Catch of yellowfin tuna in the Cook Islands EEZ is now eligible for MSC certification, after the species was added under the accreditation that previously included only albacore. This is for...
Fishing
Seychelles Faced With Strong Message To Comply
Despite arguing that it will be disproportionately affected by the proposed cut in Indian Ocean yellowfin catch, and suggesting it may boycott the measure as it stands, the Seychelles...
Strategic Shifts Pay Off Big For Sapmer
Announcing its 2016 profit results, French fishing firm Sapmer states that its solid return to positive figures has been driven by strategic shifts within the company, and a recovery of tuna...
IO Nations Urged To Take More Control Of Stocks
Encouraging Indian Ocean member states to implement stronger management plans for their tuna fisheries was the main focus of a workshop held in Sri Lanka last week. As catch cuts for yellowfin...
Suspected IUU Seiner Causes Social Media Storm
A vessel accused of fishing illegally for tuna in a protected area in Mexican waters has created a social media storm, as users have been demanding authorities to take action. Officials...
Iron Lady Sounds Alarm On Human Trafficking
With the backing of her central government, Indonesia’s Fisheries Minister, Susi Pudjiastuti, is seeking to cultivate international consensus on fighting IUU fishing, by linking it to the...
US Fleet Buys Extra Fishing Days In Cook’s EEZ
The US tuna purse seine fleet has secured a package of 100 fishing days in Pacific island waters, striking a deal with the Cook Islands’ government for access to its zone. It has been stated...
Concern Over Low WCPO Catch Rising
A return to near-average ocean temperatures in the Western Pacific has led to a situation of lower catch rates, a partly filled supply pipeline, and less carrier vessels heading to Bangkok;...
US Fleet Presses For Bigger Domestic Fishing Grounds
An extension of US fishing grounds in domestic waters around the Pacific islands is being called for by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Wespac), which wants to ease...
Cook Islanders Push For Total FAD Ban
The Cook Islands’ government has agreed to establish a 50 nautical mile exclusion zone, which will guard against foreign commercial fishing and seabed mining in part of the nation’s EEZ. It...
Taiwan Prosecutes To Prove Battle Against IUU
Taiwan is illustrating its serious stance against IUU fishing, and with the help of a newly installed monitoring system, is slapping a hefty fine on a domestic-flagged tuna longliner, caught...
FAD & Free-School Mixture Disputed In Echebastar MSC
Initial stakeholder comments published on the pilot MSC assessment of Spanish firm Echesbastar, reveal some very differing opinions on the pursuit for sustainable certification for both...
WTPO: US Fleet Ocean Switching Fully Legit
The switching of US-flagged seiners between the Eastern and Western Pacific is a legitimate way for fleets to ensure their economic survival, and is not an issue in terms of conservation, says...
Sharp Slump In Korean Supply To Bangkok
After nearly doubling its whole round tuna deliveries to Bangkok in 2015, the South Korean fleet hasn’t managed to keep up the full extent of the strength, seeing tonnages slip considerably...
Spanish Fleet Demands Punishment For Law Breakers
The Spanish tuna purse seine fleet is urging RFMOs to take more direct control in order to eradicate IUU fishing. Its representatives argue that many offences go without sanctions, leading to...
Thai Human Traffickers Hit With Long Jail Sentence
Six individuals in Thailand have been sentenced to 14 years in jail for the trafficking of migrant workers, showing that the efforts to eradicate labor abuse and slavery in the Thai fishing...
Strong Free-School Demand Reduces Supply To BKK
A notable slump was seen in deliveries of whole round tuna from several major fleets to Thai packers last year, with US-flagged vessels being a big part of this. One US boatowner states that...
Heavy Fines Deter Pacific IUU Offenders
Major fines and consistent monitoring and surveillance has caused a decline in IUU vessels fishing in the Pacific, states the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). This is positive news for a region...
Strict Domestic Landing Obligation For Costa Rican Waters
Costa Rican fisheries regulator INCOPESCA will limit permits for vessels fishing for tuna in its EEZ this year; a temporary measure which is part of a new ruling aimed at gaining more control...
US Longliners Denied Access To Own Territory
A year-long legal battle has drawn to an end, with the US Federal Court ruling that large tuna longliners flagged to the United States are not permitted access to American Samoa’s protected...