Global non-profit Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) recently kicked off a five-year initiative, the GoTFish Project, aimed at improving the sustainability and management of tuna and other fisheries in the Gulf of Thailand (GoT), “one of the world’s most productive but increasingly overexploited marine ecosystems,” read a SFP press release.

Strengthening regional transboundary fisheries governance and institutional capacity, aligning the market to support sustainable tuna and other fisheries, and conserving critical aquatic habitats through the identification of ecological corridors are some of the main components of the initiative. Enhancing stakeholder engagement, communication, and monitoring to ensure inclusive participation and effective knowledge sharing is also included. Pedro Ferreiro, an SFP spokesperson, said that the Gulf of Thailand is reaching a critical crossroads. With GoTFish, the organization is mobilizing the private sector to turn global seafood demand into a force for recovery. “This project shows that when markets support responsible practices, the improvements can be deep and long-lasting.” According to an FAO report, longtail tuna, kawakawa, and frigate tuna are the most commonly found tuna in the Gulf of Thailand. Yellowfin are also occasionally caught in smaller quantities in this area.

Chinese tuna fishing company Shanghai Kaichuang has purchased a new purse seiner, ‘Junmeto,’ that will operate in the WCPO. Marshall Islands-based Pan Pacific Fishing (RMI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shanghai Kaichuang, has been registered as the owner of ‘Junmeto,’ built in China this year.

‘Junmeto’ is a 79-meter-long seiner, with a 1,977 GRT and 1,100 M/T fish hold capacity, according to the WCPFC vessel registry. It is authorized to fish as of January 1, 2026, and will fly the Marshall Islands flag. Pan Pacific Fishing (RMI) has a plant in Majuro that processes tuna loins and other fish products. The catches of ‘Junmeto’ will head to this plant. Earlier this year, Shanghai Kaichuang announced that it would scrap two of its seiners and build new ones, and the order was given to state-owned Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding. They said the vessels are expected to be delivered in March and April 2027.

The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) concluded last week with discussions focused on whether commercial fishing can be allowed in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Rose Atoll, Marianas Trench, and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monuments in the tuna-rich Pacific Ocean. The SSC stressed that any restoration should be paired with immediate monitoring and research. Members said managers should not be forced to make future choices without the data needed to measure impacts, read a WPRFMC statement.

According to the SSC, tagging/telemetry (an automated process of collecting, transmitting, and analyzing data from remote or inaccessible sources) approaches, and co-designing research with fishing and indigenous communities, would be ideal for better understanding how fish move in and around the monument waters, and ultimately, for understanding tuna in the region. The Council stated that it will address tuna fishing in MPAs in several agenda items. Earlier this year, the Council gave the green signal for tuna fishing in MPAs. However, according to a Honolulu federal district court judge’s ruling in August, vessels are not allowed to operate in these areas immediately despite US President Donald Trump having signed a proclamation in April allowing US tuna and other vessels to fish in the areas.