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