Update: 8:48AM EVIDENCE of overfishing of bigeye and yellowfin tuna is mounting as stock has become increasingly threatened, says the Secretariat of the Pacific Communitys Oceanic Fisheries Programme (SPC-OFP).
This is a serious concern for the Pacific because these fish are important for locally-based fisheries, and yellowfin is particularly important because of many coastal communities' reliance on it.
According to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, SPC-OFP highlighted this in its annual report on the status of tuna and swordfish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific region.
The report has been submitted to the 70th meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee Officials Meeting held in Alofi, Niue.
Other significant findings in its report were that:
* Albacore tuna, which is the basis of Pacific Island longline fisheries, is in healthy condition
* The numbers of larger albacore targeted by longliners have declined in recent years.
* Skipjack tuna is in healthy condition despite the continued increase in catch.
* The regional tuna catch reached 2.4 million tonnes in 2007, worth approximately USD3.9 billion (FJD$8.42billion). This record catch was dominated by skipjack tuna (1.7 million tonnes) caught by purse seine fishing vessels.
SPC-OFP is the region's mandated centre for tuna fisheries data, stock assessment and related research. This centre informs the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee's decisions on fisheries management and the work of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency in providing expertise and support to its 17 members on fisheries management issues.
