Yellowfin tuna fish population drops below sustainable levels

Fisheries Ministry states yellowfin tuna fish population has dropped below sustainable levels for the future.

The Ministry, in a statement, identified the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)’s Working Party on Tropical Tunas as the responsible body for assessing the stock of skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna.

As per the Ministry, the Working Party on Tropical Tunas, in their latest assessment, determined skipjack tuna stocks were not on the decline and that skipjack tuna fisheries were being conducted in a sustainable manner to protect their population.

The Ministry detailed that Indian Ocean’s yellowfin tuna fish stocks were last assessed in 2018 which determined that yellowfin tuna fisheries were being carried out to an extent that threatens their population. It was noted that IOTC had subsequently passed a resolution calling to reduce yellowfin tuna fisheries.

“It was decided in this resolution that the number of yellowfin tuna fish caught via various fishing methods will be reduced in comparison to 2014/2015. In this regard, the resolution stipulates the percentage of yellowfish tuna catches that needs to be reduced in each method of fishing practiced,” the statement read.

Fisheries Ministry also detailed that it was determined in the latest assessment that bigeye tuna stocks were not on the decline, however, their fisheries were being conducted in an unsustainable manner.

The Ministry further said Working Party on Neritic Tunas, which also assesses the stocks of mackerel tuna, frigate tuna and wahoo, last assessed Indian Ocean’s skipjack tuna stocks in 2020.

However, the Working Party had underscored the lack of statistics on types of fisheries engaging in fisheries such as mackerel tuna, frigate tuna and wahoo in the Indian Ocean.

Henceforth, citing the Working Party, the Ministry said the assessment of these types of fish is based on tactics used to calculate stocks of type of fish without statistics and indirect evidence indicating their stocks.