The largest bluefins taken were immature fish weighing about 70 pounds.
The large-mesh nets allow immature fish to escape.
Anglers are advised not to take immature fish, so as not to reduce breeding stock.
The impact on immature fish is even greater.
One result is that the fresh swordfish steaks so familiar to American diners and supermarket shoppers are coming mostly from small, immature fish.
Its fins are colorless or yellowish in immature fish, females and non-breeding males.
They will find tiny plants and animals in the tank to help, but immature fish often have to go for periods without food.
The report refers to the Commission's draft regulation to modify existing technical measures to reduce the mortality rate of immature fish.
Rather than establishing technical constraints which are costly for the industry, why not simply ban the selling of immature fish?
If a catch includes over 15 % of immature fish, boats should be legally obliged to leave that area.