Overview
The fishery being assessed is the Pacific Tuna Longline Fishery targeting albacore (Thunnus alalunga), bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) tuna across all regions of the Pacific Ocean.
The Pacific Tuna Longline Fishery aims to meet the rising global demand for tuna in a sustainable manner by assuring catches do not exceed sustainable levels, promoting the ecosystem based approach to fisheries management and strengthening policy and governance systems in the region.
Pacific Tuna Longline Fishery goals:
- Sustainable Fish Stocks – To ensure tuna and other primary species catches across the Pacific Ocean do not exceed sustainable levels
- Minimising Environmental Impacts – To promote the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management
- Effective Management – To strengthen governance systems in the WCPFC, IATTC and Pacific Tuna Longline fishery.
This FIP was previously part of the Pacific Ocean Tuna - longline (Thai Union) FIP. Half of the UoAs (Vanuatu flagged vessels) are now within the MSC assessment due to the progress they have made. Due to this, the FIP profile was split to allow for the remaining fleet (Chinese flagged vessels) to continue on with their FIP.
Half of the vessels within the FIP have entered and obtained MSC Certification - Pingtairong Pacific tuna deep set longline fishery. The remaining vessels stay within this FIP and will be added via a scope extension.
The fishery being assessed is the Pacific Tuna Longline Fishery targeting albacore (Thunnus alalunga), bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) tuna across all regions of the Pacific Ocean.
- Achieve sustainable stock status’ for albacore, bigeye and yellowfin that is consistent with the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and management systems strengthened to achieve this.
- To improve the availability of accurate data on catches, retained and especially bycatch by strengthening information systems and training.
- To collaborate with other institutions working on tuna fisheries issues in the country, including working together to improve the management and policy towards sustainable fisheries for example Harvest Control Rules.
- Strengthen ETP and retained species management strategies.
- To promote traceability to ensure that the origins and status of Tuna products purchased are well-known and all coming from legal fisheries by engaging the supply chains that support improvement through the implementation of e-monitoring.
- Improve governance and decision making process.
- To achieve a certifiable status by December 2025.
FIP at a Glance
18% | 29% | 54% |
This pie chart represents completed environmental actions. Non-completed environmental actions may contain completed sub-tasks that are not illustrated here. For more information on environmental action progress visit the Actions Progress tab.
- Complete
- Incomplete