The three-week annual ‘Operation Tui Moana 2026’ (OPTM26) held from May 4 to 22 flagged two vessels operating in the WCPO for suspected IUU fishing. Authorities verified more than 200 boats, carried out 61 at-sea and port inspections, and shortlisted four vessels of interest, which ultimately led to two apprehensions. The suspected infringements included vessel monitoring system non-reporting, unauthorized bunkering and transshipment, along with breaches in logsheet documentation and reporting compliance, according to a Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) statement. The FFA did not clarify the type of fishing vessels.

The operation, launched in 2017, spans the EEZs of 10 Pacific Island states as well as adjoining high seas waters in the WCPO. OPTM26 integrated maritime patrols, aerial surveillance, intelligence-led analysis, and compliance monitoring to detect and deter potential fisheries infringements. Noan David Pakop, FFA Director General, explained: “Over the past three weeks, we have once again demonstrated the strength of regional solidarity and collective action in protecting our fisheries resources and strengthening the Pacific’s fight against IUU fishing and other associated transnational crimes.”

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) announced last week that it has appointed Nina Rosen to the Environmental Stakeholder Committee (ESC). Rosen, who has been working as the Director of FishWise for six years, took to LinkedIn to share the news. “Thrilled to be joining ISSF’s Environmental Stakeholder Committee and bringing the perspectives I’ve gained working with the seafood industry — from harvesters to end-buyers. What excites me most is ISSF’s collaborative approach to advancing marine conservation and transparency in tuna fisheries. Real progress happens when stakeholders come together around shared goals.”

The ESC brings together conservation experts who provide independent guidance to help shape ISSF’s science-based tuna sustainability policies, including recommendations on conservation measures and tuna fisheries management. Susan Jackson, ISSF President, stated that Rosen’s experience in traceability, fisheries governance, and multi-stakeholder collaboration will be helpful to ISSF.

Preliminary independent laboratory results show that 100 percent of Thai Union-owned Petit Navire tuna  products comply with French and EU regulations in terms of mercury levels. In March, the French brand invited consumers to test their tuna products for mercury under the ‘Faites le Test’ (Take the Test) campaign. The latest results up to May 18 show that 78 percent of the tested products had <0.3 mg/kg of mercury, well below the regulatory limit of 1 mg/kg, according to the brand’s website. Petit Navire will provide the full analyses soon.

The free mercury analysis campaign ran from March 24 to May 4, limited to 1,000 analyses by independent laboratory Labexia. The goal of the campaign was to provide concrete and transparent answers to questions about mercury content in Petit Navire tuna. “These results confirm our commitment: strict controls, compliance with current regulations, and complete transparency towards consumers,” stated the brand. Two years ago, European NGOs Bloom and Foodwatch jointly urged European regulators to tighten rules on mercury levels in canned tuna, and pushed several retailers to remove what they called “contaminated tuna” from the shelves.