Tuna Stocks are declining and current management measures are failing to restore stocks, says the Scientific Committee of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, who concluded a ten day meeting on August 19 in Pohnpei, Micronesia.

Greenpeace has highlighted the importance of these findings, stating this week that it is urging Pacific Island governments to lead by example and transform the tuna sector with “home-grown sustainable fisheries that can ensure equitable returns”

Dr Cat Dorey, Greenpeace Coordinator for the International Sustainable Seafood Programme stated “The outcome of the meeting demonstrates that there are simply too many industrial fishing vessels plundering the Pacific, using highly destructive fishing techniques that have wide and damaging impacts on the ecosystem.

“The Pacific region’s most valuable tuna, the Pacific Bluefin, is now down to just four per cent of its original stock size and other tuna stocks are at risk of following this catastrophic decline, unless urgent management is taken.”

Greenpeace stated that the Scientific Committee discovered the number of purse seine vessels in the fishery was at an all-time high. Catches for Big Eye in 2012 were also the highest in eight years despite a commitment by members five years ago to halt and reverse the impacts on this troubled stock.

Dr Dorey stated “Destructive fishing techniques that employ fish aggregation devices with purse seine nets continue to raze fish populations, in particular vulnerable juvenile Yellowfin and Bigeye stocks. A ban on these devices is urgent and overdue”.

Greenpeace Pacific Oceans Campaigner, Duncan Williams said “If Pacific nations are to have fish and livelihoods in the future there is a pressing need for urgent sharp reductions to fishing efforts and capacity, plus the adoption of sustainable fishing techniques.”