Fisheries Newsletter No 141 (May-August 2013)

Editorial

Overall, tuna catches in the waters surrounding Pacific Island countries (the exclusive economic zones) have increased by 150% since 1990. And, according to data gathered and analysed by SPC’s Oceanic Fisheries Programme, a significant portion of this catch is taken less than 100 nautical miles from the shores of individual countries. At the same time, tuna numbers are estimated to have significantly decreased in the last 30 years, by up to 65% in the case of yellowfin tuna.

While tuna stocks are still considered to be in relatively good shape, or at least, above the level required for a maximum sustainable yield, this decline in stocks might not affect industrial and artisanal fishers the same way. The reduction in stocks is not evenly distributed throughout the Pacific Ocean and some localised depletion may occur, mainly affecting local artisanal fleets that are not capable of chasing tunas over great distances the way that industrial fleets can.

Several solutions have been proposed to reduce the impact of industrial tuna fishing on artisanal fisheries (see article "Balancing the needs"). And several articles in this issue are related to the solutions proposed: gaining a better knowledge of tuna and their stocks; promoting management measures that specifically address the needs of artisanal fisheries, both at national and international levels; and setting fish aggregating devices close to shore to give artisanal fishers easier access to offshore species.

“Balancing the needs” seems to be as difficult to do in fisheries management as it is in our everyday life, doesn’t it?

Aymeric Desurmont
Fisheries Information Specialist