The family of 50-year-old sailor Asier, who died last week while working aboard the tuna purse seiner ‘Egaluze’, is anxiously awaiting the return of his body to his hometown of Lekeitio,...
Fishing
Manta Skipjack Price Stays Elevated With Supply Crunch In Origin Tuna
The Ecuadorian purse seine fleet in the EPO continues to catch lower volumes of skipjack compared to the previous two years, affecting the origin raw material needed by canneries. The price of...
US Judge Dismisses Forced Labor Case Against Bumble Bee
More than a year after Indonesian tuna fishermen sued Bumble Bee Foods, a California federal judge has dismissed the case. The plaintiffs cannot file the same lawsuit against the US tuna...
PNG Designates MPA: Opens Access To Blue Carbon Market
The designation of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Western Manus province of Papua New Guinea (PNG) will boost the nation’s commitment to the High Seas Treaty, and also open an option to...
US Imposes Visa Ban On Foreign Nationals Tied To IUU Fishing
The US wants to "send a clear message" as it has begun imposing visa restrictions on 26 foreign nationals “responsible for, complicit in, facilitating, or benefiting from IUU fishing-related...
Philippines Targets Bigger Tuna Landings With Fleet Upgrade
The Philippines wants tuna fishing activities to flourish in its Northern Samar province. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) recently announced that it has supplied PHP 42.7...
Omani Tuna Port Revamp Aims To Expand Fishing Operations
The fishing town of Qurayyat on Oman’s southeastern coast, known for yellowfin fishing, is set for a major overhaul, as authorities advance redevelopment plans for its fishing port in a bid to...
WCPO ‘Operation Tui Moana’ Identifies Two IUU Boats
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,...
EU Clears Emergency Aid For French Fishers
The European Commission approved EUR 13 million in support by the French government for fishermen facing higher fuel costs tied to the ongoing Middle East crisis, providing relief to Europe’s...
Study Flags Harvest Strategies As Key To Managing WCPO Tuna Fisheries
A recently published study evaluated the importance of harvest strategies in the WCPO tuna fisheries, three in particular. The findings can benefit WCPO tuna stakeholders by giving a clearer...
Pressure Eases On Skipjack Price As Higher Supply Hits Bangkok
After months of poor supply, higher landings of frozen whole rounds skipjack have softened the trading price of raw material in Bangkok. Experts close to the matter informed Atuna that they...
Pacific Tuna Fishery Council Marks 50th Anniversary
Eight US Regional Fishery Management Councils are celebrating 50 years since their creation. The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC), which plays a crucial role in...
ISSF Names FishWise Executive To Environmental Committee
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...
Innovative Tuna Creations During Almadraba Season In Southern Spain
The almadrabas are in full throttle in Spain, with tourists pouring into tuna-trap towns to witness the spectacle. This year too, restaurants and local food stalls have prepared an array of...
The US Tuna Retail Trade Continues To Profit At The Expense Of Fleet & Resource Owners
VIEWPOINT- Canned tuna remains one of the most affordable protein sources in the US, particularly when compared to other proteins like chicken and beef. Over the last 30 years, while retail...
Bismarck Sea Volcanic Eruptions Threaten PNG’s Key Fishing Ground
The eruptions of the underwater Titan Ridge Volcano in the Bismarck Sea, a deep-ocean basin north of Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the WCPO, have accelerated. A series of eruptions occurred on May...
Vietnam’s Gia Lai Province Eyes Tuna Hub With Multi-Million Dollar Investment
Officials in Vietnam’s central province of Gia Lai are planning to expand the region’s tuna industry with a proposed VND 4.27 trillion (USD 162 million) investment in a new fishing port and...
Pacific Groups Raise Alarm On Corporate Gains From Deep-Sea Mining
Pacific civil society groups warned that deep-sea mining poses environmental and social threats to island nations, while multinational companies stand to reap substantial profits, citing...
Ecuadorian Fleet Feels The Squeeze With Low Skipjack Catches
Ecuadorian vessels experienced a huge reduction in skipjack catches in the EPO in the first quarter of this year, impacting canning production for the EU market. Data also shows that volumes...
Is EPO Skipjack Abundance Over For Ecuadorian Canners?
Boat owners saw a significant drop in EPO skipjack catches in the second half of 2025 compared to the exceptionally high volumes of the year before. The first quarter of 2026 paints a starkly...