Iran tuna fisheries by-catch in IOTC competence of area in 2017

In order to assess the level of Iranian tuna fishing vessels By-catch in the IOTC area of competence in 2017, tuna fisheries data which are collected through the Iran Fishery Organization data Collection system are used. Base on the information, around 30 different species of Tuna, Tuna-like and some others are caught by Iranian fishermen through the Tuna fishing activities. Base on the information in total, 297251 tons of different species including, 255793 tons Tuna and Tuna-like species, 19976 tons Billfish, 3623 tons of Sharks and 17859 tons the other species, are caught by Iranian fishing vessels in the IOTC area of competence. According to IOTC target species list (16 species covered by IOTC agreement) 92.8% of Iran catch belong to target species and 7.2% of catch belong to non-target species, in the 2017. According to 2017 information, non target species which are caught as by-catch (7.2%) included 1.2% different species of sharks and some other species with 6%, in compare with total catch. The vessels CPUEs were calculated, base on different gears catch per day (Vessel Catch/Day). According to our estimation, Purse Seiners CPUE is calculated 5719.8 Kg/D, Trolling (Boats) 28.3 Kg/D and gillnetters 423.7 Kg/D and long line 233.3 kg per a day . Also the amount of Sharks CPUE was calculated 5.2 Kg/D for gill nets.