2018’s 2nd Half: Upcoming Purse Seine Bans & Closures

Even though it is nearly half way through the year, most tuna purse seine closures and FAD bans are still to come, with many wondering what the impact on supply and prices will be this time around.

Atuna has taken a look at the remaining months of the year, and the planned regulations RFMOs have in place regarding tuna purse seine fisheries. In the WCPO, accounting for the biggest chunk of global catch, the EEZ FAD ban will soon come into action, as well as several months of the high seas FAD ban, a relatively new measure that will last five months in total this year. In the EPO, purse seine closures, split in Session A and Session B, are fast approaching for the fleet.

Although no closures or bans are set for the IO purse seine fleet across the year, they have had stricter regulations to follow throughout the full 12 months, with not only yellowfin quotas continuing, but also supply vessel reductions. Seiners in the Atlantic Ocean are less restricted in the latter months of the year, having already had their FAD ban in January and February.

All conservation measures can have a substantial impact on supply and therefore global tuna prices, as ultimately they reduce landings in the major catching regions. How strongly the industry will see these effects this time around is yet to be seen.