The Japanese Fisheries Agency will go ahead with issuing penalties to Japanese bluefin tuna fishermen if they violate catch quotas, as part of new regulations coming into action in the new...
News
Hong Kong To Become Center Of TU’s Chinese Ambitions
As part of its ambition to more strongly target the Chinese market, Thai Union has established a wholly owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, focused on increasing sales of frozen, chilled and...
PNA Clashes With Fishing States On WCPFC Decisions
The PNA has noted mixed opinions on the outcomes of the recent WCPFC annual meeting, which took place in December 2017, and says the most disappointing result is the revision of the tropical...
TU: All Suppliers Must Sign New Vessel Code Of Conduct
Thai Union will now require all vessels it sources from, including a large number of tuna boats, to live up to the standards of a new Vessel Code of Conduct (VCoC) and implement a Vessel...
StarKist’s Environmental Fine Increased To USD 6.5 Million
StarKist will now face a revised USD 6.5 million fine for its alleged federal environmental violations at its tuna processing plant in American Samoa. In addition to its previously agreed...
US Retailer Catches Up On “Complex” Canned Tuna Sourcing
US retail chain, Hy-Vee, has announced that all of its private label shelf-stable tuna products are now responsibly sourced, seeing this “complex” segment catch up with other seafood lines...
One Of Toughest Years For Thai Tuna Exports Yet
Last year was one of the toughest for Thai tuna exporters, with short supply and a strong baht currency making products less competitive, states Thai Tuna Industry Association (TTIA)...
Maldives P&L Withdraws Yellowfin MSC Certificate
The Maldives pole and line fishery has officially withdrawn its yellowfin MSC certificate, which was suspended in 2016. The move means that there is no attempt to regain the sustainable...
ATUNA: End Year Break From Dec 25th Through Jan 1st
The ATUNA team would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, with all the best wishes for 2018! During the festive period we are taking a short break, and our offices will be...
Crew Given Hefty Fines For Misreporting Bluefin Catch
The captain and operator of a Portuguese longliner that attempted to pass off illegal bluefin catch as bigeye earlier this year have been given substantial penalties by the courts. Vila...
China Takes Action Against Illegal Vessels In EPO
Chinese fisheries authorities have launched a pilot inspection project for the nation’s own-flagged vessels fishing in the waters of Ecuador and Peru. The Ecuadorian tuna sector has expressed...
“Deflationary Pressures” Hit UK Importer’s Top Profits
UK tuna importing firm, Lovering Foods, has witnessed a notable profit drop for the latest financial year. In 2015 the firm was named on the Sunday Times Profit Track 100 list, branding it one...
US Seiners Continue To Ocean Switch, Practice Here To Stay?
Last year, several US seiners were known to partake in the legitimate practice of “ocean switching”. Registered to both the WCPFC and IATTC, there was one company in particular that was...
Poor Bigeye Supply Causes Drop In Japan’s Sashimi Stock
This year’s supply of tuna sashimi in Japan, the most popular form of tuna in the country, is predicted to sink to the lowest volumes since 2011. A decline in bigeye catches by Japanese...
Thai Govt. Aids Fishermen After Yellow Card Impacts
The Thai government is reaching out with new relief measures to support fishermen who have been affected by recent changes in their industry, which have been introduced as part of efforts...
High Seas FAD Ban Hits US Fleet’s Thai Deliveries
Deliveries of whole round tuna to Bangkok from the US flagged purse seine fleet have dropped notably compared to last year, despite earlier in 2017 showing much stronger landings from these...
Ecuadorian Vessel Found With Illegal Catch In Galapagos
An Ecuadorian fishing vessel was discovered with illegally caught albacore tuna onboard, as well as sharks, in the no fishing zone within the waters of Galapagos Islands, a territory of...
No Tax Credit For StarKist Samoa, Mixed Messages On Impact
The final US tax reform bill for 2018 has left out the American Samoa tax credit plan but Trump’s ‘pro-business’ administration has introduced overall reductions in corporate tax rates. Thus,...
US Fraud/IUU Rules Start With Relaxed Enforcement
Tuna buyers in the US market are getting ready for the implementation of the government’s Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), which will come into force in under two weeks. However, the...
Iron Lady Wants Money Laundering Charges Imposed On IUU Offenders
The Indonesian government has requested the United Nations to allow global governments to pursue money-laundering charges against IUU perpetrators. Known as taking a strict stance on illegal...