Report From Donna Pascoe Of Gladiator Marine

“This year, I was certified as the world record holder for bagging the largest Pacific Bluefin tuna ever caught. However, with just 4 percent of the population remaining, I could be the last angler to ever have a shot at that title. There are few experiences in life that get the blood-pumping and adrenaline rushing like fishing the open ocean. The sport teases every sense. The smell of salty ocean air and the sound of a boat’s hull smashing into the water remind you where you are. The feel of the bend of the rod with a screaming reel reminds you why you’re there.

“In February this year, we were fishing on our boat, the F/V Gladiator, during the New Zealand National Fishing competition. The Nationals run for eight consecutive days each February. On day five, I hooked something just after nine in the morning; the fish took a live bait. About five hours later, with the help of our 4-man crew and an anchor winch, my record-breaking catch was on board. All 412 kgs (907 pounds) of it!
“In New Zealand almost all game fish species are fished in the tag and release method, but we still take a few fish for eating as well as records. Before we boated the Bluefin tuna, we had successfully tagged and released three striped marlin and six sharks. To be honest, I didn't know much about the state of Pacific Bluefin that day. Not many are caught in New Zealand. But once I landed that big Bluefin the next logical question for me was ‘how well are we taking care of this species?’ Good thing I asked. “The population of Pacific Bluefin tuna is plummeting. According to the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean, the population has plummeted to just 4 percent. We’ve caught nearly all of them, primarily in commercial fisheries in the North Pacific, and there’s not much stopping us from catching the last. Another scientific analysis estimates that fewer than 10,000 Bluefin are still reproducing and might not keep at it for long. That means fewer new fish, which limits the population’s ability to rebuild. And while I hooked a huge fish, 98 percent of the Bluefin that are caught are juveniles.

“While no scientific assessment is perfect, in this case you would be hard pressed to find a government leader, commercial fisherman, scientist, or conservationist that claims the stock is doing fine. Everyone agrees – it's in bad shape and something needs to be done. When world leaders met in Peru this July they had an opportunity to enact catch limits in the eastern Pacific, but failed to agree on a measure, so they gave themselves more time to come to consensus. Just this month fishing nations met in Japan and while they agreed to recommend a cut in the catch of juveniles, the proposed measures aren’t enough to help the population rebuild fast enough.

“In the weeks and months ahead there will be a big push for government leaders to act. If past is prologue, they need a bit of a nudge in order to see some action. So I say, let’s give them a little push. We have to lend our voice to the call and let our leaders know we want them to protect what’s left of the Pacific Bluefin tuna population.  Recreational fishers support conservation, and we’ve been part of efforts to sustain marine life around the world. We care about the ocean as much as we do about the sport. There wouldn’t be one without the other. But if we’re to have nice things in life we must take care of them, which includes the ocean and everything in it. Humans are responsible for the decline of Pacific Bluefin and only we can provide this marine population with the necessary management to let it rebuild and recover”.

For more information please go to http://www.gladiatormarine.co.nz .