Results for tuna

On World Tuna Day we are reminded of the need to maximise the economic and social benefits from tuna for our people, our communities and our Pacific region. We are also reminded of the critical importance of protecting this rich resource,” says FFA Director General, Dr. Manu Tupou-Roosen.

Different approaches towards managing a heavily depleted fish stock have emerged between two Pacific nations. At the 14th annual meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) currently being held in Manila, Philippines, the Solomon Islands and the Cooks Islands – home to the two biggest southern albacore fisheries - have separately voiced preferences for competing management systems for the tuna.

Ways to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Tonga’s waters to protect tuna resources were discussed at a three day workshop held by Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) officials in Tonga from 25-29 January 2016, when a new monitoring strategy was implemented.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has announced its intentions to increase local Tuna catches for Pacific Islanders in order to improve food security. The plan is to expand the use of Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) to improve the local capacity for Tuna catches.

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.

Developing and strengthening the capacity of Forum Fisheries Agency members to harvest and control tuna resources in a sustainable way was a key issue to be discussed at the 8th Annual Ministerial Forum Fisheries Committee Meeting held from June 28-29 in Tonga.