The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) on Monday updated its Status of World Fisheries for Tuna report.
Initially released in July 2009 detailing the status of the world’s global tuna stocks, the report’s latest edition includes the most recent science from the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Scientific Committee.
According to the report, skipjack tuna catches increased 10 percent, to 1.79 million metric tons, in 2009. The stock remains healthy, meaning it is not being overfished and is not in an overfished state.
Bigeye tuna catches declined 8 percent, to 118,600 metric tons, last year. Though the stock continues to experience overfishing, it is not in an overfished state, said the report.
Yellowfin tuna was not assessed, but the WCPFC Scientific Committee noted that the overall stock can’t support an increase in fishing pressure.
“Increases in purse seine fishing effort are likely to yield only modest gains in skipjack catches and may increase fishing mortality for bigeye and yellowfin tunas,” said the ISSF. “The management of total fishing effort in the WCPO region should take this into consideration.”
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