The Pacific Island Tuna Industry Association (PITIA) has complained that Albacore and Bigeye Tuna stocks are continuing to decline in the Western Pacific as a result of overfishing.

According to PITIA, tuna stocks have declined despite a regional consensus in 2008 to address the problem, by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).

“Each year since then, the stock situation has grown worse while at the same time the measure to manage this stock has grown more rigorous. Parallel to this, the number of boats continue to increase and with greater efficiency. There is something wrong with this equation.”

“WCPFC has failed to impose enough reduction in fishing effort to bring about the conservation that the science calls for.”

“There are just too many boats,” stated PITIA in reference to both long liners and purse seiners catching big eye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.

PITIA also criticized closed door discussions by the WCPFC at annual meetings.

“Each year, the measure grows more and more about accommodating allocation and less about conservation.”

“This growing dominance on the discussions concerning Bigeye tuna has come at a serious cost. Other crucial fisheries issues are marginalised in order to make way for the discussions on this endangered stock, leaving little time for the management of other fisheries.”

“Serious action needs to immediately take place to rescue this stock from a complete crash,” PITIA stated

The criticisms come as WCPFC concludes a Scientific Committee session in Majuro, Marshall Islands.