Since bluefin tuna are late to mature, slow growing, and long-lived, they are especially susceptible to fishing pressure, compared to faster growing, more productive species.
Bluefin tuna grow more slowly than other tunas and have a long life span, up to 20 years or more, and generally do not spawn until they are about eight years old.
Because many nations harvest bluefin tuna, effective conservation and management of this resource depend on strong international cooperation.
The United States has taken many steps to conserve and manage US fisheries for Atlantic bluefin tuna since the early 1980’s.
It is due in part to these measures and US efforts internationally that Atlantic bluefin tuna are no longer subject to overfishing.
Today, international fisheries for western Atlantic bluefin tuna are highly regulated.
The most recent annual catch level set is expected to support continued growth and recovery of the stock.
Strict controls are in place to ensure compliance, on the water, in port, and at the marketplace, through the implementation of the catch documentation scheme, which allows trade tracking for individual shipments of fish.
Summary
Bluefin tuna’s slow growth, late maturity, and long lifespan make them particularly vulnerable to overfishing.
Since many nations exploit them, effective conservation requires international cooperation.
The U.S. has implemented strict management since the 1980s, contributing to the recovery of the Atlantic population and ending overfishing.
由於藍鰭鮪成長緩慢、成熟晚且壽命長，因此極易受到過度捕撈威脅。由於多國共同開發此資源，國際合作至關重要。美國自1980年代起實施嚴格管理，使大西洋藍鰭魚族群得以復原，擺脫過漁現象。
At present, fishing in the western Atlantic is tightly controlled.
Quotas and documentation systems allow every fish to be tracked from capture to trade, ensuring transparency and sustainable recovery of stocks.
目前西大西洋藍鰭鮪漁業受到嚴格監控。捕撈配額與文件追蹤制度使每條魚都可追溯至交易
環節，確保透明度並促進魚群的可持續復原。
17 … ………….. between the relevant countries will be needed if bluefin tuna resources are to be managed in a sustainable fashion.
18 Any caught bluefin tuna can be tracked in North America due to the use of the ………………
ANS
17. Strong international cooperation
18. catch documentation scheme