The nation's largest association of deep-sea tuna fishermen announced a new suspension plan July 4 as coordinated fishing suspensions are becoming more common with the unabated rise in fuel prices.

The association said 233 of its pelagic long-line tuna boat operators will each suspend operations for two to three months sometime between Aug. 1 and the end of July 2010.

About 100 of them are expected to suspend fishing in the 12-month period starting Aug. 1 because fuel costs are eating their profits, the organization said.