ETC2025 Explores If There Is Still Room To Grow In Tuna Fishing

Skipjack catches in the WCPO exceeded every expectation and Thai packers have never imported so much frozen whole round tuna as in 2024. Also, the EPO reported record-high skipjack volumes. Is there still room for growth in fishing and processing tuna? This is the main question that will be discussed in Session III of the European Tuna Conference on May 5 in Barcelona.

The ISSF publishes its biannual assessment of global tuna stocks. It was reported in November 2024 that 88 percent of total catches were from healthy stocks. Dr. Victor Restrepo, Vice President, Science & Chair Scientific Advisory Committee of ISSF, will give insights into the 23 global tuna stocks that support catches of about 5.2 million tons per year as a panelist at the European Tuna Conference.

His presentation will give an overview of the potential for catch increases in the short and medium term, while also mentioning some of the main challenges the tuna industry could face in achieving such increases. Dr. Restrepo has years of experience as a scientist in marine science and biology, and chairing committees at RFMOs.

This talk is timely, especially in light of declining Atlantic and Indian Oceans tuna catches and the negative influence of the Indian Ocean Dipole (a phenomenon similar to El Niño) on catch volumes. Tuna processors dependent on these catches are struggling.