Pacific Ocean tuna - longline (Bumble Bee/FCF Co., Ltd)

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Overview

The FIP first launched as the Western and Central Pacific albacore and yellowfin tuna longline FIP but after a scope extension in October 2021 and again in August 2022, the fishery now targets albacore (Thunnus alalunga), bigeye (Thunnus obesus), skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). The longline vessels are flagged to China, Taiwan, Fiji, Vanuatu and Panama and fish on the high seas and within the EEZ’s of Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, USA (American Samoa), Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The fishery is managed regionally by the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in the WCPO and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATCC) in the EPO.

FIP Description 

The FIP first launched as the Western and Central Pacific albacore and yellowfin tuna longline FIP but after a scope extension in October 2021 and again in August 2022, the fishery now targets albacore (

FIP Objective(s) 
  • There shall be robust and precautionary harvest strategies in place for tuna in the WCPO and EPO
  • A comprehensive range of information related to stock structure, stock productivity, fleet composition, and other data are available to support the harvest strategy; and all information required by the harvest control rule is monitored with high frequency and a high degree of certainty. 
  • Improved availability of accurate and comprehensive data on catches, especially bycatch, by strengthening information systems and training. Recording and reporting of discards. 
  • Strengthened Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) and retained species management strategies; and ensure the fishery is not hindering the recovery of species.
  • To achieve a certifiable status by June 2024.
FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 5: Improvements on the Water
Start and Projected End Dates
June 2019
June 2024
Next Progress Report Due 
Monday, September 30, 2024
Species 
Common Name 
Albacore Tuna
Scientific Name
Thunnus alalunga
Common Name 
Yellowfin Tuna
Scientific Name
Thunnus albacares
Common Name 
Bigeye Tuna
Scientific Name
Thunnus obesus
Common Name 
Skipjack Tuna
Scientific Name
Katsuwonus pelamis
Gear Type 
Longline
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 71 (Pacific, Western Central)
Area 77 (Pacific, Eastern Central)
Area 81 (Pacific, Southwest)
Area 87 (Pacific, Southeast)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Solomon Islands
Geographic Scope 
The entire EEZ
Country 
Vanuatu
Geographic Scope 
The entire EEZ
Country 
Tonga
Geographic Scope 
The entire EEZ
Country 
Tuvalu
Geographic Scope 
The entire EEZ
Country 
Cook Islands (the)
Geographic Scope 
The entire EEZ
Country 
Micronesia (Federated States of)
Geographic Scope 
The entire EEZ
Country 
Fiji
Geographic Scope 
The entire EEZ
Country 
Kiribati
Geographic Scope 
The entire EEZ
Country 
Papua New Guinea
Geographic Scope 
The entire EEZ
Country 
Samoa
Geographic Scope 
The entire EEZ
Country 
American Samoa
Geographic Scope 
The entire EEZ
Country Flag of Vessel 
China
Country Flag of Vessel 
Fiji
Country Flag of Vessel 
Taiwan
Country Flag of Vessel 
Vanuatu
Country Flag of Vessel 
Panama
Regional Fisheries Management Organization
WCPFC
IATTC
High Seas Name 
Pacific Ocean
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
20,000 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
806,000 metric tons
Landings Date 
October 2021
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
June 01, 2019
4% 39% 57%
Progress Rating (A) Advanced Progress

Reserved for comprehensive FIPs that have achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

(B) Good Progress

A basic FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within 12 months.

(C) Some Recent Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has reported a Stage 3 activity within the first 12 months.
(D) Some Past Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months BUT has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old AND a Stage 3 activity has been reported within six months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
(E) Negligible Progress
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old, with no Stage 3 activity reported in the last six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months with no Stage 3 activity reported within 12 months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF

A Advanced Progress
Actions Complete

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
Next Update Due FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.
Sep 2024
Target End Date
Jun 2024
Additional Impacts:
TraceabilityEcosystem

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
KangTai (KT Asia)
Organization Type 
Consultant
Primary Contact 
Tom Evans
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
11122