Bluefin tuna fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is highly regulated, yet these tuna are caught as bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery.

During this 4-year project, pelagic longline fishermen are being recruited to help determine if bluefin tuna mortality can be reduced in the Gulf of Mexico pelagic longline fishery by optimizing fishing depth – specifically, by setting the fishing gear at deeper depths than it is typically set. Additionally, pop-up satellite archival tags are being deployed on yellowfin tuna (a targeted species of the pelagic longline fishery) and bluefin tuna to better understand the migration and behavioral patterns of these valuable fishes.

Ultimately, we hope to identify new fishing approaches to facilitate effective bluefin tuna restoration efforts.