Nations Must Exercise Caution, Enforce Closures to Protect Bigeye Tuna Stock

Member nations of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) must continue to carry out and enforce conservation measures that appear to be allowing eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) bigeye tuna to recover from overfishing, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) warned, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to ISSF. 

"The most recent assessment of this stock is encouraging and demonstrates that when nations work together to impose scientifically recommended fishing closures it can have a positive impact on stock health," said ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee Chair Dr. Victor Restrepo. "Still, the results require caution moving forward."

The EPO bigeye stock is currently protected by closures in the purse seine fishery and catch limits in the longline fishery. Members will meet this week and consider the IATTC Scientific Committee's recommendation that these measures be extended through 2013.

Dr. Restrepo added, "There was a change in the data and methodology used in the most recent assessment of EPO bigeye and at the same time there have been changes in the Japanese longline fishery. In order to be certain the stock is indeed improving, and that it's not just the appearance of improvement, it's our belief that nations must stay the course."

ISSF also supports the IATTC Scientific Committee's guidance that the regional fishery management organization reviews its resolution that created a program to monitor at-sea transshipments by large-scale tuna longline fishing vessels to include smaller longliners. 

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation is a global partnership among scientists, the tuna industry and WWF, the global conservation organization. Its mission is to undertake science-based initiatives for the long-term conservation and sustainable use of tuna stocks, reducing bycatch and promoting ecosystem health.