Eastern Atlantic Ocean tuna - purse seine (ANABAC)

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Overview

This FIP addresses all purse seine vessels that are part of ANABAC which target three troppical tuna sotcks for the Eastern Atlantic Ocean [skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)] both on FADs and unassociated sets. This FIP aims to support improvement in the management of the Eastern Atlantic Ocean so that in the future, consumers can be assured that the purse-seine tuna they purchase has been harvested sustainably.

The ANABAC fleet associated with this FIP has made good progress in implementing its work plan and since the beginning of 2023 all fleet partners are MSC certified in yellowfin and skipjack tuna (https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/anabac-atlantic-purse-seine-yello...@@view). There is a need for ANABAC FIP to continue actions for bigeye tuna, which is subject to a multi-annual management, conservation and rebuilding programme by the RFMO. While several actions will be completed within the MSC certification for both yellowfin and skipjack MSC certified species, ANABAC FIP will now focus on bigeye tuna.

FIP Description 

This FIP addresses all purse seine vessels that are part of ANABAC which target three troppical tuna sotcks for the Eastern Atlantic Ocean [skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye tuna (

FIP Objective(s) 
  • To form a collaboration between governments, industry, scientists and fleets to bring about improvements in the sustainability of the fishery by 2028.
  • To address the shortfalls in the stock health, ecosystem health and management of the fishery by meeting actions described by the Improvement Performance Goals (IPGs) by 2028.
  • To improve the ANABAC purse seine tuna fishery to a point at which it can achieve the MSC certification by the end of 2028.
FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 3: FIP Implementation
Start and Projected End Dates
July 2023
June 2028
Next Progress Report Due 
Friday, January 31, 2025
Species 
Common Name 
Yellowfin Tuna
Scientific Name
Thunnus albacares
Common Name 
Skipjack Tuna
Scientific Name
Katsuwonus pelamis
Common Name 
Bigeye Tuna
Scientific Name
Thunnus obesus
Gear Type 
Purse Seine
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 34 (Atlantic, Eastern Central)
Area 47 (Atlantic, Southeast)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Angola
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country 
Cabo Verde
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country 
Côte d'Ivoire
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country 
Equatorial Guinea
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country 
Gabon
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country 
Guinea-Bissau
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country 
Mauritania
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country 
Sao Tome and Principe
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country 
Senegal
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country 
Sierra Leone
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country 
Liberia
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country 
Ghana
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country 
Guinea
Geographic Scope 
Entire EEZ
Country Flag of Vessel 
Spain
Country Flag of Vessel 
Belize
Regional Fisheries Management Organization
ICCAT
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
36,700 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
36,700 metric tons
Landings Date 
December 2023
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
July 01, 2023
36% 64%
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

C Some Recent 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.
Jan 2025
Target End Date
Jun 2028

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
ANABAC - Asociación Nacional de Armadores de Buques Atuneros Congeladores
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Nekane Alzorriz
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.
16783