Few appropriate management measures are in place for this stock. Recent catches have exceeded recommendations and there are no catch limits.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.East Atlantic skipjack tuna is managed and assessed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). In spite of scientific recommendations and attempts to develop a Harvest Control Rule (HCR) for eastern skipjack, there is no TAC (Total Allowable Catch) or HCR in place for this stock. The primary management measure is a limit on Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs).A new stock assessment for Atlantic skipjack was carried out in 2022. This was a significant improvement in the understanding of the stock, as there had not been an assessment since 2014. The 2014 assessment gave no estimate of MSY, but there were concerns that catches could be above it. Scientific recommendations were for no more than 218,000 tonnes, and catches in 2016-2020 averaged 244,000t. Until recently, therefore, management had not been following available scientific advice, and was unable to accurately manage the stock without up to date stock information.The new assessment indicates that the stock is in a healthy state and that a constant catch at MSY (216,617t) would result in a 17% probability of the stock being below Blim (20% of BMSY) in 2028. Recent catches (2017-2021) have been above MSY, averaging 240,500 tonnes, although they have been declining and in 2021 were 196,987t.Fishing for skipjack also affects other species that are caught with it, particularly juvenile yellowfin and bigeye tuna in the purse seine FAD fisheries. Therefore, fishing at MSY for skipjack may have a negative impact on these species, and catches may need to be reduced further.Most eastern skipjack tuna catches are by purse seine nets, many of which use Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). FADs are floating objects that attract tuna and other species, making it easier to set nets around them to catch them. Many juvenile fish are caught in these fisheries, which can have implications for future population growth. Therefore, there is a ban on using FADs throughout the Atlantic (ICCAT convention area) for 72 days in January to mid-March. This is intended to reduce fishing pressure on bigeye and yellowfin tuna. In 2022, the scientific committee concluded that it also may have reduced skipjack catches.The number of FADs that each fishing boat can use has been reduced from 500 in 2018 to 300 from 2021-2023. It is unclear what effect this has had on the stock.The current management is not guaranteed to control skipjack catches. Recent catches have been above the recommended level, and there remain no harvest control rule or catch limits to ensure that they stay at sustainable levels. Therefore, few appropriate management measures are in place for this stock. Further measures are expected to be considered and developed in 2023.Management measures also include:Countries must calculate the fishing capacity needed to deliver their set quotas, and reduce current capacity, e.g. by reducing licenses or vessel sizes, if it is too high. An analysis in 2022 estimated that in total there are 72 purse seine vessels actively fishing in the area, with a higher capacity (fish-hold volume) than needed. There were 99 vessels licensed to fish in the area, so there is also excess latent capacity.Countries are 'encouraged' not increase fishing effort above the 2018 level.Countries must submit FAD management plans to improve knowledge about FADs being used, manage deployment and recovery, and reduce ecosystem impacts.In 2021 the number of permitted support vessels, which help to increase the efficiency of purse seiners, was frozen.A requirement for 100% observer coverage on large purse seiners targeting tropical tunas all year round. The requirement for longline is only 10% and many fleets are not reaching this level. Scientific recommendations are 20% for accurate data.There is a ban on discarding skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna: all fish caught must be landed. There is also a tagging programme to improve stock assessments for tropical tunas and gauge effectiveness of management measures.In terms of monitoring and surveillance, other management by ICCAT includes:A ban on drift nets by the EU in 2002 and by ICCAT in the Mediterranean in 2003.A list of vessels authorised to fish for this species, and a list of vessels caught carrying out Illegal, Unreported or Unregulated activities. At-sea transhipment is prohibited unless pre-authorised and the vessel has an observer on board.Work is underway to improve electronic monitoring. Vessel Monitoring Systems are required for all vessels over 24m.
