Hook, Lines and Tuna (16.43 mins)
2012 - Published by The Pacific Community
In the Pacific islands, longline fishing accounts for a significant percentage of the tuna catch for island countries. This makes longlining important for the economies of many of these countries. Tuna longlining is a passive fishing technique that involves the use of long mainlines and branchlines with baited hooks. Longline fishing also captures a variety of other non-target pelagic and ocean fish species. This documentary shows, step by step, the Pacific longline fishing operation. It also explains the role of fisheries observers onboard longline fishing vessels. The data and information these observers collect provide the only reliable means of determining the amount and type of by-catch and discard in the fishery.