Informe Anual de la Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical, 19

ANNUAL REPORT 1987
Noting that scientific studies, including extensive research into gear modifications and
development of fishing techniques to reduce dolphin mortality as wel! as frequent placement of
observers on purse seiners to monitor dolphin abundance and mortality, have now provided a solid
basis for taking further action to reduce dolphin mortality;
The Inter·American Tropical Tuna Commission therefore recommends to the High
Contracting Parties and other interested nations whose flag vessels participate in the eastern Pacific
purse seine fishery, that they take appropriate steps to encourage their flag vessels that fish for tunas
associated with dolphins to adopt the following measures to reduce dolphin mortality:
1. Each purse seine should incorporate a fine-mesh, double-depth dolphin safety panel either
with or without an attached triangular apron to protect and facilitate release of dolphins in the
perimeter of the backdown area;
2. Al! purse seiners should employ the backdown procedure during sets in which dolphins are
captured, and backdown should continue until it is no longer possible to releaselive dolphins by this
procedure; following backdown every effort should be made by speedboat and raft occupants to
continue hand-rescue procedures until alllive dolphins have been released;
3. Purse seiners should carry speedboats equipped to tow on corklines when necessary to
prevent dolphin entrapment due to net collapses or canopy formation, and at least one crewman
should be deployed in such a speedboat near the apex of the backdown channel to assist in dolphin
rescue;
4. Each purse seiner should carry and deploy a one-or two-man raft equipped with facemasks
and snorkels or viewboxes to serve as a platform for dolphin rescue during and after backdown,
provided conditions do not jeopardize the safety of raft occupants;
5. Each purse seiner should carry high-pressure sodium vapor floodlights of sufficient
illumination output to allow observation from the vessel of dolphin rescue and release procedures
during sets in which all or part of the backdown procedure is carried out during darkness;
6. Each nation with apurse seine fleet operating in the eastern Pacific Ocean should establish
an advisory group of experienced captains and fishing gear experts to improve the performance of
their flag vessels and chartered vessels operated under other flags by means ofmortality reduction
workshops, contact with individual captains, recommendation oftrial sets for dolphin safety panel
alignment, and other appropriate actions; and
Further advises member nations and other interested nations that detailed gear and
equipment specifications and technical assistance necessary to implement the aboye
recommendations are available from the Commission staff and encourages all such nations to
request staff assistance whenever needed.
(3) The Commission agreed to a proposed budget of$3,525,454 for the 1988-1989 fiscal year.
(4) The Commission agreed to hold its next regular meeting in La Jolla, California, on March
8-10,1988.
(5) The Commission elected Mr. Armando R. Martínez V. of Panama and Mr. Abelino
Aróstegui Valladares ofNicaragua as Chairman and Secretary, respectively, ofthe Commission for
1988.
BUDGET
ADMINISTRATION
At its 42nd meeting, held in La Jolla, California, USA, on October 16-18, 1984, the
Commission unanimously approved the budget for the 1986-1987 fiscal year, submitted by the
Director, in the amount of$3,149,400. However the final amount received from the member nations
during the 1986-1987 fiscal year was $2,887,134, a shortfall of $262,266 from the amount which was
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