Pacific island nations made significant compromises to reach consensus in the latest WCPFC annual meeting, and need to be careful not to lose some of their “hard-won tuna gains”, stresses...
Fishing
“Purse Seine Fisheries Can Become MSC Certified, Despite Policy”
Despite concern regarding the new MSC policy on mixed fisheries, the majority of Atuna readers believe MSC certification for tuna purse seine fisheries can still be achieved. We asked Atuna...
Just 15% Of Fresh & Frozen Tuna “Sustainable” Or “Improving”
A modest 15 percent of the fresh and frozen global tuna supply comes from a “sustainable” or “improving” fishery, according to a new report by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP). To...
US Tuna Fund To Boost Fiji’s Domestic Industry
The Fijian government will spend FJD 1 million (USD 501,650) to develop its fisheries, including expanding its fish storage around the island and purchasing solar powered refrigeration. The...
Can EPO Tuna Fisheries Become Fully Sustainable?
Ensuring the sustainability of tuna fisheries in the Eastern Pacific is one of the crucial issues that will be deliberated at the Americas Tuna Conference in Panama later this month. Guillermo...
Iron Lady Backtracks On Trawling Ban After Protests
While Indonesia’s Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti initially planned an outright ban on trawling in Indonesia’s tuna-rich waters from the beginning of this year, she has now eased the...
MSC Defends Standard After Claims Of “Unacceptable Impacts”
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has defended its certification standards after 66 groups signed a letter urging the organization to address the “unacceptable impacts” of some MSC...
India Develops More “Sustainable” Tuna Fleet With 16 New Vessels
The Indian government plans to build 16 tuna longliners and gillnetting vessels in order to stop fishermen from the “damaging practice of trawling”. This will be the first time Cochin...
La Niña Strengthens: Good Or Bad News For EPO Catch?
La Niña conditions continued throughout the past month and are now strengthening, expected to stick around until spring. In the past the cooling of the ocean surface across the equatorial...
OVERVIEW: 2018’s Expected Tuna Bans & Closures
In an era of increasing implementation of conservation measures across the world’s tuna catching grounds, every regulation will have an impact on supply, as they work to reduce catches and...
Dutch Tuna Newcomers Profit Big From Fleet Purchase
The purchase of CFTO’s extensive tuna purse seine fleet has paid off well for Dutch tuna industry newcomers, Parlevliet & Van der Plas (P&P), with the company reporting a 10 percent...
Panofi Seiner Released, Innocent Passage Proven
A Panofi owned Ghanaian purse seiner that was detained by the Liberian Coastguard on January 14th was released 4 days later, when it was proven that the vessel was on “innocent passage”...
How Your Tuna Business Will Change In 2018
Major changes are set for the global tuna industry this year, with the power to significantly impact the way you do business. Shifts in trade, sustainability and regulations could all be on...
Thailand Hits Back At Human Rights Abuse Allegations
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry has hit back at claims from a recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, which stated that human rights abuses are still widespread in the Thai fishing industry. A...
Fisherman Dies After Serious Injuries On Spanish Seiner
A fisherman working for the Spanish tuna firm, Atunsa, has died three days after a work-related incident on the high seas. The Ghanaian man, Yao Amevedzi, was working aboard the seiner...
Mixed Tuna Fishery Parties Quiet But Confident On MSC Changes
The recent major changes to the MSC fisheries standard has put some tuna fisheries in the spotlight, forcing them to ensure their FAD operations also meet MSC sustainability levels, within the...
Vietnam’s 2025 IUU Deadline: Too Long-Term For EU?
A national action plan for Vietnam to fight IUU fishing has been approved by the country’s Prime Minister, but with a rather long-term 2025 deadline attached. It is likely the EU will demand...
MSC Sets Agenda For Change After London Pressure
The MSC has announced an agenda for various changes it will be making in regards to its entire fishery standard, assurance model and its Chain of Custody requirements. While WWF International...
Japan’s Fleet Told To Stop Catching Juvenile Bluefin
Japanese fishermen have been told to refrain from catching juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna as the country’s fleet becomes exceedingly close to exhausting its catch quota. The Asian nation...
RFMOs And Flag States “Not Enforcing Observer Safety Measures”
The President of the Association for Professional Observers (APO) tells Atuna the observer safety measures imposed by the tuna RFMO, WCPFC, are not being properly enforced. It has...