Venezuelan-flagged seiner ‘Orinoco II’ recently unloaded 550 tons of EPO caught tuna in Sucre port, supplying local canneries and the domestic market. The shipment follows the August 2025 restart of tuna landings from the Eastern Pacific, with the ‘Cayo Crasquí’ being the first fishing vessel from the region to enter a Venezuelan port in more than a decade. Since then, four vessels have docked at national ports landing a total of 3,121 tons of tuna, reported Venezuelan news sites.

Earlier this year, the Venezuelan government asserted that it has begun work to strengthen its tuna industry, focusing on Cumaná, the capital of Sucre. Cumaná is home to tuna fishing boats and tuna canneries, including Avecaisa (AVECAISA) and Propisca, among others.

Japan secured a 25 percent increase in its Pacific bluefin quota for fish weighing at least 30 kg at the recently held RFMO meeting. Mexico, which had previously opposed the increase, agreed to the hike following bilateral talks with Japan.

At the Eleventh Joint IATTC-NC Working Group Meeting on PBF Management—Second Session, held on August 18, an agreement was made allowing Japan to increase its bluefin quota from 11,869 tons to 14,836 tons in 2027 and 2028. The quota for fish weighing less than 30 kg will be cut by about six percent to 4,823 tons, according to Japanese news sites. At the IATTC-WCPFC first session held in July, Japan’s request for an increased quota was not granted. At that time, the Japanese Fisheries Agency stated that an agreement could not be reached “because of the unreasonable actions of one country [Mexico] and we are feeling outraged.” The Agency did not reveal why Mexico opposed Japan’s request.

Taiwanese-flagged purse seiner ‘Jih Yu No. 868’ sank in the South Pacific after catching fire on August 8, which resulted in the sinking of the vessel two days later. All 32 crew members were safely rescued, with no casualties or environmental pollution reported, according to the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB). It has appointed a task force to investigate the incident and classified the accident as a major marine occurrence under Taiwan’s Transportation Occurrence Investigation Act.

‘Jih Yu No.868’ is owned by Kaohsiung-based Chern Lung Fishery Co. Ltd. The 70-meter-long seiner had a 1,484 gross tonnage and 1,657 cubic meters fish hold capacity.