Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
American Tunaboat Association Records
SMC 0049  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Historical Background
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Restrictions
  • OFF-SITE STORAGE
  • Custodial History

  • Descriptive Summary

    Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
    9500 Gilman Drive
    La Jolla 92093-0175
    Title: American Tunaboat Association Records
    Creator: American Tunaboat Association
    Identifier/Call Number: SMC 0049
    Physical Description: 265.7 Linear feet (230 cartons, 3 archives boxes, 23 flat boxes, and 1 map case folder)
    Date (inclusive): 1930-1999
    Abstract: Records of the American Tunaboat Association (ATA), a non-profit cooperative association representing the interests of tunaboat owners and crews. The collection documents the activities of the ATA as well as the history of the tuna industry in San Diego.
    Languages: English .

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The records of the American Tunaboat Association (ATA), a non-profit cooperative association representing the interests of tunaboat owners and crews. The collection documents the activities of the ATA as well as the history of the tuna industry in San Diego. The ATA advocated on behalf of fishermen at the state, federal, and international legislative levels; dealt with industry insurance claims; and served as a public relations resource. In the process it generated a large assortment of administrative records, correspondence, legal documents and conference materials. The collection also contains voluminous files relating to legislation, court cases, international affairs, and vessel information. Subjects of note include the Marine Mammal Protection Acts and territorial waters legislation; accordingly, the bulk of the records are in series 3) FISHERMEN'S PROTECTION ACT, series 4) MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT, and series 6) INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, which cover some of the important legal activities in which the ATA was involved.
    Arranged in nine series: 1) ADMINSTRATION, 2) GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, 3) FISHERMEN'S PROTECTION ACT, 4) MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT, 5) OTHER LEGISLATION AND COURT CASES, 6) INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, 7) VESSEL INFORMATION, 8) RELATED ORGANIZATIONS AND CONFERENCES, 9) PRESS, 10) SUBJECT FILES, and 11) OVERSIZE MATERIALS.

    Historical Background

    The American Tunaboat Association (ATA) was established in San Diego in 1917 as a non-profit cooperative association that advocated for tunaboat owners and crews. The members of the ATA are owners and operators of U.S. flag vessels that use various methods, including purse seine nets, to fish commercially for tuna. Representatives of the ATA are involved in matters that affect tunaboats and the fishing industry, including international negotiations and meetings on the conservation and management of tuna stocks. The ATA also believes in the importance of maintaining a strong U.S. flag tuna fleet and supporting sustainable tuna fisheries.
    The ATA was involved in various social movements and legislative matters, including the "Dolphin-safe Tuna" labeling movement of the 1970s and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Other notable international involvements include international relations regarding tunaboat seizures by other countries, and the 200-mile jurisdiction legislation, which created borders for sovereign nations' territorial waters.

    Publication Rights

    Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

    Preferred Citation

    American Tunaboat Association Records. SMC 49. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

    Acquisition Information

    Acquired 1990, 2004.

    Restrictions

    Duplication of crew lists in series 1) ADMINISTRATION and 7) VESSEL INFORMATION is prohibited due to privacy protections. Researchers must request to view materials in box 11, folders 1-17 in advance.

    OFF-SITE STORAGE

    COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW ONE WEEK FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS. Boxes 1-244 (SRLF); boxes 245-256 (Eckart).

    Custodial History

    The American Tunaboat Association Records were donated to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO) Archives in three separate accessions, two in 1990 and one in 2004. The 1990 accessions were donated directly by the ATA; the 2004 accession was a transfer from the San Diego History Center. The records were given the collection number AC 40 and housed, unprocessed, in remote storage. In 2015, the records were given the new collection number SMC 49 and the papers were processed by Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library, with both accessions merged into one collection. Duplicates, personnel information, supply receipts, and other extraneous material was removed from the collection at the time of processing.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Tuna industry -- California -- San Diego -- History -- 20th century
    Territorial waters -- Law and legislation
    Sustainable fisheries
    Tuna fishing -- Pacific Ocean
    Tuna fishing -- Law and legislation
    American Tunaboat Association -- Archives