President Rodrigo Duterte has told the Filipino navy to shoot at foreign vessels suspected of illegally fishing in the country’s waters. The government has shown concern towards foreign ships...
Tuna Fishing News
Confident Thailand Gears Up For April EU Inspection
EU officials will visit Thailand next month to again review the efforts made by the government in fighting illegal fishing, and living up to EU regulations. Thai representatives are confident...
Venezuela Gets Domestic Catch To Help Struggling Processors
Around 600 tons of tuna have been landed at the Port of Cumana, Sucre state. This follows an agreement made between boatowners and the national government to aid a struggling processing...
Fiji Govt. Questions Benefit Of Joining PNA
Despite a Fijian politician suggesting the country should explore joining the eight nations of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), a representative from the Ministry of Fisheries tells...
China Cracks Down On Its Own IUU Vessels
The Chinese government has launched a major crackdown regarding domestic fishing companies that are involved in illegal fishing activities in foreign waters. It has been reported 78 firms will...
Mexican Fleet Talks MSC: Has It Replaced Dolphin Safe?
Despite having faced intense criticism over its dolphin-associated practices, the Mexican fleet will continue setting on dolphins, believing it is one of the most ecologically selective...
Spanish Fleet Pumps More Millions Into Worldwide Tuna FIP
The representative group of the Spanish tuna purse seiner fleet will invest an additional EUR 3 million (USD 3.7 million) into its global Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) this year, which...
Chinese Tuna Fishing Firms Slapped With Hefty Fines
The government of Zanzibar has issued TZS 19 billion (USD 8.5 million) worth of fines to tuna vessels for violating their licensing terms. The owning companies, including major Chinese tuna...
MSC Takes Steps On Labor Standards But Admits Complexity
The Marine Stewardship Council has proposed new labor requirements for MSC certified fisheries, part of which it expects to implement in September this year. This comes after holding...
Vietnamese Processors Push Govt To Take Further IUU Action
Vietnamese processors have shown they are determined to have the yellow card warning from the European Commission removed. Many are now urging the government to work with them to review...
MSC Adjudication Big Win To PNA Fishery
After an extensive process and adjudication, the PNA free-school skipjack and yellowfin tuna fishery has again been recommended for MSC recertification, this time by the Independent...
EU IUU Cards Can Be “Direct & Brutal”, But They Work
The green, yellow and red carding system used by the EU in relation to IUU concerns, can be “direct and brutal”, but it works, according to Stefaan Depypere, DG MARE’s Director for...
The End Of The Road For Mozambique’s EMATUM?
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects that Mozambique will not be able to pay back its USD 2 billion debts before 2023. In order to be able to make the payments, IMF recommends that...
Ghana’s Fisheries “In Crisis” As EU Assesses IUU Controls
Ghanaian media reports have described the nation’s fisheries as “in crisis” with illegal fishing rampant and the stocks of small pelagic fish collapsing. This has supposedly resulted in...
WCPFC’s “Weaker” Conservation Measures Come Into Force
The WCPFC “Tropical Tuna Bridging Measure” officially entered into force earlier this month, with all fleets in the region now expected to comply with renewed rules. With the last annual...
Australian Navy Intercepts Tuna Vessel, Suspects IUU
An Indonesian vessel has been seized on the west coast of Australia with over one ton of yellowfin onboard. Investigations are now ongoing to determine whether the tuna was caught illegally,...
Palau Starts Yellowfin Research To Determine Marine Sanctuary Success
The Pacific island of Palau has set out a two-year mission to examine the movement of yellowfin tuna in and around its waters. Palau’s International Coral Reef Center looks to gain an...
Taiwanese-Owned Seiners Remain In Majuro On Unpaid Debt
Three Taiwanese-owned purse seiners are being held in port in Majuro, Marshall Islands. They were detained at the end of last year due to debts caused by their parent company, WeeLee...
Fleet Capacity Another Hurdle For MSC-Hopeful Ecuador
As the bulk of the Ecuadorian tuna purse seine fleet pushes through its MSC pursuit, as well as FAD management being one of the biggest challenges, fleet capacity reduction will be another...
FIPs Need To Be Held Accountable, Says Professor
The sustainability promises made as part of Fishery Improvement Project (FIPs) need to be held accountable by the market, stresses a Professor speaking at the Americas Tuna Conference in...