Albacore tuna

Albacore tuna in the south Pacific Ocean is not overfished and not subject to overfishing.There are two stocks of albacore tuna in the Pacific Ocean: North and South. This rating covers South Pacific albacore.South Pacific albacore is assessed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and jointly managed by the Western and Central Pacific Fishery Commission (WCPFC) and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). The last stock assessment was carried out in 2024, using data up to 2022.Catches of this stock increased from around 25,000 tonnes in 1960 to peak at over 90,000t in 2017. They averaged 76,000t in 2020-2024.Spawning biomass (SB) declined from around 90% of unfished levels in 1960 to 60% in 2015, then sharply dropped. The 2019-2022 value is 48%. This is above the limit reference point (LRP) of 20%, but below the interim target level of 50%. However, this target is based on achieving a certain catch per unit of fishing effort, rather than achieving a certain biomass level. The stock is around 3 times the level associated with Maximum Sustainable Yield (SB MSY = 101,100 tonnes). As the stock is above the LRP, the assessment has concluded that it is not in an overfished state.Fishing mortality (F) has continuously increased, with a steep increase from 5% of FMSY in 2000 to 18% for 2018-2021. As F is below the MSY level, the stock is not subject to overfishing.The figures used in the stock assessment are the median values from the most recent years (2019-2022 for biomass and 2018-2021 for fishing mortality).

Few appropriate management measures are in place. The management measures that do exist only cover part of the fishery. The stock is projected to decline if recent catch levels are maintained. Observer coverage in fisheries targeting albacore is too low and needs to be improved.Tuna, marlin, and swordfish are highly migratory species, found on the high seas and in numerous countries' waters. This makes harmonised and effective management challenging. Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) are responsible for monitoring and managing these stocks on behalf of the countries that access them. However, the degree to which management is implemented, monitored and enforced by each country varies significantly.South Pacific albacore is assessed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and jointly managed by the Western and Central Pacific Fishery Commission (WCPFC) and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). The impact of fisheries in the WCPFC area (85% of catches) on south Pacific albacore tuna are far greater than that of fisheries in the IATTC area, and so management measures by WCPFC are considered to be of greater importance. However, management must be comparable and properly implemented across the entire range of the stock in order for it to be effective. The IATTC and WCPFC endeavour to work together to promote compatibility between their respective conservation and management measures across the Pacific. However, this is not always achieved.Recent assessments of south Pacific albacore had covered the western Pacific Ocean only, leaving the eastern part of the stock effectively un-assessed. However, the 2021 assessment was expanded to include the entire south Pacific. This is a significant improvement in providing an accurate evidence base for management decisions.There are no catch limits for this stock. The IATTC has no specific management measures for south Pacific albacore, leaving the eastern part of the fishery (15% of catches) unregulated. The WCPFC has frozen fishing effort to 2000-2004 levels in the area south of 20 degrees S. However, the albacore stock is experiencing the highest depletion rates north of this area, where no management applies.The WCPFC is reviewing management and developing catch limits and harvest strategies in 2022, and has noted the urgency of completing this work. Until a new measure is in place it has 'encouraged' countries to limit catch or effort to recent years. However, projections indicate that the stock will decline if recent catches or effort are maintained. Therefore, management is not protecting the stock from overexploitation.Monitoring of the fisheries is not high enough for some fleets. Both RFMOs have 100% observer coverage on large purse seiners (for WCPFC this is on the high seas, or on vessels fishing in multiple countries' waters, or all vessels fishing between 20N and 20S). Only 5% observer coverage is required on large longliners, considered too low for accurate data: a minimum of 20% coverage is recommended. In addition, data recorded by longliners in the IATTC area is considered inadequate for scientific purposes and minimum data standards must be identified and introduced.To help address illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, WCPFC and IATTC maintain an IUU Vessel List; a register of authorised large longliners; and prohibit transhipments at sea for large purse seiners, and most other transhipments must be documented and observed as part of the regional observer programme. Countries are required to report annually on monitoring, control and compliance of management measures.

Some south Pacific albacore tuna are caught by trolling. This is a low-impact method of fishing.Around 4% of south Pacific albacore catches are by troll fisheries. This method of fishing targets fish at the surface, and so rarely touches the seabed and doesn't have habitat impacts. It is labour-intensive and very selective, but there can be some instances of seabird bycatch.Trolling involves a number of fishing lines, attached to large poles or rods at the back of a boat, being slowly towed along near the surface. Artificial bait or lures can be used. Handlining and trolling can have small amounts of shark bycatch, although the main gears of concern for sharks are gillnet and longlines.Mandatory observer coverage is very low, at just 5%. In general, 20% is scientifically recommended to ensure adequate monitoring of catch and bycatch.