Despite coming under intense scrutiny ahead of this week’s WCPFC meeting, the Northern Committee has decided against recommending a new limit for fishing of the northern Pacific bluefin. In...
News
Tri Marine Plant To Close Next Week
Tri Marine’s American Samoa tuna processing plant is planned to close indefinitely next week, which will see the loss of hundreds of jobs in the territory. A Tri Marine representative told...
WWF Leaked Report Sparks Greenpeace Charge At MSC
Following the leak of a report from WWF, which brings the credibility of MSC certification into the spotlight, strongly questioning its practices, Greenpeace France has taken the chance to...
Guilty Plea On Price Fixing: Massive Consequences?
The first formal action has been taken in over a year-long US government probe into canned tuna price fixing on the national market, which sees a senior executive of one of the leading tuna...
United Nations Confirms World Tuna Day
The United Nations General Assembly has voted with no objection to ratify World Tuna Day, which will now be established as a globally-recognized event, celebrated annually on May 2nd. First...
NEWS ALERT: US Tuna Exec Pleads Guilty To Price Fixing
A Bumble Bee Foods senior executive has agreed to plead guilty for his role in fixing prices of canned tuna on the US market; the first formal action taken in an ongoing joint criminal...
US Congress Pushed To Change Foreign Crew Law
US Congress has been urged to change immigration law in order to improve the conditions for the foreign fishermen that work within Hawaii’s tuna longline fleet, after speakers at a...
Multi-Million $ Magnifying Glass On East Asia
New Zealand has agreed a financial package that will fund a project aimed at improving the transparency of tuna monitoring in the Western Pacific and East Asia. There is motivation to increase...
Return To Profit Drives Sapmer Share Surge
A return to profitability has spurred a sharp strengthening in investor confidence, as Sapmer’s stock climbs to two year highs, driven by a bullish hike in mid-October. In just nine days,...
“WCPFC Needs To Live Up To Mandate”
New approaches are being taken to try and persuade the WCPFC to make a change and live up to its mandate, with strong concerns that it will fail this year to take necessary steps to protect...
EU/Cook Islands 7000 Ton Deal: FINALIZED
The EU has announced that the debated purse seiner deal with the Cook Islands has now been finalized, giving the Union a stronger foothold in the Pacific region. All elements of the...
Vietnam Wants Hotline On Pirate “Blue Boats”
In response to reports that “blue boats” from Vietnam are illegally fishing in Pacific island waters, the Asian nation has suggested the establishment of a hotline between parties, so that...
WATCH: Tuna Tagging Surgery Performed
Tuna tagging is a vital component of wider conservation efforts, and a method that is gaining pace in order to keep a close eye on crucial species. Without the technique, the understanding...
“Disproportionate Burden” Strong Theme Of First Days
Concern is being aired that developed countries are making proposals without the consultation of smaller developing states, which Pacific island nations believe causes disproportionate burden....
Vanuatu Longliner Avoids IUU Blacklist
A Vanuatu-flagged tuna longliner accused of IUU fishing in the Cooks Islands’ EEZ has escaped a potential WCPFC blacklisting after the owner agreed to pay a fine. The alleged incursion of the...
An End To “Inadequate” Management Measures?
The annual WCPFC meeting is taking place in Fiji this week, and the protection of declining tuna stocks and sustainable fishing are high up on the list of topics that NGOs and the Commission...
PREDICTION: WCPFC Will Fail To Adopt HCRs
We would like to have your view this week on the following prediction: WCPFC WILL AGAIN FAIL TO ADOPT HCRs Let us know how you feel about the topic and have your say the next time you visit...
Where Did Lower Effort Leave WCPO Purse Seine Catch?
After three years of climbing, the total purse seine tuna catch in the WCPO dropped substantially in 2015, down to the fifth highest result on record. A significant reduction in effort is the...
94% Of Atuna Readers: Stricter Sanctions Needed
Last week we wanted to know your opinion on the current sanctions that are in place for violating fleets, asking in our latest poll if you agreed or disagreed with the following standpoint:...
SKJ Price: Shift In The Post-FAD Ban Trend
The usual trend in the Bangkok skipjack price following the WCPO FAD ban has not prevailed, as the market remains steady for now. The general market mood is that this is a satisfactory level...