The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit began on a dramatic note as China, attending the event as a “dialogue partner”, threatened to pull-out amid a visa row with host nation Nauru. The...
Fishing
China Visa Row Sparks Controversy At PIF Summit
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit began on a dramatic note as China, attending the event as a “dialogue partner”, threatened to pull-out amid a visa row with host nation Nauru. The...
Russian Scientists Take On The Tuna Robot
Scientists from a Russian university have carried out laboratory tests on the ‘Tunets’, which is a tuna-like robot intended for underwater research. The project is still in the initial stages,...
Spanish Canners: We Need Duty Free Loins To Stay Competitive
Anfaco, the organization that represents Spain’s canning industry, has said the tuna sector needs a greater pre-cooked loin quota “to be competitive and maintain its industrial activity”. The...
SKJ1.8: BKK Price Sees An Uptick
The price of whole round skipjack in Bangkok has seen an uptick, however, the increase is not as steep as expected. While the record low catch rates that have been reported during the ongoing...
Main Global Tuna Developments In August
August marked an eventful month for the global tuna industry, with the full impact of the annual FAD ban in the WCPO now visible. Industry participants also continued to weigh the impact of...
EPO Purse Seine Closure Boosts Employment
The ongoing purse seine closure in the EPO, the first of the two annual shutdowns, has boosted employment in the Ecuadorian provinces of Guayas, Santa Elena and Manabi. The first closure has...
The Problem Of Ghost Gear: Is Enough Being Done?
The recent incident in Mexico where an abandoned tuna net led to the death of more than 300 turtles has once again thrown light upon the issue of discarded fishing gears or ghost gear as they...
China Moves Six New Seiners Into Indian Ocean
Six new Chinese flagged purse seiners have set sail in the Indian Ocean to carry out tuna fishing. The new vessels are the first purse seiners that will join China’s IO fleet, which is...
Longline Fleet Is Becoming A Liability, Say Majority
The longline vessels within the tuna sector are becoming a liability, according to more than 60 percent of Atuna readers. Despite purse seine fishing making up the majority of the global tuna...
Costa Rica: Lawsuit Alleges Govt. “Giving Away” Tuna Resource
A Costa Rican court is expected to announce its verdict in a lawsuit filed by a local politician against the government accusing it of “giving away” fishing licenses at “ridiculous fees” to...
Tax Exemption Can Boost Ecuadorian Seiner Construction
Following the approval of a new economic development law in Ecuador, which aims to accelerate investments, Ecuadorian tuna firms are expected to replace their vessels with new, improved boats....
GenSan’s Tuna Fest Kicks Off This Week
The annual tuna festival in General Santos City, recognized as Philippine’s tuna capital, commences later this week amid high security. Apart from the festivities, the five-day event also...
Chefs Compete With Bluefin As Stocks Improve
A dozen chefs will meet next month for the final of the ‘Chef Balfegó Gastronomic Contest’, in which they will compete to create the best bluefin tuna dishes. This comes at a time when tighter...
Azores Requests Rule Exemption, Wants To Return Bycatch To Sea
The government of Azores has requested for an exemption from the obligation to disembark all catches, including bycatch – a rule that has been set by the European Commission. The Portuguese...
IN BRIEF: Tuna Fishing Hits Hollywood
Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey is starring in a new film titled Serenity as the captain of a tuna fishing vessel. The thriller was filmed on a real boat and the actor has said that...
Ghost Gear Net Kills 300 Turtles
A ghost gear net has led to the death of more than 300 turtles in Barra de Colotepec on the coast of Oaxaca in Mexico. The net was apparently abandoned by tuna fishermen from the town of San...
High Seas Compliance & Pollution “Weaknesses” In WCPO
There are weaknesses in certain aspects of fisheries management in the WCPO, particularly in regards to the lack of high seas compliance and pollution affecting the ocean ecosystem, according...
Science Meets Sports At Tuna Tagging Race Event
In a month from now, the coastal village of Bermeo will host a Tuna Tagging Race event. While the three-day event is being promoted as a fun way to do scientific research, the main aim is to...
FAD Ban Impact: Worst Catch In Years Say Insiders
Nearly two months after the implementation of the annual ban on FAD fishing in the WCPO, industry insiders say that the catch in the region has been one of the worst ever. The FAD ban,...