Greater Efforts Needed to Promote Sustainability of World’s Most Valuable Tuna Stocks

Fisheries managers in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean must do more

Richard Herrmann Minden Pictures

The Pacific Ocean is home to the world’s largest and most valuable commercial tuna fisheries. The waters of the western and central Pacific produce 2.73 million metric tons of skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna each year, worth over $21 billion—more than half of the $40 billion that all tuna fisheries contribute to the global economy each year. These fisheries play a major role in the region’s coastal economies, and a variety of industries, such as tuna canning and processing and high-end seafood preparation, mainly for sushi and sashimi.  

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is the regional body charged with setting rules for fishing the commercially important species in these waters. Its member governments, which meet annually to set the rules for these fisheries, must prioritize sustainability and long-term health for the stocks in their charge. By shifting toward science-based management—including employing precautionary harvest strategies, adopting greater oversight of what is happening on the water through the use of electronic monitoring and increased observer coverage, and developing robust compliance regimes to ensure that rules are followed—WCPFC can establish itself as a leader in modern, sustainable fisheries management.

A large blue-and-white vessel, with some visible rust and other signs of wear, sits in a dark blue ocean at a port dock, set against a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds. The vessel has many booms for nets and has a yellow raft attached to the side
A large blue-and-white vessel, with some visible rust and other signs of wear, sits in a dark blue ocean at a port dock, set against a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds. The vessel has many booms for nets and has a yellow raft attached to the side
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Proposal Would Weaken Oversight of $13 Billion Fishery

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When the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meets 4 to 8 December in the Cook Islands to set its rules for the 2024 fishing year, managers will have a stark choice: Weaken the Commission’s oversight of a large percentage of the vessels that fish its waters, or increase independent monitoring and continue a shift towards science-based, precautionary ways to manage fisheries worth billions of dollars each year.

fishing boat at sunrise
fishing boat at sunrise

Electronic Monitoring Programs

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Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) are responsible for overseeing commercial fishing in more than 95% of the world’s ocean.

Striped marlin hunting sardines, Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Striped marlin hunting sardines, Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

International Fisheries Need Oversight to Ensure Compliance

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The vast ocean waters beyond national boundaries are home to some of the world’s most economically, ecologically and culturally significant fish species, from tunas and sharks to marlins and swordfish.

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School of yellowfin tuna, Revillagigedo Archipelago, Tamaulipas, Mexico
School of yellowfin tuna, Revillagigedo Archipelago, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Harvest Strategies Toolkit

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Harvest strategies are an approach to fisheries management under which managers and stakeholders agree in advance to adjust catch limits and other measures based on size of the fish population.

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