore catch andeffort data are usually completed inApril or early May following the al­bacore fishing season, which usuallylasts from July to early November.

DISSEMINATION OFCATCH-EFFORT INFORMATIONTO COOPERATING FISHERMEN

In discussions with albacore fishingindustry representatives concerningthe need to obtain increased catchand effort information and the designof the proposed new logbook, theyemphasized the desire of havingtimely feedback to fishermen of catchinformation summarized from the log­books. The rationale for doing so wasthat fishermen would be more likelyto keep a logbook if they could seetangible results and possibly benefitfrom them.

As an incentive for fishermen tokeep logbooks, charts showing catchper unit of effort summarized byIS-day period and 1° quadrangle (Fig.5) and size composition by area (Fig.6) for the preceding season are distrib­uted to fishermen with logbooks foruse during the upcoming season. Thecharts are also distributed to othermembers of the albacore fishing in­dustry who request them, e.g., buyingstation operators, processors, boatdock operators, etc. The charts areissued as a cooperative product of thestate fishery agencies and N MFS.

Comments received from fishermenindicate satisfaction with the catchand size composition charts. Accord­ing to some fishermen, they are moreconsistent and conscientious in keep­ing logbooks because of the receipt ofthe catch charts.

While the dissemination of thecatch charts to fishermen appears tobe popular and successful, questions

Figure 5.-Mean calch per unit effort 01 albacore luna by 15·day period and l' quadrangle.

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>200

101-200

. ~.

QUAOALUP'f 1

FISH/DAY

~ 1-25

_ 26-50

51-100

••

120"

AUGUST \-\5, \974AVERAGE NUMBER OFPACIFIC ALBACORE

CAUGHT PER DAY BYJIG BOAT

~'AN JUAN

125"130"

Catch numbers are based on records of boats tho t kept logbooks

or were interviewed by state fisheries field men duringthe 1974 season; they, therefore, do not necessarily

encompass the entire ronge of the fishery. Catch values

are expressed in terms of an average 45-ft. jigboat.U. S. National Marine Fisheries ServiceWashington Dept. of FisheriesFish Commission of OregonCalifornia Dept. of Fish eo Game

135"

[IitIUI IK.

40°1--<_-+--+--+--+---l---+---+--+--+--

35"!----<---+--+--+--+---l--+--+--+--+----+--+--+--*""d

'HOW~OA30° ~--+---+--+---+--+---+---t---+--+---+--+---+--+---+--+---+---t---+--+-----+l.

45°1--<--+--+--+--+-~---+---+--

50"1--+--+---+---+--

,GUADALUPE I.

130°

From records collected by

California Dept. of Fish a Game

Fish Commission of Oregon

and

Washington Dept. of Fisheries.

2 5° -1.--r----.,.........,..-"T"""---.-...,..-"T"""--r-...,..-T"""--r-..,...-,..........,..-"'T'""---.,........,..-.,.........,-...,..-T""""""T-.,...-,..........,..---'~2 5°

135° 130° 125° 120° 115°

12

10 N=4851I-

50°~8U 50°a:6W0.. 4

2

0

Size Composition of Albacore

12Tuna Caught by Jig Fishing

42°-48° N.During the 1974 Fishing Season

45°10 N =8829 45°

1- 8 by U. S. Fishing.zW Data are divided in regions withU6a:

~4 latitudes shown. N refers to2 number of fish measured from0 each region.13

1-11Z N =403

40°~9

40°a:W70..4

2

0

1034°-38° N.

1- 8 N =395ZW6U

ffi435° a.. 35°2

50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95

FORK LENGTH (em.) "

Figure 5.-Slze composilion 01 commercially caught albacore luna by geographic area.

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by fishermen to port samplers indicatethat an educational program concern­ing the importance and scientific useof catch per unit of effort would bevery beneficial. A limited educationalprogram has been provided tofishermen by NMFS and state fisheryscientists at fishermen's associationmeetings and Sea Grant sponsored"Town Hall" meetings or workshops.However, we feel that additional edu­cational efforts would result in an in­crease in the number of fishermenwho keep logbooks, the number ofboat-days that a given fishermanwould keep a logbook, and improve

the overall quality of the logbookdata.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We wish to express our apprecia­tion to Robert F. Insinger and JackBowland, former and present manag­ers of the Western Fishboat Associa­tion respectively, and Frank Martin,President of the American Fisher­men's Association, for their con­structive comments and assistance inthe development of the uniform al­bacore logbook; to John Harville, Ex­ecutive Secretary of the PacificMarine Fisheries Commission for his

support; and to the many albacorefishermen who have kept logbooksand made comments concerning theiruse. A major portion of the costs forprinting the logbook and the expandedport sampling program was funded bySea Grant Contract 04-3-158-35, ad­ministered by the Pacific MarineFisheries Commission.

LITERATURE CITEDBerude, C. L., and N. J. Abramson. 1972. Rela­

tive fishing power. CDC 6600, Fortran IV.Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 101: 133.

Craig, W. L. 1963. The California albacorefishery logbook system. FAO World Sci.Meet. on the Biology of Tuna and RelatedSpecies, La Jolla, Calif. 3(13):J217-1225.

MFR Paper 1166. From Marine Fisheries Review. Vol. 37, No. 11,November 1975. Copies of this paper, in limited numbers, are availablefrom 0825, Technical Information Division, Environmental Science fn­formation Center, NOAA, Washington, DC 20235. Copies of MarineFisheries Review are available from the Superintendent of Documents,U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 for $1.10 each.

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