Commercial pelagic longline fishers within the U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean are required to report all fishing interactions per each gear deployment to NOAA’s Vessel Logbook Program of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center to quantify bycatch, increase conservation efforts, and avoid jeopardizing the existence of vulnerable species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). To provide additional accuracy, the Pelagic Observer Program (POP) of the SEFSC deploys professionally trained observers on longline vessels to produce a statistically reliable subset of longline fisheries data. A comparison of self-reported (“unobserved”) datasets versus observer-collected (“observed”) datasets showed a general consistency for most target species but non-reporting or under-reporting for a number of bycatch species and “lesser-valued” target species. These discrepancies between catch compositions and abundancies regarding targeted species, species of bycatch concern, and species of minimum economic value can provide insight into increased fisheries regulations, stricter requirements, or additional observer coverage.

2005年「大西洋鮪類資源保育委員會」(International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, ICCAT)第十九屆年會將台灣2006年在大西洋大目鮪(Bigeye Tuna)的漁獲配額自14,900公噸削減為4,600公噸的決定，即05-02號建議(Recommendation by ICCAT Regarding Control of Chinese Taipei’s Atlantic Bigeye Tuna Fishery [05-02] in 2005)，除反應出漁業資源日益稀少和各國竸爭激烈的事實外，也顯示了國人海洋漁業生態保育的觀念有待加強。 / 本論文乃以ICCAT 05-02號建議作為個案研究，對高度洄游魚類種群(highly migratory species)之養護與管理體系為一整體檢視，探討該號建議所呈現之生態保育問題。內容側重於法規範面之探討，並就高度洄游魚類種群之定義、生態習性、種類、及資源使用狀況為一基本介紹。主要探討三大議題：(1)國際規範體系架構；(2)養護與管理高度洄游魚類之現況；(3)當前面臨之問題與挑戰。 / 全球海洋資源面臨的人為挑戰模式均同，本文焦點雖在高度洄游魚類種群之探討，但也反應出其他種類漁資源在保育上所面臨的共同問題，只不過因高度洄游魚類生態上的特殊性，使其整體養護與管理過程更能突顯出國際漁業治理的本質─國際合作的必要性。但若從另一角度分析漁業管理制度發生改變的原因，則將突顯出國際漁業治理的另一項本質，即國家利益的追求，事實上這也是所有國際活動的基本特徵。因此，以專業性的角度來分析區域漁業組織運作的同時，不能忽略國際政治因素的牽絆，國家漁業經濟利益透過國際政治上的實力對比在區域漁業組織的運作過程中彰顯出來。 / 本論文章節安排分為六章，首先概略介紹「高度洄游魚類」之意義、特性及資源使用狀態(第一章)，爾後簡介現行有關高度洄游魚類之國際規範體系(第二章)，接著以ICCAT為案例，使讀者明白當前國際間透過區域漁業組織來施行漁資源管理的實際運作情形(第三章)，透過05-02號建議讓讀者了解區域漁業組織如何敦促成員國遵守區域漁業規範，落實其養護與管理高度洄游魚類之國際任務(第四章)，並探討ICCAT05-02號建議所反應出來的制度面或執行面之問題(第五章)。最後綜合各章節內容，針對高度洄游魚類之整體規範體系架構為一觀察反省，歸結出本議題核心所在，即追求國家利益前提下的國際合作(第六章)。 / 國際間對於高度洄游魚類種群的保育工程已然啟動，國家願意讓渡出更多一些的權力由國際專門性機構來主導，並在一定規範架構下進行國際合作，這是值得肯定的發展趨勢，並可觀樂期待國際間對於生態環境議題將給予更多的關注，落實資源永續經營的理念。 / On 19th regular meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the commission decided to cut down Taiwan’s quota of Bigeye tuna in Atlantic Ocean form 14,900 tonnage to 4,900, that is Recommendation by ICCAT Regarding Control of Chinese Taipei’s Atlantic Bigeye Tuna Fishery [05-02] in 2005. This case reflects the fact that fishery resource is coming shorter and States compete harshly. It shows that our concept of conservation ecology leaves much space to improve as well. / This thesis is a case study based on Recommendation 05-02 by ICCAT. Here try to inspect thoroughly the conservation and management system of highly migratory species, so as to discuss the problems of eco-conservation reflecting from that Recommendation. Contexts focus on the regulation aspect, and briefly introduce the definition, ecologic habitual behavior, kinds, and condition of resource consumption of highly migratory species. The three main topics to discuss are: (1) international regulation framework; (2) current status of conservation and management of highly migratory species; (3) the problems and challenges confront with nowadays. / The challenges to ocean resource caused by human activity are all the same. This thesis is about highly migratory species, but also reflects the common problem of other fish species in ecological protection respect. Merely because of the ecological particularity, the whole process of conservation and management of highly migratory species could better show the key ingredient of international fishery governance, which is international cooperation. From the other angle, the change of fishery management system mirrors the nature of international fishery management, that is pursuing of national interest. Actually, the later is fundamental character of all kinds of international interaction. Therefore, when analyzing the function of regional fishery organization, we could not ignore the international political fact. National economic fishery interest manifests through relative international political power in fishery management organizations. / There are six chapters in this thesis. First, to take a quick glance at what “highly migratory species” is and its character and resource status (chapter 1). And then turn to the introduction of current international regulation system of highly migratory species (chapter 2). Following is a case study based on ICCAT, to inform readers how Regional Fishery Organizations function actually (chapter 3). Through Recommendation 05-02 by ICCAT, we could take a look how Regional Fishery Organizations urge States to meet their commission of conserving and managing highly migratory species (chapter 4). And then go to a discussion of institutional and enforcement problems reflect from Recommendation 05-02 by ICCAT (chapter 5). Finally, we take a entirely observation and introspection from the foregoing chapters, and then sum up the core of the international fishery issue, that is international cooperation with a prerequisite of chasing national interest(chapter 6). / The international conservation of highly migratory species has set out. States are willing to transfer more competence to specialized institution and undertake international cooperation under a certain regulatory framework. This situation deserves much applause. We could look forward that international society would pay more attention to environmental ecological issues to carrying out the idea of sustainable development and management of ocean resource.