The fifth edition of the World Maritime Week (WMW) took place in Spain last week. Stakeholders from the tuna and seafood fisheries, ports, and shipping sectors gathered to discuss the...
Fishing
Operation Rai Balang Detects IUU Fishing Activities In WCPO
The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) held Operation Rai Balang 2025 from March 3 to 21 to identify IUU fishing in the tuna-rich grounds of the WCPO. During the Operation FFA members conducted 96...
Ensuring Tuna Stock Sustainability The Nub Of GTA’s Five-Year Strategy
Last week, the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA) launched a new five-year strategy at the Seafood Expo 2025 in Boston. It is based on three core areas—Blue Resilience, Blue Community, and Blue...
Documentary Fatal Watch Shines Spotlight On Observer Safety
A new documentary, Fatal Watch, which was released today could not have come at a better time, given the tuna industry is increasingly being pushed or making steps towards better observer...
WCPO Skipjack Catches Hit A Near Two-Year Low In February
WCPO catches have been declining since last December and dropped in February, the lowest since July 2023. The overall daily catch rate last month was 22 percent down from January. Skipjack...
Will Bluefin Companies Have To Pay The Price Of Inspectors Strike?
The ongoing Spanish fisheries inspectors strike is gradually taking a toll on the bluefin industry, according to experts. A Balfegó executive said that the protest is generating economic...
São Tomé and Príncipe Chalks Out Reasons To Continue Tuna Deal With EU
São Tomé and Príncipe hopes that a tuna fishing agreement with the EU will help them reap maximum benefits. João Pessoa, its Director of Fisheries, recently briefed tuna and seafood industry...
WCPO Purse Seiner Catches Nosedived In February
Purse seiners operating in the WCPO reduced their fishing effort in both PNA EEZs and the high seas in February. Overall catches plummeted driven by a massive drop in skipjack catches, which...
Gomes Da Costa’s Promotional Campaign Showcases Brand’s History
Tuna brand Gomes da Costa, popular in Argentina, has started working with advertising agency Hoopla to boost the sales of its products with a new promotional campaign. Earlier this week, the...
Costs Hampering 100 Percent Electronic Monitoring On US Longliners
The shortage of human observers in the Hawaii and American Samoa tuna longline fisheries is a real issue. The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s (WPRFMC) Scientific and...
Zunibal’s “First 100 Percent Biodegradable” FADs
Manufacturer of satellite buoys Zunibal and Spanish research company AZTI have joined hands to produce 100 percent drifting biodegradable FADs. These aggregating devices have been deployed in...
New Reduced FAD Ban In Atlantic Ocean Comes Into Force
The FAD fishing closure in the ICCAT convention area began on March 17 so all vessels now rely on free school tuna fishing until the deadline is over. This replaces the 72-day FAD ban from...
Should NGOs Interfere In Retailers’ Tuna Sourcing Policies?
NGO Bloom's recently released ‘Drowning the Catch’ report lashes out at French retailer Carrefour for multiple reasons including its tuna sourcing policy. Bloom and another non-profit...
Will Tuna Fishers Steal The Limelight At Spanish Film Festival?
OPAGAC-produced Spanish film ‘1,17,’ which shows the challenges faced by fishers, was screened at the ongoing Málaga Festival, an annual film event held in Andalusia, earlier this week. The...
Ecuador Enlists Controversial Ally in Fight Against Crime in Seafood Sector
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has unveiled a bold "strategic alliance" with Erik Prince, the founder of the infamous private military company once known as Blackwater, to combat organized...
Will DOGE Layoffs Significantly Affect NOAA’s RFMO Participation?
The federal officials' layoff wave by the Trump administration has also hit the fishery science and management body NOAA Fisheries part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...
Fight Against IUU Fishing Forms The Crux Of Philippines-Palau Tuna Fisheries Deal
The Philippines and Palau recently joined hands to work together for sustainable development of their tuna and other seafood fisheries and to safeguard the fish stocks. A Memorandum of...
Spanish Longliner Crew Makes Narrow Escape After Fire Breaks Out
The Spanish-flagged longliner ‘Pico Tresmares’ sank 1,000 miles off Chile's coast, in the Pacific Ocean, after its engine caught fire. All 19 crew members escaped in lifeboats. The incident...
Bloom Claims Suing Carrefour’s Tuna Sourcing Policies Is “Inevitable and Necessary”
European non-profits Bloom and Foodwatch have again made harsh accusations against French retailer Carrefour. Bloom recently released a report ‘Drowning the Catch,’ listing out the drawbacks...
IOTC Must Take Steps Against Abuse Of North Koreans On Chinese Longliners
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) released a report earlier this month highlighting the shocking abuse of North Korean crew members on Chinese longliners fishing in the Southwest...