Gulf of Mexico longliners to adopt new hook

Beginning next month, longline fishermen who target yellowfin tuna, swordfish and other species in the Gulf of Mexico will soon be required to use a new type of hook, called a weak hook.

The new hook is designed to reduce the incidental catch of Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Directed fishing for bluefin tuna in the Gulf has been prohibited since the early 1980s, however bluefin are caught incidentally by longline fishermen who target other species.

The weak hook is constructed of thin gauge wire, and will straighten when a large fish, such as bluefin tuna, is hooked, releasing it but holding on to smaller fish.

The average size of bluefin tuna landed in the Gulf of Mexico longline fishery is 485 pounds, while the average for yellowfin tuna is about 86 pounds. 

The Gulf of Mexico is the only known spawning area for the western stock of Atlantic bluefin tuna and many bluefin die from the stress of being caught even if fishermen release them.

 Use of the weak hook will be required starting May 5^th.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments