Fiji is the latest country to express its interest in signing the Port-State Measures Agreement (PSMA), following the steps of countries such as Tonga, Vanuatu, and Palau, who have already...
Fishing
Tongan Lawyer Becomes First Female FFA Head
Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen has been appointed as the next Director General of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). The Tongan national, who is the first female to take the position,...
Spanish Gov. Wants Freeze on Loin Quota, Opposing Canners
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Spain has announced that it plans to keep the current pre-cooked tuna loins quota the same at 25,000 tons. The government expects this measure to...
FCF Cut 200,000 M/T Over IUU & Labor Issues
Major Taiwanese fishing company has told reports it has reduced its tuna supply by 200,000 tons in an attempt to better focus on preventing illegal fishing and higher social accountability...
Japanese Vessel Fined $177,000 For Crew Exploitation
The Japanese fishing and processing firm Watarai Company will be made to pay over USD 177,000 after the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) believed workers had been “exploited” on board one...
Shanghai Kaichuang Takes Over Canadian Processor
Chinese tuna fishing company Shanghai Kaichuang (SK) has acquired a majority share of the Canadian seafood processor and exporter French Creek Seafood (FCS). The firm now has a 70 percent...
IN BRIEF: Two Assault Ecuadorian Factory Worker
Two individuals have been arrested after assaulting a person leaving a tuna factory in Ecuador. The perpetrators stole the worker’s cell phone and threatened to kill him but were soon detained...
Vietnam To Set “Drastic” Measures To Address IUU
Vietnam will now employ “drastic solutions” in response to the European Commission’s warning on the nation’s IUU problem. An official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development...
Peak Bangkok SKJ Price Prediction During WCPO FAD Ban
With the use of FADs currently banned in both the WCPO EEZs and high seas, skipjack prices in Bangkok are expected by many to rise over the coming months, with less supply predicted to reach...
OPAGAC’s Proposal On EU Imports Divides Industry
The proposal from OPAGAC for all EU imports to meet the Spanish government APR standard has created discussion across the tuna sector and many opinions were expressed on the impact this could...
Why The WCPFC Hasn’t Joined Global FAD Talks
Although there is joint RFMO work ongoing regarding inconsistent definitions of FADs and FAD sets, the WCPFC has not joined meetings. The Commission’s Chair explains that so far no agreement...
IN BRIEF: Spanish Processors Network In NYC
Earlier this week, Spanish processing companies participated in the Summer Fancy Food Show held in New York. A number of firms attended and exhibited at the event...
Possible Overshot YF Quota Being Reviewed In Seychelles
Seychelles authorities believe that the country’s purse seine fleet in the IO may have overshot their yellowfin quota last year and are looking into the issue, but it will be difficult to...
New Trend: Non-Profit Organizations Verifying FAD-Free For Retailers
Not for profit organization, OceanMind, is working with Sainsbury’s to “independently analyze and confirm tracks of fishing vessels that supply the retailer with FAD-free tuna”. As well as...
IO Tuna Hub Gets Multi-Million Dollar Expansion
The Seychelles government has held a ceremony to inaugurate a new 425 meter fishing quay at Ile du Port – an artificial island next to Port Victoria. The expansion of the biggest tuna port in...
SIDS Develop “Best Practices” For FAD Fisheries
Officials from the Caribbean and some Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are working alongside the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to develop a set of “best practices”...
Unclear FAD Definition Raises Doubt Over WCPFC Ban
The 2018 WCPFC FAD ban kicked off this weekend, meaning all FAD sets are prohibited in the Western Pacific Ocean for a three to four month period. The measure aims to take pressure off certain...
Cook Islands “Aware Of” FAD Pollution Issue
Cook Islands officials say they are aware of the marine pollution caused by FAD debris, but that there is only so much they can do to reduce the problem, considering that FADs used in their...
Traceability Pilot To Help Filipino Fisheries Access Foreign Markets
USAID Oceans, along with a Philippines-based technology provider, will equip small-scale pole and line Filipino fisheries with transmitters to track their tuna catch. As said by USAID, the...
NZ Money To Help FFA Countries On IUU Battle
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) will pay NZD 4.9 million (USD 3.3 million) towards helping Pacific Island countries to fight illegal fishing. The investment will...