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...
Tuna Fishing News
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...
Seiner Switch Shrinks Bangkok Supply
The cost of fishing in the Western Pacific is still keeping some US seiners in the EPO region, meaning that the competition felt by other major fleets last year, could continue throughout...
PNA’s Tuna Hub Gets Big Expansion
The world’s main tuna transshipment port in the Marshall Islands’ capital of Majuro, has seen the opening of a new dock and net repair facility, which cements the port’s role as a hub for the...
Should Seychelles Fall In Line With IO Catch Reduction?
Threatening non-compliance with a yellowfin catch cut implemented in the Indian Ocean has put attention on the Seychelles’ activity in the region. Officials within the nation’s government do...
Yellowfin Catch Cuts Will Cause “Big Trouble”
Yet to implement measures to make sure its purse seine fleet complies with a yellowfin catch reduction in the Indian Ocean, Seychelles officials are now underlining the economic impact that...
Chinese Vessels Main Offenders In Pacific IUU Sweep
A surveillance sweep conducted to monitor IUU fishing in the Pacific ended last week, and the majority of breaches identified were from Chinese-flagged vessels, which included not using a...
“Ineffective Management A Threat To Pacific Fisheries”
More needs to be done to ensure the sustainability of Pacific fisheries, to guarantee maintainable stocks and food safety in the region. These were arguments given at The Pacific Community’s...
TU Faces Pet Food Supply Pressure
Pet food giants Mars and Nestlé have committed to take action against transshipment at sea, and their announcements have led to more pressure being put on Thai Union, one of their main...
MSC Wants More Credible FIPs
With MSC looking to use stakeholder feedback to reshape the way that Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) are governed, there is the suggestion that things aren’t working as they should. The...
Catching Method Crucial In Whole Foods’ Tuna Sourcing
Strict requirements on catching methods are the core of a new sustainable canned tuna sourcing policy announced by US retailer Whole Foods Market. By January 2018, all canned tuna sold...
TU Trials Digital Traceability To Eliminate IUU
Thai Union has launched a pilot program for digital traceability in Thai fisheries, as part of its SeaChange sustainability strategy. The group states the system can help battle IUU, and...
MSC Opens Standards Up To Scrutiny
The MSC has opened up six areas of its program for public consultation, some of which are key for the credibility of the certification body, in what it is calling the launch of its “2017...
Peru Pulls Foreign Seiners In
A further attempt has been made to entice foreign vessels into Peruvian waters, with the national government reducing the fee paid for licenses for those that catch tuna. It's estimated that...
Premium MSC Price Crucial For US Industry
The premium price paid for MSC certified raw material tuna is critically important for the viability of the American Samoa US-flagged longline fishery, but also for domestic canned tuna...
Tuna “Grab Bag” Saves Crew
The importance of safety equipment within tuna fisheries has been highlighted, with the role a "grab bag" has played in the rescue of two fishermen found at sea, in the waters of the Pacific...
Chinese Invest In IO Tuna Hub
A Chinese firm is investing CNY 3 billion (USD 434 million) to build a tuna terminal in Malaysia, designed for the landing and processing of whole round fish, with the potential of giving a...