The
work of the IATTC staff is divided into two
programs, the Tuna-Billfish Program and the Tuna-Dolphin
Program.
The
principal responsibilities of the Tuna-Billfish Program are:
| 1. |
to
study the biology of the tunas and related species of
the eastern Pacific Ocean with a view
to determining the effects that fishing and natural
factors have on their abundance; |
| 2. |
to
recommend appropriate conservation measures so that the
stocks of fish can be maintained at levels which afford
maximum sustainable catches; |
| 3. |
to
collect information on compliance with Commission
resolutions. |
The
principal responsibilities of the Tuna-Dolphin Program are:
| 1. |
to
monitor the abundance of dolphins and their mortality
incidental to purse-seine fishing in the eastern Pacific
Ocean; |
| 2. |
to
study the causes of mortality of dolphins during fishing
operations and promote the use of fishing techniques and
equipment which minimize these mortalities; |
| 3. |
to
study the effects of different modes of fishing on the
various fish and other animals of the pelagic ecosystem; |
| 4. |
to
provide a secretariat for the International
Dolphin Conservation Program (IDCP). |
