Skipjack tuna

Skipjack tuna in the Indian Ocean is not overfished and not subject to overfishing.This stock is managed and assessed by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). Indian Ocean skipjack has been caught since the 1950s. Catches peaked at over 600,000 tonnes in 2006, dropped to around 350,000 t in 2012 and in recent years have increased again to around 600,000t. The last stock assessment was carried out in 2023, using data up to 2022. The next stock assessment is expected in 2026.The dramatic fluctuations in catches correspond with significant drops in spawning biomass (SB). SB is estimated to have dropped from very high levels in the 1980s to below target levels (SB40%, 40% of unfished biomass) in the early 2010s. It has since recovered. In 2022, biomass was 53% of unfished levels and 230% of SBMSY. Therefore, the stock is not in an overfished state.The target for fishing mortality is the level consistent with keeping biomass at the target level (F40%SSB). F has continuously increased, but is below the target. In 2022, F was 55% of the target level and 48% of FMSY. Therefore, the stock is not subject to overfishing.There are no projections for how the stock will change in the coming years. However, catch in 2022 was 666,408t - the highest on record and substantially above the estimated Maximum Sustainable Yield of 584,774t as well as the catch limit of 513,572t. Scientists consider it likely that these recent catches have been sustained by favourable environmental conditions, but those conditions are predicted to become less favourable. It will be important therefore that future catches remain within the limits, and that environmental indicators are closely monitored to understand the potential impacts on the stock.

Some appropriate management measures are in place for certified Indian Ocean skipjack tuna. Certified fisheries are required to meet strict monitoring and reporting requirements that result in better management, although some improvements are still needed.There are currently four MSC certifications that apply to Indian Ocean skipjack tuna (CFTO, Echebastar, AGAC, and Maldives pole & line), amounting to around 50% of the total catch. These fleets are taking a number of actions in addition to IOTC requirements, including working towards 100% observer coverage, supporting scientific research, and management plans. The certifications are conditional on improvements by IOTC in managing overfishing and implementing harvest control rules. Information on management of the wider fishery is below.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.Indian Ocean skipjack tuna is managed and assessed by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). The main management measure is a Harvest Control Rule (HCR), which has been in place since 2017. It has a target of maintaining the stock at or above 40% of unfished levels. There is also a limit reference point, at which additional management measures would be expected, set at 20% of unfished levels. If the stock reaches 10% of unfished levels, fishing should cease. Catch limits are calculated using the HCR and data from stock assessments, carried out every 3 years. Management measures therefore appear to be based on scientific advice.However, management is very poorly monitored and enforced. Catch limits do not appear to be split between countries, so there is no agreement on how they should be allocated. The catch limit for 2021-2023 was 513,572 t. Catches substantially exceeded it, averaging 597,588t for those three years. The new limit for 2024-2026 is 628,605t. This is higher than the previous limit because the stock has remained productive thanks to favourable environmental conditions. However, those conditions are predicted to become less favourable. Catch in 2022 was 666,408t - the highest on record and well above the new catch limit.The scientific committee recommends that future catches remain within the limits, especially as fishing effort for skipjack may also have consequences for bigeye and yellowfin stocks, and that environmental indicators are closely monitored to understand the potential impacts on the stock.As well as catch limits, there are limits and reductions on the capacity of the fishing fleet. This mainly applies to the purse seine fleet, which accounts for around 50% of catches. The number of supply vessels, which increase fishing capacity of purse seiners, should be reduced. FADs, which attract tuna and increase catches, have also been reduced, from 550 per vessel in 2015 to 300 from 2019 onwards. Countries that use FADs must report regularly to the Commission and submit FAD management plans outlining how they will minimise mortality of juvenile yellowfin and bigeye tuna and vulnerable non-target species such as sharks, turtles and rays.As of January 2024, countries are encouraged to stop fishing for tropical tunas for a 31-day period (dates TBC), or implement voluntary catch reductions for yellowfin. These measures are not mandatory and therefore do not influence management scoring for this rating.There is a freeze on the capacity of the fishing fleet to 2003 levels, to prevent the fleet from growing. This legislation is very generic, applying across all fleets, and would be better replaced by spatial and temporal closures and quota allocation. There also appear to be concerns that the freeze has not been well enforced thus far.Monitoring and compliance with management measures in the IOTC region is generally poor. Some countries repeatedly fail to report catch data to the commission. Since 2018, IOTC has introduced several measures aimed at improving reporting on catch and bycatch, including prohibiting a country from retaining a species if they fail to report catches for it. However, the scientific committee continues to record issues with data reporting. Mandatory observer coverage is very low, at just 5% for all vessels over 24m or under 24m and fishing outside of their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). A number of countries fail to meet the 5% threshold. In general, 20% is scientifically recommended to ensure adequate monitoring of catch and bycatch. In 2019 a proposal was put forward to increase coverage to at least 20%, but consensus could not be reached.Other IOTC conservation and management measures of note include:To help address Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported fishing (IUU), the IOTC maintains an active vessel register and an IUU Vessel List. In 2021, all transhipments at sea were banned, except for large scale tuna longliners, which must be pre-approved, monitored by an observer and the vessel uses a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS).In 2012 IOTC banned the use of driftnets on the high seas. In 2022 this was extended to the entire IOTC area (i.e. including countries' EEZs).Using aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles as fishing aids, which significantly contribute to fishing effort by helping to detect fish, is banned.Using artificial lights to attract tuna and tuna-like species beyond territorial waters is banned.

Some skipjack tuna in the Indian Ocean are caught by pole & line. This is a generally low-impact method.Pole & line accounts for about 20% of the total skipjack catch in the Indian Ocean (around 135,000 tonnes in 2022). This method targets fish near the surface, and so rarely touches the seabed, reducing the risk of habitat impacts. It is labour-intensive and very selective, meaning there are low levels of bycatch of vulnerable species. It involves fishing with rods, using live bait to attract the tuna. The baitfish, usually small pelagic species such as sardines or anchovy, are caught and stored alive nearby or on the boats.If not well managed, this method can have impacts on baitfish populations. Most Indian Ocean pole and line fishing is by the Maldives, with small amounts by India and Indonesia. Much of the Maldives fishery is MSC-certified. It implements additional management measures beyond those required by IOTC, and is better managed.Interactions with endangered, threatened or protected species are recorded. There are no recorded interactions with turtles or mammals, and limited interactions with seabirds and sharks, none of which are vulnerable species. There is some catch of the overfished yellowfin tuna stock in this fishery. Management measures have been implemented to reduce yellowfin catches. If and when yellowfin catch limits have breached, the skipjack fishery may be closed.The main baitfish species used is silver sprat, as well as small amounts of cardinal fishes and other small pelagic and reef-associated fish. This is a fairly well-monitored fishery, with baitfish catches being recorded in logbooks, unlike in many other pole and line fisheries. The Maldives also has a livebait management plan. It is not thought that any of the baitfish species are being put at risk by the fishery.Pole and line fishing in the Maldives uses anchored Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs). FADs are floating objects that tuna and other species tend to aggregate around. In contrast with the drifting FADs (dFADs) of the major tuna fisheries, anchored FADs are less likely to be lost at sea and contribute to ghost fishing or marine debris. The Maldives incentivises fishers to return and reuse lost FADs.There is also less concern for bycatch, although shark bycatch does happen. Entanglement of turtles is a risk, but the Maldives AFADs are of a non entangling design. The FADs are anchored to the sea floor, but are kept 12-20 miles from coral atolls to limit seabed impacts. The Maldives has limited the number of anchored FADs to 50 and is taking steps to encourage pole and line fishing on free schools, to further reduce risks of bycatch.