Contact:
Fisheries Information Section
Section Information halieutique
SPC/CPS
BP D5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex
95 Promenade Roger Laroque,
Anse Vata
New-Caledonia / Nouvelle-Calédonie
Tel.: +687 26.20.00
Fax: +687 26.38.18

© Copyright SPC

Produced by the Information Section, Marine Resources Division, SPC, B.P. D5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia. Fax: (687) 263818; E-mail: cfpinfo@spc.int with financial assistance from France.

Editorial

Welcome to this issue of the Fisheries Newsletter. This issue features a new bycatch mitigation technique tested by the longline industry to avoid shallow water bycatch species and improve catch rates for bigeye tuna. The protection of endangered and threatened species is taken seriously by the Pacific Island longline fishery, and SPC has decided to adopt a proactive approach to address this problem.

As usual, the practical fishing component of the 2004 Nelson Polytechnic Fisheries Officer Training Course was run in New Caledonia in June and July. This year, trainees had two weeks of exposure to SPC's fisheries programmes and projects, and four weeks of practical fishing experience. You will find more information on this course on page 3.

Jean-Paul Gaudechoux
Fisheries Information Adviser (jeanpaulg@spc.int)