Overview
The FIP is the Kiribati purse seine tuna fishery (Kiribati Fish Ltd operated vessels). The fishery targets skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) through free-school and FAD-associated purse seine sets. The fleet of ten purse seine vessels are flagged to China and Nauru and operate mainly in the Kiribati EEZ, other Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) countries’ EEZs and the high seas. The fishery is managed regionally by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
The Units of Assessment (UoAs) are:
- Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) stocks of skipjack, bigeye and yellowfin, caught by purse seine on FAD associated sets and managed by relevant national management (Kiribati) and regionally by WCPFC (three UoAs);
- Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) stocks of skipjack, bigeye and yellowfin, caught by purse seine on non-associated sets (free-school) and managed by relevant national (Kiribati) management and regionally by WCPFC (three UoAs).
FIP Description
The FIP is the Kiribati purse seine tuna fishery (Kiribati Fish Ltd operated vessels).
FIP Objective(s)
- Achieve sustainable stock status’ for tuna that is consistent with the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and management systems strengthened to achieve this.
- Strengthen ETP and retained species management strategies.
- Improve governance and decision making process.
- Achieve MSC certification and the objectives above by 2025.
FIP Type
Comprehensive
FIP Stage
Stage 4: Improvements in Fishing Practices or Fishery Management
Start and Projected End Dates
March 2020
March 2025
Species
Common Name
Skipjack Tuna
Scientific Name
Katsuwonus pelamis
Common Name
Bigeye Tuna
Scientific Name
Thunnus obesus
Common Name
Yellowfin Tuna
Scientific Name
Thunnus albacares
Gear Type
Purse Seine
Purse Seine-Unassociated
Location
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings
10,151 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings
450,000 metric tons
Landings Date
December 2023
FIP Leads
Organization Name
Key Traceability Ltd.
Organization Type
Consultant
Primary Contact
Charles Horsnell
Website Name
Organization Name
Kiribati Fish Limited
Organization Type
Industry
Primary Contact
Xue Jun Du
Website Name
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.
13118