Despite tireless efforts made by the FFA to support development, the creation of a Tonga-based tuna fishing industry has “failed miserably” according to the country’s Minister of Fisheries....
Fishing
Strike Action Against 3 Year Jail Sentence On IUU
Fishermen in Bangkok have gone on strike after new regulations, which aim to clamp down on illegal fishing, were introduced this week. Operators could face three years in prison if they fail...
First Philippine Initiative To Market “Sustainable” Tuna
As a renowned exporter of tuna products worldwide, the Philippines appears to be increasingly concerned about its domestic consumption, and has taken its first initiative to market...
Philippines Demands VMS For Small Scale Tuna Boats
After shaking off its IUU yellow card from the EU back in April, the Philippines seems keen not to sink back into the sanction, and is also mandating that smaller tuna fishing vessels will,...
Requests For Higher EPO Catch Quotas Denied
Requests from three fishing nations for increased EPO quotas have been denied at the ongoing IATTC meeting. While Colombia, Guatemala and Peru called for a rise in their allowable catch in the...
Senegal To Fine IUU Vessels Millions
This week, Senegal has voted to increase fines imposed on IUU fishing in its own waters. The new code, which is active as of June 30th, sees penalties ranging between CFA 500 million (USD...
Pingtan Buys Longliners To Avoid Indonesian Moratorium
Pingtan Marine Enterprise has announced the purchase of six fishing vessels to add to its fleet. The acquisition is made up of four tuna longliners and two squid jiggers and includes...
BKK Skipjack Price Takes A Leap
Big tuna buyers in Thailand’s capital have been accepting significantly higher prices, sending the Bangkok whole round skipjack price to a new reference point. Over the last few...
High Seas Catches Surge By 75 Percent
High seas tuna catches in the WCPO are surging, with many major purse seine fishing nations boosting their catches while the WCPFC stands by powerless to stop the trend. Region-wide, the PNA...
PNA Should Build Buffer For Meager Tuna Years
Despite seeing a substantial surge in tuna fishery revenue since 2010, the PNA nations are being told to brace themselves for future downturns, and plan for significant tuna revenue declines....
Ministers Urged To Address Relations With USA And EU
As the Forum Fisheries Ministerial Meeting gets underway, participants are reminded of the complexity of the US Tuna Treaty and the importance of reaching a resolution on the future of the...
Skipjack Price Climb Slow And Steady
Continuing to inch up, the Bangkok whole round skipjack price appears to be on a slow and steady climb, rebounding from dramatic lows earlier in the year. Despite sources reporting little...
Thai Fleet Inspected by EU Ahead Of IUU Deadline
In the run up to Thailand’s impending IUU fishing deadline, delegates from the European Union have been conducting inspections of fishing vessels in Thailand’s Samut Sakhon province. The...
Crew Of Grounded Tuna Vessel Rescued By Air
Four salvage boats and a helicopter were needed to rescue a crew of 39 from a Chinese tuna fishing vessel on Friday. The 48 meter long “Feng Shun No. 3” longliner owned by the China National...
Ecuador Canners Aim For Aggressive Expansion
As high expectation surrounds the outcome of ongoing IATTC talks, the Commission’s Ecuador representative explains what the tuna sector situation is currently like in the South American...
MSC And ASC Join Forces
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to show their continuing collaboration and commitment to finding...
How Does The FAD Ban Really Impact Bigeye Catch?
It’s estimated that if the WCPFC FAD ban did not exist, the WCPO bigeye catch, on average, would be as much as 27 percent higher each year. In 2014, it’s thought that a substantial 36 percent...
July 1st FAD Ban – What’s In Store?
As the countdown to this year’s WCPFC implemented FAD ban reaches its final few days, we take a look at what happened during past closure periods. Will the Bangkok skipjack price show a...
EU Still Has Plenty Work To Do On Its Own Seas
A new report published by the European Environmental Agency (EEA) shows that despite various developments, the way Europeans treat their seas remains unsustainable and threatens the...
61,000 Indonesians On Pacific Vessels Treated Inhumanely
A large chunk of Indonesian nationals working onboard foreign ships overseas are, according to Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Susi Pudjastuti, experiencing inhumane treatment....