Recent evolution of the Reunion longline fishery

The longline fishery in La Reunion began in 1991 and the number of boats and catch increased quickly. The first difficulties were faced in 2001-2002. This note will try to explain the decrease in number and in mean length of longliners and also the significant decrease of some target species catch. The results observed in 2003 confirm the high exploitation level of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in La Reunion area. The swordfish catch decreased in 2002 (from 1500 to less than 800 metric tons) and remained at this level in 2003. The trend for albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) catch is similar but, on the other hand, yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) catch increased significantly and reached 2000 and 2001 levels. An assessment of catch by unit effort (CPUE), in kilos of fish per 1000 hooks, demonstrates that the decrease of fishing yield for swordfish observed since 1999 stopped in 2002: the CPUE for swordfish increased in 2003. To keep companies in profit, fishermen are planning on fishing further.To do this, they need larger vessels to stay at sea longer. The positive results obtained during the first semester of 2004 by some longliners that fished in the southeast of Madagascar, encourage them in this way.