ANALYSIS OF THE MOROCCAN TRAP FISHERY TARGETING BLUEFIN TUNA (THUNNUS THYNNUS) DURING THE PERIOD 1986-2006

SUMMARY The analysis of the Moroccan tuna trap fishery targeting bluefin tuna shows that in general the CPUE decreased from 1986 to 1995, increased during the period 1996 to 2001, since then the CPUE have showed a downward trend. There is no strong correlation between the bluefin tuna catches and the fishing effort targeting this species, the catch level is rather determined by the abundance of the spawners migrating every year along the Moroccan Atlantic coast. The mean weight of the individuals caught also shows a decreasing trend during the period 1997-2005.