There are at least 3 populations of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, centered in the Mediterranean Sea, and eastern and western Atlantic Ocean. Recent genetic studies have found population partitioning within the Mediterranean Sea (Carlsson et al. 2004, 2007; Boustany et al. 2008) suggesting that at least 2 populations exist within the Mediterranean. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna from the Mediterranean Sea were until recently included within the eastern Atlantic Ocean population, thus much of the scientific information is based on two populations (eastern and western Atlantic Ocean). Atlantic Bluefin Tuna from the eastern Atlantic population spawn in the Mediterranean Sea and tuna in the western Atlantic spawn in the Gulf of Mexico. The intrinsic rate of increase for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in the western Atlantic population is estimated to range from 0.03 to 0.11 (McAllister and Carruthers 2008). Growth rates (k) of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna have been estimated to range from 0.079 to 0.20 in the western Atlantic and 0.093 in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea (Turner and Restrepo 1994; ICCAT 2006, 2008; Secor et al. 2008). Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are estimated to reach sexual maturity (50%) at 8-12 years of age in the western Atlantic and age at first reproduction has been reported at 3-4 years of age in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea (Rodriguez-Roda 1967; Diaz and Turner 2007; ICCAT 1997, 2008). Longevity has been estimated to be less than 20 years in the eastern Atlantic and 32-33 years in the western Atlantic (Fromentin and Fonteneau 2001; ICCAT 2008; Secor et al. 2009). Compared to other tuna species, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna grow slower, have a later age at maturity, reach a larger size and have a longer life span (Fromentin and Fonteneau 2001; Fromentin and Powers 2005). The largest Atlantic Bluefin Tuna caught under International Game Fish Association standards weighed 1,496 lb (679 kg) though it is possible that larger individuals have been caught in commercial fisheries but these are rarely weighed whole.

Spawning in the western Atlantic occurs in the Gulf of Mexico and Straits of Florida from mid April to mid June, and in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea from mid May to mid July around the Balearic Islands, Tyrrhenian Sea, central Mediterranean and Levantine Sea (Mather et al. 1995; Fromentin and Powers 2005; Rooker et al. 2007; ICCAT 2008; Neilson and Campana 2008). Genetic studies (Carlsson et al. 2004; Carlsson et al. 2007; Boustany et al. 2008), tagging studies (Block et al. 2005) and size composition analysis on the spawning grounds (Nemerson et al. 2000) support the theory of natal homing (fidelity to birth location due to imprinting of environmental cues during the early life stages). In the western Atlantic, adult Atlantic Bluefin Tunas often feed in the Gulf of Maine, Gulf of St. Lawrence and along the eastern seaboard of the Gulf Stream edge (ICCAT 2008). Fishermen target these spawning and feeding areas (Mediterranean Sea only, although they are caught as bycatch in the Gulf of Mexico tuna fishery) to catch Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. In the east Atlantic, spawning sized Atlantic Bluefin Tuna’s are mostly caught during the second quarter of the year and juveniles are mainly caught from May to November (ICCAT 2008).

Atlantic Bluefin Tunas are multiple batch spawners, with the number of eggs produced being dependent on the size of the fish (Rodrigues-Roda 1967; Fromentin and Powers 2005). Spawning frequency in the Mediterranean Sea has been estimated to be every 1-2 days (Medina et al. 2002). A large female of 350 kg could therefore produce over 30 million eggs. It was assumed that females spawn every year, however captivity and electronic tagging experiments suggest spawning may be less frequent (Lutcavage et al. 1999; Lioka et al. 2000). Compared to other tuna species, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna have a small spatial and temporal spawning window (Fromentin and Fonteneau 2001). The latest assessment found that both eastern and western stocks of Atlantic Bluefin tuna are classified as “low productivity” due to their late age at sexual maturity and low survivorship during the early life stages (ICCAT 2009).

Several studies have analyzed the effect of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the spatial and temporal distribution of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. Some studies (Santiago 1998; Borja and Santiago 2002) found a correlation but other studies (Fromentin 2002a, b; Ravier and Fromentin 2004) did not. The differences in results may be due to the use of possibly flawed data and/or statistical analysis (Bridges et al. 2009). It is theorized that changes in temperature could change sea surface temperatures, thus affecting the spawning activity of tunas by causing changes to their spatial distribution (Bridges et al. 2009). The optimum water temperature range for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna spawning is 24 to 26º C (Tsuji et al. 1995; Garcia et al. 2003). Bridges et al. (2009) found a positive correlation between catches of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and the winter NAO after a two-year lag. Analyses from this study, also indicated that sea surface temperature in the Mediterranean Sea has increased up to 3º C above the normal summer values, during the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna spawning season. A temperature increase of 1 to 2º C has been seen in all spawning areas of the Mediterranean Sea in June and July (Bridges et al. 2009). Increases in temperature could lead to sea surface temperature at spawning areas being reached earlier, resulting in Atlantic Bluefin Tuna arriving too late to spawn.

We have not added or subtracted points due to the conflicting results of multiple studies and the obvious need for continued research on this topic.

Although recent genetic evidence suggests that there at least 3 populations of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Carlsson et al. 2004, 2007; Boustany et al. 2008), managers consider there to be 2 populations of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ICCAT 2003; Fromentin and Powers 2005). West Atlantic Bluefin Tuna range from Canada to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and east Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are distributed from Norway to the Canary Islands, including the Mediterranean and Black Seas (Fishbase 2004). While the range of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in the Atlantic is broad, fisheries catch data suggest that the range has been decreasing over the past several decades. In particular, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna seem to have disappeared from most of the North Sea and off the coast of Brazil (ICCAT 2008).

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna from both populations migrate across the Atlantic Ocean, however, there appears to be a positive correlation between age and migration distances (NMFS 2008). As fish size decreases the amount of eastern Atlantic (originating) Bluefin Tuna in western Atlantic fisheries increases (Rooker et al. 2008). Recent genetic studies have found population partitioning within the Mediterranean Sea (Carlsson et al. 2004, Carlsson et al 2007, Boustany et al 2008) suggesting that at least two populations exist within the Mediterranean Sea. As the sampling within the Mediterranean Sea has been less than extensive, there exists the possibility that there are more genetically isolated populations within the Mediterranean Sea.

The last population assessment for western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna was conducted in 2008 and updated in 2009. The results from the 2008 assessment indicated that the spawning stock biomass (SSB) has declined steadily from the early 1970’s to 1992, and has since fluctuated between 18 to 27 % of 1975 levels (NMFS 2008). The fishing mortality (F) for spawning Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in the western Atlantic has declined from 2002 to 2007 (NMFS 2008). If it is assumed current recruitment levels are not higher than those from the early 1970’s, then recent fishing mortality is around 30% above the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) level and the SSB is around half of MSY (NMFS 2008). The 2009 updated assessment indicated the probability the population, when low recruitment is assumed, is <10%, 15% or <20% of the SSB was 30%, 93% and 96% respectively (ICCAT 2009). The probability the population is <10% of the SSB was almost 100% when high recruitment rates were assumed (ICCAT 2009). The National Marine Fisheries Service considers this population overfished and undergoing overfishing (NMFS 2008).

The SSB for eastern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in the 2008 assessment, assuming low recruitment, is about 35% of SSBFMAX and about 14% of SSBFMAX when assuming high recruitment (NMFS 2008). The SSB appears to be declining while F is rapidly increasing (ICCAT 2008). In the 2009 updated assessment, the probability that SSB was below SSBFMAX was 26-69% (ICCAT 2009). NMFS considers this population to be overfished and undergoing overfishing (NMFS 2008). The majority of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are caught in the Mediterranean Sea followed by the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean (ICCAT 2008).

Although there is some uncertainty surrounding the issues of the actual amount of mixing between eastern and western origin populations (Lutcavage et al. 1999; Block et al. 2005), and recruitment and growth curves (NMFS 2008), the abundance of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is at a critically low level and a fishing moratorium is needed to prevent population collapse (Safina and Klinger 2008).

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in both the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean have decreased by at least 75% since the 1960’s (based on biomass estimates) (ICCAT 2008, 2009). Over longer time periods, the catch in the Mediterranean Sea trap fisheries (the only ones with very long term records) have declined significantly since the late 1800’s (Ravier and Fromentin 2004).

Spanish and Moroccan trap fishery abundances of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna were lower from 1992 to 1996 and after 2002 (Abid et al. 2008; Ortiz de Urbina et al. 2008). The abundances of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna from the Spanish baitboat fishery in the Bay of Biscay, have fluctuated over the years, but abundance appears to be lower during recent years (Rodriguez-Marin et al. 2008).

Abundances from the Japanese longline fishery in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea fluctuated from 1975 to the mid 1980’s, declined to the lowest levels in the late 1990’s, and increased slightly in 2006 (Ohshima et al. 2008). Abundances from the U.S. pelagic Gulf of Mexico longline fleet (logbook reports) were high from 1987 to 1991 and declined dramatically in 1992 (Diaz and Cass-Calay 2008). Abundances were at the lowest levels in 1995, after which they increased in 2004 (Diaz and Cass-Calay 2008). Declines were again seen in 2005 and 2006 but abundance increased in 2007 (Diaz and Cass-Calay 2008). When only fishery observer data was used, abundances were lower from 1992 to 1997 and higher after 1999 (Diaz and Cass-Calay 2008).

Overall, the abundance of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna has decreased greatly during the last 40 years. For many of the studies listed above, trends cover only a small time period and after the majority of declines in population sizes have occurred. As such, small fluctuations in estimates for individual years may not capture the intergenerational population trend, thus points were subtracted.

In the west Atlantic Bluefin Tuna population, high fishing pressure has caused the proportion of older fish to decline. In the 1970s and 80s, the proportion of fish aged 10 years or older was greater than 15% (ICCAT 2003). Currently that age group only composes 7% of the population. A similar decline in the number of older fish in the east Atlantic population also occurred from the late 1990s to 2002 (ICCAT 2003). The size of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna caught by Canadian fisheries fishing in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, initially declined over the past 5-6 years. This period was followed by stabilization in the size of fish caught and now the size of captured Atlantic Bluefin Tuna’s appears to be increasing (ICCAT 2008) but the condition of the fish is declining (Golet et al. 2007). In the U.S. rod and reel/handline fishery, the size of most Atlantic Bluefin Tuna was 66-114 cm in 2004 and 2005, and 115-144 cm in 2006 and 2007 (Brown 2008). Dramatic changes in size and age over short periods of time is a major concern for a long-lived animal like the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna.

Both west and east Atlantic Bluefin Tuna populations are overfished and undergoing overfishing (NMFS 2008). The west Atlantic population is listed as Critically Endangered and the East Atlantic population as Endangered by the IUCN's Red List (IUCN 2009). As a result of being highly overfished, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are currently being reviewed for listing under CITES Appendix 1.

Atlantic Bluefin Tunas have different feeding patterns depending on their life stage. Larvae feed on small zooplankton (Uotani et al. 1990), juveniles tend to feed mainly on cephalopods and on crustaceans and fish, while adults feed mainly on fish, primarily herring, anchovy, sand lance, sardine, sprat, bluefish and mackerel (Ortiz de Zarate and Cort 1986; Eggleston and Bochenek 1990; Chase 2002). It is not known if Atlantic Bluefin Tuna abundance affects the structure of associated food webs. We have therefore not subtracted or added any points.

Purse seines are the most commonly used gear to catch Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, followed by pelagic longlines (ICCAT 2008). In the Mediterranean Sea up to 85% of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are caught with purse seines (ICCAT 2008). Fishing method varies among countries, with the Japanese fishery typically using longlines (ICCAT 2008). The U.S. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna longline fishery landed 164T out of 849T in 2007 and the Canadian longline fishery landed 58T out of 491T in 2007 (ICCAT 2008). Trapnets, rod-and-reel and handlines are also used (ICCAT 2008).

Rod-and-reel, harpoon, purse-seine, handline, and pelagic longline gears fish at or near the surface and have little impact on habitat (Morgan and Chuenpagdee 2003). Trapnets on the other hand, are anchored to the seafloor and likely cause some damage (Chupenpagdee et al. 2003).

Oceanic habitat is likely healthy enough to support Atlantic Bluefin Tuna populations.

The Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna population spawns from mid-April to June in the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits. In 2000, U.S. fishery managers prohibited longlining with live bait in the Gulf of Mexico, which has since reduced discards of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in their spawning grounds. Several time/area closures for the pelagic longline fleet have been put into place to reduce the incidental catch of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. These regulations appear to have resulted in considerable reductions in Atlantic Bluefin Tuna discards (NMFS 2005, 2008).

In the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea there is a closure for large longliners for the entire area, except the area west of 10º W and north of 42º N, from June 1 to December 31 (Fromentin 2008). The entire area is typically closed to purse seiners from July 1 to December 31 and to bait boats and pelagic trawlers from November 15 to May 15, however this closure has recently been extended (Fromentin 2008).

Habitat effects of surface gears used to catch the majority of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna supplied to U.S. markets are likely minimal.

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are managed internationally by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. This is referred to as a Regional Fishery Management Organization (RFMO). It is up to member nations within this RFMO to implement and regulate management recommendations. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea mandates the cooperation of individual states to ensure conservation of highly migratory species (Majkowski 2007). RFMO’s keep track of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) vessels fishing within their areas (www.tuna-org.org/). The latest assessment estimated that catches in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea totaled 61,000 metric tons, well in excess of the official quota of approximately 28,000 metric tons (ICCAT 2008). Therefore, it is fairly safe to say that in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, illegal fishing and overfishing are occurring.

Within the US Atlantic, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks. Management efforts include: documentation of trade, Atlantic and Mediterranean size limits of 6.4 kg and 30 kg respectively, total allowable catches, target catch requirements and fishery closures (Fromentin and Powers 2005; NMFS 2008; ICCAT 2008). Domestically the U.S. regulations include: limited access permits, quotas, seasons, gear restrictions, trip limits and size limits (NMFS 2008).

Although several national and international organizations manage Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, the fact that abundance is at an all time low, indicates that management is ineffective Although fishers in the western Atlantic have remained below the quota for the past several years, the latest report from NMFS found Atlantic Bluefin Tuna to be overfished with overfishing occurring, suggesting regulations are ineffective.

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna caught in the Mediterranean Sea are often first raised in offshore pens before sale. These fish are feed mackerel to increase their lipid content and market value (Brighton 2003). “Tuna farming” can also greatly impact abundance and population size. For example, 98% of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in Tunisian tuna farms are spawning adults (Hattour 2008), thus greatly decreasing future recruitment and highlighting again ineffective management.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) has identified under-reporting and miss-reporting of catches, data sets with unclassified fishing gear and a lack of size composition for purse seine fleets, as contributing problems to the proper management of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Fromentin and Powers 2005). It is widely believed that under-sized fish are caught in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, where traditional and artisanal fishermen target juvenile Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Fromentin and Powers 2005). ICCAT notes that additional information on the catch composition, effort, spatial distribution and technological equipments of the Mediterranean purse seine fishery is needed in order to conduct “more precise and reliable assessments” (ICCAT 2008). It has also been suggested that information on fishery-independent abundances, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea are needed (ICCAT 2008). Assessment of eastern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is hampered by “poor temporal and spatial coverage for detailed size and catch-effort statistics” for a number of fisheries, and under-reporting of total catches (ICCAT 2008). This is predominantly true in the Mediterranean fisheries (ICCAT 2008). Additionally, uncertainty in the level of mixing between the western and eastern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna populations could prevent managers from successfully rebuilding the west Atlantic population. Individuals from the depleted west Atlantic population migrate eastward (Lutcavage et al 1999; Block et al 2005), where they experience higher fishing mortality rates, and managers are not yet taking this behavior into account (Block et al. 2005).

While trophic interactions have been mentioned by both the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and the National Marine Fisheries Service, these considerations have never been taken into account in formulating management strategies for Atlantic Bluefin tuna or the species with which they interact (ICCAT 2008; NMFS 2008).

Western and eastern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna populations are overfished and undergoing overfishing (NMFS 2008). The west Atlantic population is listed as Critically Endangered and the east Atlantic population as Endangered by the IUCN's Red List (IUCN 2009). Considering that the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna population continues to decline, recovery efforts are clearly ineffective.

From 2005 to 2007 the number of purse seiners in the Mediterranean Sea increased due to the development of new fisheries and the existence of red-flagged vessels, while the number of longliners decreased during this same time period (ICCAT 2008). Between 2004 to 2007, the number of medium and large sized purse seiners fishing in the Mediterranean Sea doubled, while the number of small purse seiners decreased (ICCAT 2008). The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) noted that active capacity in the east Atlantic in 2007 was dominated by longliners, trawlers and baitboats (ICCAT 2008). The level of active capacity in these regions is “at least 3 times the levels needed to fish at a level consistent with the convention objective” (ICCAT 2008). ICCAT also notes that if potential capacity is estimated, the estimates of potential catch become higher, and would require a very large reduction in fleet size to reach the Convention Objectives (ICCAT 2008). While ICCAT has cut quotas, they continue to ignore the scientific data calling for even sharper decreases in Atlantic Bluefin Tuna catches.

Mediterranean Sea farming capacity is estimated to be twice the total allowable catch agreed upon by the Commission and is 32,000 t above the catch level that would equal the effort level set forth by the Convention objective (ICCAT 2008).

The ICCAT believes the overcapacity of the western Atlantic fleet is a major contributing factor to the overfished status of this stock (ICCAT 2008). It is thought that reductions in capacity may be needed to reduce the fishing mortality and increase the biomass of the population (ICCAT 2008).

U.S. purse seine vessels are reported to take very little bycatch of protected and/or endangered species (NMFS 2008). Observer records from this fishery from 1996 to 2001 indicated no interactions with protected species (NMFS 2008). This fishery is considered a Category III fishery, where annual mortality and serious injury of a stock is less than or equal to 1% of the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level for marine mammal interactions (NMFS 2008). Bycatch rates and composition are unknown for directed Spanish purse-seine operations for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (NMFS 2004, 2005)

Bycatch in the U.S. handgear fishery is believed to be low, although no current estimates are available (NFMS 2008). This fishery is also considered a Category III fishery (NMFS 2008).

The U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline fishery (targeting swordfish and tuna) is considered a Category 1 fishery, where annual mortality and serious injury of a population in a given fishery is greater than or equal to 50% of the PBR level. Based on observed takes, an average of 772 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and 1,013 leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtle were caught each year from 1999 to 2003 (Garrison 2005; NMFS 2008). Although bycatch rates have dropped dramatically since 2004, to 542 loggerhead and 499 leatherback sea turtles in 2007 (Fairfield and Garrison 2008), it still represents large numbers of endangered sea turtles being killed. Bycatch rates of sea turtle by all vessels fishing in the Atlantic Ocean are difficult to estimate accurately because of the large amount of uncertainty surrounding bycatch rates within and among different fleets (Lewison et al. 2004; Lewiston and Crowder 2007). Estimates of sea turtle bycatch for all (tuna and non-tuna) fleets in the Atlantic Ocean were initially between 210,0000 to 280,000 loggerhead and 30,250 to 70,000 leatherback sea turtles per year (Lewiston et al. 2004). Revised estimates are much lower and suggest that between 28,180 and 39,080 sea turtle interactions occur in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea per year (Lewison and Crowder 2007). Bycatch of seabirds in the U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline fishery is relatively low, primarily due to setting the gear at night and fishing in areas where few birds are present (NMFS 2008). A total of 141 seabird interactions (101 killed) have been observed in the U.S. pelagic longline fishery since 1992 (NMFS 2008). The U.S. pelagic longline fishery was estimated to have interacted with 87 pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), 22 unidentified marine mammals, 20 Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), 13, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), four unidentified dolphins, and two Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and beaked whales during 2007 (Fairfield and Garrison 2008).

Considering that bycatch varies greatly depending on fishing method, a score of 2 was awarded.

It has been reported that worldwide longline fisheries kill hundreds of thousands of seabirds a year (Gilman et al. 2005). Albatrosses and arctic fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) are the most commonly caught seabirds by North Atlantic longline fisheries (Gilman et al. 2005). Of the 21 species of albatross worldwide, 19 are under the threat of extinction and some populations are at fewer than 100 individuals (Gilman et al. 2005). There is strong evidence that longline mortality is a main reason for these declines (Gales et al. 1998; Brothers et al. 1999). Gilman (2001) suggested that several species of albatross could become extinct as a consequence of the mortality associated with bycatch on longlines, if fisheries managers do not address the situation. Mortality rates of seabirds could be higher than the reported rates because seabirds could fall off the hook during the retrieval process (Ward et al. 2004).

Longline fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea take endangered loggerhead and critically endangered leatherback turtles as bycatch (ICCAT 2004, and IUCN 2004). The 2004 Biological Opinion completed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) determined that the U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline fishery would jeopardize leatherback turtles continued existence (NMFS 2004). Management efforts by NMFS have been implemented (e.g. gear modifications, closed areas) in an effort to reduce the continued interactions of sea turtles and longlines in the Atlantic (NMFS 2008). In addition, the NMFS works with Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMO’s), international bodies, governments, universities and private institutions in an effort to reduce sea turtle bycatch (NMFS 2008). It should be noted that other human-induced mortality (cultural/traditional uses, coastal development, ship interactions) exist throughout sea turtles range and these likely affect sea turtle populations as well (Molony 2005; NMFS 2008).

Bycatch of sharks in pelagic longline fisheries could negatively affect shark populations’ worldwide (Mandelman et al. 2008). Blue sharks (Prionace glauca) are one of the most commonly caught shark bycatch species, representing as much as 92% of the shark catch in pelagic longline fisheries (Gilman et al. 2007).

Over 20 shark species are caught as bycatch by the U.S. pelagic Atlantic longline fishery, with the most commonly caught being silky (Carcharhinus falciformis), dusky (Carcharhinus obscurus), night (Carcharhinus signatus), blue (Prionace glauca) and tiger (Galeocerdo cuvier) sharks (Beerkircher et al. 2002).

Bycatch of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in longline fisheries for billfishes and other tunas is high and impeding its recovery and Atlantic Bluefin Tuna discards from the Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic Bight and Northeast coastal areas have increased in recent years (NMFS 2008; ICCAT 2004).

The bycatch of marlins, and Atlantic Bluefin tuna by longline fishing could be reducing the ability of these populations to rebuild (NMFS 2008). The National Marine Fisheries Service has instituted closed areas and placed a ban on the use of live bait by pelagic longline vessels in the Gulf of Mexico in an effort to help rebuild these populations (NMFS 2008).