Tuna Fisheries Status and Management in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean
This report provides a review of our knowledge of the bycatches, defined as
discarded dead, from the tropical tuna purse seine fisheries of the world. The major
fishing grounds involved (eastern and western Pacific, eastern Atlantic, and western
Indian Oceans) share the gear, the ways of fishing, and the structure of the pelagic
communities. Because of that, the species taken in association with tuna schools tend
to be the same in all regions.
Data on tuna catch and by-catch provided to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. Data span the period 2013-2017.
This Tuna Fishery Report Card provides high-level advice on the current status of Pacific tuna fisheries in relation to the goals, indicators and strategies adopted by Forum Leaders in 2015 in the Regional Roadmap for Sustainable Pacific Fisheries. The report card takes into account the work of the Taskforce on Increasing Economic Returns from Fisheries, which was established by the Forum Leaders to develop a programme that will deliver real results within 5 years. Economic indicators now reflect Taskforce-agreed targets.
Tonga fleet longline catch for tuna and other species. Source: Fisheries Department.
Tuna Fishery Report Card 2018
Médieu A., Point D., Allain V., Lorrain A. 2022. Quand les thons permettent de cartographier la contamination au mercure dans l’océan. Lettre d'information sur les pêches de la CPS 166:50–56.
Nicol S. 2014. Oceanographic characterisation of the Pacific Ocean and potential impact of climate variability on tuna stocks and their fisheries. Noumea, New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community. 10 p.
Ducharme-Barth N. 2022. What is CPUE standardisation and why is it important for stock assessments? SPC Fisheries Newsletter 166:45–49.
Machful P., Portal A., Macdonald J., Allain V., Scutt Phillips J., Nicol S. 2022. Tuna stomachs: Is the glass half full, or half empty? SPC Fisheries Newsletter 166:38–44.
Médieu A., Point D., Allain V., Lorrain A. 2022. Tuna help to map mercury pollution in the ocean. SPC Fisheries Newsletter 166:50–55.
Anon. 2011. Fiches techniques d'information sur les thonidés. 2: Le germon. Honiara, Îles Salomon: Agence des pêches du Forum, et Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie: Secrétariat général de la Communauté du Pacifique. 2 p.
Anon. [s.d.]. Tuna in the Western Pacific: caring for resource beyond the year 2000. Noumea, New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Oceanic Fisheries Programme. 1 leaflet.
Anon. 2000. Tuna and other pelagic fisheries in the Cook Islands.
Matsumoto T., Okamoto H. 2008. Overview of Japanese tagging project on tropical tunas in the temperate area of Japanese water [BI WP5]. [Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia]: Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). Scientific Committee Regular Session, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 11-22 August 2008, 4th. 8 p.
Secretariat of the Pacific Community. 2013. Offshore fish identification cards. Noumea, New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community. No paging
Catch of main target species of tuna in the FSM EEZ.
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) was established by the Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPF Convention) which entered into force on 19 June 2004.
Data herein presents annual catch estimates specifically for FSM as a member country of the commission according to WCPFC Statistical Area from 1991 - 2016.
Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency 2019
Publication - Tuna Fisheries Assessment Report. No. 20