The Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association (PEIFA) and the Department

of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will conduct a trial fishery project to

assess the feasibility of a potential live release sport fishery for

Atlantic bluefin tuna off the coast of the Island.

The project is being assisted by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

(ACOA) the PEI Department of Innovation, the PEI Department of Fisheries

Aquaculture and Rural Development and the PEI Atlantic Shrimp Corp.

The project will catch, electronically tag, and release 50 bluefin.

The data gathered by the tags will later be collected and analysed to determine the

impact of live-release fishing while preserving bluefin tuna stocks.

In the event that the project verifies the feasibility of a live release

fishery for bluefin a significant new revenue stream will be opened for PEI

fishers says development consultant Pat O'Neill.

Historically the sport fishery has been subjected to sudden closures due to rapid filling of the

quotas in the fishery. A live release fishery will not be subject to these

sudden closures and allow for a more marketable sport fishery.

The traditional fishery harvesting the bluefin for the sushi market in Japan

would continue without being affected by the live release fishery says the

consultant.

The trial fishery project will start in September with a field

team of 10 licensed fishers operating in Eastern PEI in the area off North

Lake and another team of 10 operating in waters off Western PEI.

Fishermen will be selected by the PEIFA for the trial fishery through a fair

and transparent process states the release. All PEIFA members who hold

licenses to catch bluefin will be eligible to enter a draw to catch the

fish. The PEIFA will pay participating fishermen to catch and release alive

each fish tagged by the scientists aboard the boat. The vessels will not be

chartered by the day.

Fish will be tagged alongside the vessel in the water and will not be

brought aboard the boat. Barbless hooks will be used to minimize stress to

the fish. Scientists will do all the tagging of the fish and will ensure all

procedures and collection of data are consistent throughout the study.

Animal care permissions from the appropriate authorities have been obtained

for the project states the release.

The dates, times and locations to enter a draw to select participants will

be published in island newspapers and posted on the PEIFA website states the

release.