FishSource - Skipjack tuna - Eastern Atlantic Ocean

There remains uncertainty around the stock structure of skipjack in the Atlantic but the hypothesis of separate Eastern and Western stocks is the most plausible (ICCAT, 2006; ICCAT, 2014).

ANALYSIS

Strengths

The population of skipjack tuna in the eastern Atlantic is most likely healthy and fishing mortality rates are sustainable. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas manages skipjack tuna in the eastern Atlantic.There are spatial closures for the surface fishery that will likely provide protection to skipjack tuna. There is required observer coverage in this fishery.

Weaknesses

There are no formally adopted target or limit reference points and although the framework exists, no harvest control rule. Very few management recommendations have been presented by the Scientific Committee. However, recent recommendations to maintain catches at current levels have not results in any quotas being set.Additional work is needed to estimate unreported landings made into West African ports and canneries. Recent catches have exceeded the estimated maximum sustainable yield. The Scientific Committee reports problems with estimating fishing effort in the east Atlantic. Information on bycatch interactions is limited.

FISHSOURCE SCORES

Management Quality:

Management Strategy:

≥ 6

Managers Compliance:

≥ 6

Fishers Compliance:

≥ 6

Stock Health:

Current
Health:

≥ 8

Future Health:

≥ 8

RECOMMENDATIONS

CATCHERS & REGULATORS

1. Ensure member countries comply with all conservation and management measures (CMMs) of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), including measures aimed at both target and bycatch species, and all other mandated obligations. Member countries must make information on monitoring and compliance with all ICCAT obligations publicly available, including actions being taken to address any identified non-compliance with ICCAT CMM’s.
2. Promote the adoption by the ICCAT and member countries of precautionary management measures, including target and limit biological reference points, harvest control rules, increased observer coverage for all fisheries, national management measures and monitoring efforts adequate to ensure harvest strategy objectives are being met.
3. Improve data collection and reporting to ensure complete data sets (i.e. catches, effort, size), which are needed for robust stock assessments. The Scientific Committee specifically noted that countries should improve logbook and sampling forms. Countries should maintain current catch levels, as suggested by the Scientific Committee.
4. Conduct studies, increase monitoring and publish information to assess purse seine interactions with protected, endangered and threatened (PET) and other bycatch species. Conduct studies on the ecosystem impacts of fish aggregating devices (FADs). Identify and mandate best practices bycatch mitigation techniques. Demand compliance with ICCAT management measures prohibiting the retention of oceanic whitetip, silky, thresher and hammerhead sharks.

RETAILERS & SUPPLY CHAIN

1. Encourage the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and individual member countries to adopt precautionary and ecosystem-based management measures. Demand that member countries comply with all ICCATs Conservation and Management Measures.
2. Explore implementation of control documents to ensure supplier compliance with ICCAT conservation and management measures (CMMs) (e.g. around bycatch). Source from vessels registered on the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Proactive Vessel Register (PVR). Encourage ISSF to fully implement PVR resolutions, and to expand the PVR list to include all relevant gear types.
3. Encourage the ICCAT and member countries to conduct studies, increase monitoring and publish information to assess purse seine interactions with protected, endangered and threatened (PET) and other bycatch species. Explore opportunities to support studies and data gathering.
4. Contact SFP to learn more about fishery improvement projects (FIPs) and SFP’s Supplier Roundtables.

FIPS

Atlantic Ocean tropical tuna - purse seine (OPAGAC):

Stage 4, Progress Rating B
Eastern Atlantic tuna - purse seine:

Stage 2

CERTIFICATIONS

St. Helena pole & line and rod & line yellowfin, bigeye, albacore and skipjack tuna:

Not certified

Fisheries

Within FishSource, the term "fishery" is used to indicate each unique combination of a flag country with a fishing gear, operating within a particular management unit, upon a resource. That resource may have a known biological stock structure and/or may be assessed at another level for practical or jurisdictional reasons. A fishery is the finest scale of resolution captured in FishSource profiles, as it is generally the scale at which sustainability can most fairly and practically be evaluated.

ASSESSMENT UNIT	MANAGEMENT UNIT	FLAG COUNTRY	FISHING GEAR
Eastern Atlantic Ocean	Cameroon	Cameroon	Associated purse seining
	Cameroon	Cameroon	Unassociated purse seining
	ICCAT	Côte D'ivoire	Handlines hand operated
		Curaçao	Associated purse seining
		Curaçao	Unassociated purse seining
		Cyprus	Associated purse seining
		Cyprus	Unassociated purse seining
		Equatorial Guinea	Associated purse seining
		Equatorial Guinea	Unassociated purse seining
		France	Pole-lines hand operated
			Purse seines
			Unassociated purse seining
		Gabon	Associated purse seining
		Gabon	Unassociated purse seining
		Ghana	Pole-lines hand operated
			Purse seines
			Unassociated purse seining
		Guatemala	Purse seines
		Liberia	Associated purse seining
		Liberia	Unassociated purse seining
		Panama	Associated purse seining
		Senegal	Pole-lines hand operated
		Spain	Longlines
			Mechanized lines
			Pole-lines hand operated
			Purse seines
			Unassociated purse seining
	Saint Helena	Saint Helena	Hooks and lines

Fisheries

Analysis

OVERVIEW

Last updated on 8 January 2015

Strengths

Weaknesses

RECOMMENDATIONS

Last updated on 28 June 2016

Improvement Recommendations to Catchers & Regulators

Recommendations to Retailers & Supply Chain

ICCAT

Ghana

Purse seines

Last updated on 28 June 2016

Improvement Recommendations to Catchers & Regulators

1. Support the improvement of catch reporting, including bycatch species, from the industrial and artisanal fishery.

Senegal

Last updated on 28 June 2016

Improvement Recommendations to Catchers & Regulators

1. Support the improvement of bycatch reporting.

Spain

Mechanized lines

Last updated on 28 June 2016

Improvement Recommendations to Catchers & Regulators

1. Support the improvement of catch reporting, particularly from the small-coastal fleet and the recreational sector.

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 28 June 2016

Improvement Recommendations to Catchers & Regulators

1. Support the improvement of catch reporting, particularly from the small-coastal fleet and the recreational sector.

1.STOCK STATUS

STOCK ASSESSMENT

Last updated on 8 January 2015

The last stock assessment completed for Eastern Atlantic Skipjack tuna was completed in 2014, and used catch data up to 2013 (ICCAT 2014b). Methods used in recent skipjack tuna stock assessments included a Catch-only model, and Bayesian Surplus Production Model (ICCAT 20014b).

ICCAT

Ghana

Purse seines

Last updated on 15 October 2012

The last stock assessment completed for Eastern Atlantic Skipjack tuna was completed in 2011, and used catch data up to 2010 (ICCAT 2009b, 2012b). The recent stock assessment report reveals that the skipjack tuna – Eastern Atlantic stock is healthy and current F2008/Fmsy is <1 and B2008/Bmsy is >1(ICCAT 2012). Methods used in recent skipjack tuna stock assessments include Multifan-CL model, Catch-only model, and Bayesian Surplus Production Model methods (ICCAT 2009b).

Catch data from Ghanaian tuna fleet as been used to estimate catch at size and indices of abundance for stock assessments in recent years (Kell et al., 2011).

Senegal

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 5 November 2012

“Complete data on fishery statistics of the artisanal fishery are estimated by extrapolation from landings sampled from harbours of each region (Ferraris, 1994). Observer’s record catches are directly reported at sea for foreign vessels and landings for national industrial vessels are recorded at Dakar harbour. Direction of Oceanography and Maritime Fisheries (DOPM) is responsible for collection and analysis of marine fisheries statistics in Senegal” (Pramod and Pitcher 2006).

Spain

Mechanized lines

Last updated on 17 October 2012

The last stock assessment completed for Eastern Atlantic Skipjack tuna was completed in 2011, and used catch data up to 2010 (ICCAT 2009, 2012b). The recent stock assessment report reveals that the skipjack tuna – Eastern Atlantic stock is healthy and current F2008/Fmsy is <1 and B2008/Bmsy is >1(ICCAT 2012). Methods used in recent skipjack tuna stock assessments include Multifan-CL model, Catch-only model, and Bayesian Surplus Production Model methods (ICCAT 2009).

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 17 October 2012

SCIENTIFIC ADVICE

Last updated on 8 January 2015

The Scientific Committee has suggested keeping catches of skipjack tuna below recent levels {ICCAT 2014}.

Reference Points

Last updated on 08 Jan 2015

Source: ICCAT (2014).
MSY: 143,000 – 170,000 tonnes
Current Replacement Yield: 203,500 tonnes
B2008/Bmsy: likely >1
F2008/Fmsy: likely <1

ICCAT

Ghana

Purse seines

Last updated on 12 October 2012

There is a need to adequately quantify tuna catches from artisanal fleets along the Eastern Atlantic countries to provide more reliable stock assessment estimates.

Reference Points

Last updated on 12 Oct 2012

Source: ICCAT (2009, 2012).
MSY: 143,000-170,000 tonnes
Current Replacement Yield: >164,000 tonnes
B2008/Bmsy: likely >1
F2008/Fmsy: likely <1

Senegal

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 5 November 2012

There is a need to adequately quantify tuna catches from artisanal fleets along the Eastern Atlantic countries to provide more reliable stock assessment estimates.

Reference Points

Last updated on 05 Nov 2012

Source: ICCAT (2009, 2012).
MSY: 143,000 – 170,000 tonnes
Current Replacement Yield: >164,000 tonnes
B2008/Bmsy: likely >1
F2008/Fmsy: likely <1

Spain

Mechanized lines

Last updated on 8 September 2012

No scientific advice is regularly or systematically provided for Skipjack tuna in Canary islands.

Reference Points

Last updated on 08 Sep 2012

Source: ICCAT (2009, 2012).
MSY: 143,000 – 170,000 tonnes
Current Replacement Yield: >164,000 tonnes
B2008/Bmsy: likely >1
F2008/Fmsy: likely <1

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 8 September 2012

No scientific advice is regularly or systematically provided for Skipjack tuna in Canary islands.

Reference Points

Last updated on 08 Sep 2012

Source: ICCAT (2009, 2012).
MSY: 143,000 – 170,000 tonnes
Current Replacement Yield: >164,000 tonnes
B2008/Bmsy: likely >1
F2008/Fmsy: likely <1

Saint Helena

Hooks and lines

Last updated on 1 June 2009

In 2009, St Helena there was no quota allocation or catch limits for skipjack tuna (St Helena share of ICCAT quota allocated under UK overseas Territory). Carleton et al (2010).

Skipjack catches have been below 110 tonnes since 2003 in St Helena waters (Carleton et al 2010).

2005 catch (St Helena): 63 tonnes skipjack tuna
2006 catch: 88 tonnes
2007 Catch: 110 tonnes

CURRENT STATUS

Last updated on 8 January 2015

The most recent stock assessment suggests that Skipjack tuna stock in Eastern Atlantic is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring (ICCAT 2014).

Trends

Last updated on 08 Jan 2015

Skipjack tuna catches in the eastern Atlantic have been increasing over time. In recent years, catches have exceeded 200,000 t {ICCAT 2014}.

ICCAT

Ghana

Purse seines

Last updated on 12 October 2012

The most recent stock assessment suggests that Skipjack tuna stock in Eastern Atlantic is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring (ICCAT 2009b, 2012).

Trends

Last updated on 12 Oct 2012

Skipjack tuna catches for East and West Atlantic combined were about 142,200 tonnes in 2006 (115,700 tonnes from East Atlantic and 26,500 tonnes from West Atlantic) ICCAT (2009b). Skipjack tuna catches have been increasing progressively from 1950-1990, with catches increasing from 45,000 tonnes in 1970 to 98,000 tonnes in 1980, and then peaking at 186,000 tonnes in 1991, and declining to 119,000 tonnes in 2000, with catches in range of 115 -126,000 tonnes in the last decade (ICCAT 2009b, 2012).

Senegal

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 5 November 2012

The most recent stock assessment suggests that Skipjack tuna stock in Eastern Atlantic is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring (ICCAT 2009b, 2012).

Trends

Last updated on 05 Nov 2012

Spain

Mechanized lines

Last updated on 17 October 2012

The most recent stock assessment suggests that Skipjack tuna stock in Eastern Atlantic is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring (ICCAT 2009, 2012).

Trends

Last updated on 17 Oct 2012

Skipjack tuna catches for East and West Atlantic combined were about 142,200 tonnes in 2006 (115,700 tonnes from East Atlantic and 26,500 tonnes from West Atlantic) ICCAT (2009). Skipjack tuna catches have been increasing progressively from 1950-1990, with catches increasing from 45,000 tonnes in 1970 to 98,000 tonnes in 1980, and then peaking at 186,000 tonnes in 1991, and declining to 119,000 tonnes in 2000, with catches in range of 115 -126,000 tonnes in the last decade (ICCAT 2009, 2012).

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 17 October 2012

The most recent stock assessment suggests that Skipjack tuna stock in Eastern Atlantic is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring (ICCAT 2009, 2012).

Trends

Last updated on 17 Oct 2012

Saint Helena

Hooks and lines

Last updated on 1 June 2009

The stock is healthy and fishing mortality is below the target level that, if maintained, will predictably hold the healthy condition of the stock.

2.MANAGEMENT QUALITY

MANAGEMENT

Last updated on 8 January 2015

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) has not established any management measures specific to skipjack tuna. However, the establishment of a time area closure in the surface fishery to protect juvenile bigeye tuna also provides some protection to skipjack. In addition, area closures to FAD fishing during January and February (2013) will likely have an impact on skipjack tuna {ICCAT 2012a}.

Recovery Plans

Last updated on 08 Jan 2015

Skipjack tuna populations are currently healthy and there is no recovery plan in place {ICCAT 2014b}.

ICCAT

Ghana

Purse seines

Last updated on 10 January 2011

Size distribution and species composition are regularly checked for tuna landings at Tema port (Bannerman 2010). Data on spatial-temporal distribution of fleet activity for Ghanaian fleets has also been improved through recovery of logbook information for surface tuna fleets from 1992-2007.

Recovery Plans

Last updated on 10 Jan 2011

None are reported in the management plan.

Senegal

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 5 November 2012

All Senegalese vessels have satellite based Argos receivers on fishing vessels that allows for VMS monitoring of the fleet. Boarding tag is mandatory prior to obtaining and holding a fishing authorization governed by a ministerial decree on the organization and operation of the positioning and location of the vessels. All domestic and foreign landings are monitored and inspected by the inspection device set in place at the port of Dakar.

Recovery Plans

Last updated on 05 Nov 2012

None are reported for this fishery in the current management plan for Senegal waters.

Spain

Mechanized lines

Last updated on 8 September 2012

Minimum size limits are in place for several coastal fish and shellfish species, but there appear to be no size restrictions for tuna fishing in Lanzarote waters. Inshore fishery is managed through licensing and area restrictions by depth and vessel type for several coastal fish species.

Recovery Plans

Last updated on 08 Sep 2012

None are foreseen under the current ICCAT management policy.

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 8 September 2012

Recovery Plans

Last updated on 08 Sep 2012

None are foreseen under the current ICCAT management policy.

COMPLIANCE

Last updated on 8 January 2015

There is no TAC in place for skipjack tuna {ICCAT 2014}.

ICCAT

Ghana

Purse seines

Last updated on 16 October 2012

There are no reported problems with illegal catches in this fishery.

Senegal

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 5 November 2012

There are no reported problems with illegal catches for pole and line vessels operating from Senegal in this fishery.

IUU catches from distant water fleets remains a problem, esp., in offshore waters and such catches remain unquantified in tuna fisheries off West Africa.

Spain

Mechanized lines

Last updated on 8 September 2012

Compliance is relatively good for Spanish fleets operating in the North Atlantic Ocean (ICCAT 2012a, page 63). Servicio Marítimo in the Guardia Civil appear to conduct regular inspections for enforcing minimum size limits for several coastal finfish and shellfish species through inspections at spillways, points of sale, markets and restaurants in Canary islands (Anon 2012). Existing information suggests that tuna and other large pelagics do not appear to have any size or retention limits in the Lanzarote sportfishing sector. Fishing licenses are required for nearshore fishing in Lanzarote. They include A) Class 1: Fishing from the shore B) Class 2: Spear fishing; C) Class 3: Fishing from a boat. There are reports of illegal fishing in port area, near ship wrecks and in smaller bays (Anon 2012). Extent of unreported catches (mainly catches for consumption at home and direct sales to restaurants) is difficult to enumerate due to large number of landing sites that are relatively unmonitored (Melnychuk et al., 2001). The same source citing a pers comm., from P. Martin-Sosa mentions that unreported catch in Lanzarote could range from 15-20% of the reported landed catch (Melnychuk et al., 2001).

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 8 September 2012

Saint Helena

Hooks and lines

Last updated on 1 June 2009

Bulk of the fishery is concentrated very close to the shore, so offshore waters and sea mounts are not patrolled for illegal fishing by foreign fleets(Carleton et al 2010).

Although, the small size of the fishing fleet and single landing point make it difficult for fisheries violations to go undetected; lack of regulations, observer scheme and regular sea and aerial patrols are gaps that need attention (Carleton et al 2010).

3.ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY

BYCATCH

ETP Species

Last updated on 13 January 2015

Bycatch of sea turtles can occur in purse seine and longline fisheries. In the Atlantic Ocean, green, hawksbill, leatherback, loggerhead and olive ridley sea turtles have the potential to be incidentally captured in these fisheries. Green, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles have been classified as Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), hawksbill as Critically Endangered and olive Ridley as Vulnerable (Seminoff 2004)(Mortimer and Donnelly 2008)(TEWG 2007)(MTSG 2006)(Abreu-Grobis and Plotkin 2008). Purse seines are prohibited from setting around sea turtles and any incidentally captured sea turtles (purse seine or longline cpatured) must be released using safe handling techniques (ICCAT 2010a).Several species of sharks, silky, oceanic whitetip and hammerhead sharks are prohibited from being retained if incidentally captured {ICCAT 2011b}{ICCAT 2010b}{ICCAT 2010c}.

ICCAT

Ghana

Purse seines

Last updated on 15 October 2012

There is no data on interactions with PET species in this fishery.

Senegal

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 5 November 2012

There is no information on interactions with PET species in this fishery.

Spain

Mechanized lines

Last updated on 17 October 2012

There is no information on interactions with PET species in this fishery in Canary Islands.

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 17 October 2012

There is no information on interactions with PET species in this fishery in Canary Islands.

Saint Helena

Hooks and lines

Last updated on 1 June 2009

St Helena Endangered Species Protection Ordinance stipulates that it is illegal to catch or kill cetaceans, turtles and sea birds. There is minimal interaction with these species in pole and line fisheries, and mandate to release any accidental catch poses less threat to these animals.

Cetacean sightings (Humpback Whales; Dolphins) are anecdotally reported, and their documentation remains inadequate in St Helena waters (Weir 2010 ; Bennett and MacLeod 2006).

Hawksbill and green turtles occur in St Helena waters throughout the year but are rarely monitored (Carleton et al 2010).

Other Species

Last updated on 9 December 2009

In Atlantic purse seine (associated) fisheries, billfish, bony fish, other tuna species and sharks can be incidentally captured. Bycatch in unassociated purse seine fisheries typically consists of fewer species and occurs in less amounts. Observer rerecords from French and Spanish purse seiners indicate that blue marlin, dolphinfish, rainbow runner, triggerfish, silky and oceanic whitetip sharks are bycatch species in associated fisheries(Amande et al. 2010). Blue marlin are currently fished at unsustainable levels (ICCAT 2011a). Bycatch in fisheries such as purse seine are considered to be a contributing factor to silky shark population declines (Bonfil 20009). The status of the other species is unknown in the Atlantic. In unassociated fisheries, Atlantic sailfish have been reported as a common bycatch species (Chassot et al. 2008). Atlantic sailfish populations in the eastern Atlantic are likely undergoing overfishing (ICCAT 2009).

Under the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), countries are required to report bycatch and discards. In addition, several species of sharks, silky, oceanic whitetip and hammerhead, are prohibited from being retained if incidentally captured {ICCAT 2011b}{ICCAT 2010b}{ICCAT 2010c}. Management measures for other bycatch species, such as dolphinfish, wahoo, rainbow runner and triggerfish are not in place.

ICCAT

Ghana

Purse seines

Last updated on 15 October 2012

There is shortage of data on by-catch species retained and discarded in this fishery operating from Ghanaian ports (Pramod and Pitcher 2006).

In the artisanal fisheries, drifting gillnets are used to catch tunas, swordfish, sharks and sailfish (FCWC 2012). In the industrial tuna fisheries, there is reported use of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) to catch tuna by both purse seiners and boatboats alluding to relatively high by-catch of sensitive species in this fishery. Both fleets employ around 1500 FADS to target tuna (ICCAT 2012b). It is unknown if observers onboard (present since 2009) collect data on by-catch of other non-target species in this fishery.

Senegal

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 6 November 2012

In the industrial tuna fisheries, there is reported use of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) to catch tuna by both purse seiners and boatboats alluding to relatively high by-catch of sensitive species in this fishery. Both fleets employ around 1500 FADS to target tuna (ICCAT 2012b).

By-catch and discards are negligible in this fishery according to 2010 Friend of the Sea Audit Report.

Spain

Mechanized lines

Last updated on 17 October 2012

Pole and line vessels target skipjack, bluefin and juvenile yellowfin/albacore tuna primarily for the canning industry (Majkowski et al ., 2007). By-catch rates are relatively low for pole and line fisheries, and where it occurs mostly consists of juvenile kawakawa tuna (Euthynnus affinis),mahimahi (Coryphaena hippurus), frigate mackerel (Auxis rochei), and rainbow runner (Elagatis bupinnulata) (FAO 1997; Gilman 2011).

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 17 October 2012

Saint Helena

Hooks and lines

Last updated on 1 June 2009

Systematic collection of discards is not available for albacore fisheries in St Helena waters; data on bycatch landed is available in Carleton et al (2010).

Decapterus spp. are regularly caught for use as baitfish in Tuna fisheries; and such catches remain unquantified.
Information from Carleton et al (2010) suggests that with the exception of some sharks most of the other bycatch is landed for domestic consumption.

The same source suggests that discards are often less, with any occasional catch of blue sharks released into water.

HABITAT

Last updated on 9 December 2009

Purse seines typically have minimal impact to bottom habitats. Unassociated purse seines do not come in contact with bottom habitats. Anchored fish aggregating devices (FADs) could result in contact with the bottom {Beverly et al. 2012).

Marine Reserves

Last updated on 09 Dec 2009

There is a time area closure for the surface fishery and area closures for fishing with fish aggregating devices (FADs) during January and February {ICCAT 2012a}.

ICCAT

Ghana

Purse seines

Last updated on 15 October 2012

Primary gear used to catch skipjack tuna, including pelagic purse seines and pole and line do not come in direct contact with the sea floor. Lost and discarded gear can damage coastal habitats.

Marine Reserves

Last updated on 15 Oct 2012

None are reported in the jurisdiction of this fishery.

Senegal

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 5 November 2012

Primary gear used to catch skipjack tuna, including pelagic pole and line do not come in direct contact with the sea floor. Lost and discarded gear can damage coastal habitats.

Marine Reserves

Last updated on 05 Nov 2012

None are reported in the jurisdiction of this fishery.

Spain

Mechanized lines

Last updated on 17 October 2012

Pelagic troll/pole gear have a negligible effect on the biogenic and physical habitat because they have no contact with the seafloor (Chuenpagdee et al. 2003).

Marine Reserves

Last updated on 17 Oct 2012

Under Decreto 62/1995, Isla Graciosa e Islotes del Norte de Lanzarote marine reserve has been declared over a 707 km area (Anon 1995; Tuya et al., 2006).

ICCAT Rec. 04-01 (effective since 2005) time-area closure to reduce incidental mortality of juvenile bigeye tuna with expected effect for all tropical tunas.

Pole-lines hand operated

Last updated on 17 October 2012

Pelagic troll/pole gear have a negligible effect on the biogenic and physical habitat because they have no contact with the seafloor (Chuenpagdee et al. 2003).

Marine Reserves

Last updated on 17 Oct 2012

Under Decreto 62/1995, Isla Graciosa e Islotes del Norte de Lanzarote marine reserve has been declared over a 707 km area (Anon 1995; Tuya et al., 2006).

ICCAT Rec. 04-01 (effective since 2005) time-area closure to reduce incidental mortality of juvenile bigeye tuna with expected effect for all tropical tunas.

Saint Helena

Hooks and lines

Last updated on 1 June 2009

Pole and line and other pelagic fishing gear do not come in contact with the bottom and has nominal effect on marine habitats.

Analysis

FishSource Scores

Last updated on 22 October 2018

SELECT SCORES

MANAGEMENT QUALITY

STOCK HEALTH:

To see data for biomass, please view this site on a desktop.

To see data for catch and tac, please view this site on a desktop.

To see data for fishing mortality, please view this site on a desktop.

No data available for recruitment

To see data for management quality, please view this site on a desktop.

To see data for stock status, please view this site on a desktop.

DATA NOTES

1) There is no Blrp in place thus score 1 cannot be computed. Qualitative scores have been computed for 1,2 and 3. 2) F and SSB values are not available so qualitative scores have been set for 4 and 5 *4) catches have been updated through 2013 {ICCAT 2014}.

Download Source Data

Registered users can download the original data file for calculating the scores after logging in. If you wish, you can Register now.

FishSource Scores

Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs)

SELECT FIP

Access FIP Public Report

Progress Rating: B

Evaluation Start Date: 1 Sep 2016

Type: Comprehensive

Comments:

FIP is rated A for stage B because there has been no stage 4 progress over past 12 months.

1. FIP Development	Sep 15	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 23 September 2015 — Updated pre-assessment with expansion of Principle 2. 15 October 2014 — MSC pre assessment summary results
2. FIP Launch	Jan 16	Confirmation of project participants 12 January 2016 — WWF and OPAGAC sign MoU
2. FIP Launch	Sep 16	Workplan made public 1 September 2016 — FIP workplan 2016
3. FIP Implementation	Oct 18	FIP activities undertaken 1 October 2018 — Participated in several research papers on catch and effort monitoring. `Task A22. Engage with member countries and the industry in support of real-time catch monitoring Action Engagement to Pursue Robust Harvest Strategies Adopted and Implemented in the Atlantic Ocean` 23 July 2018 — Participate in Panel 1 inter-sessional meeting and encourage the EU and others to ensure that discussion of management objectives is on the agenda 18 July 2018 — Participated in ABNJ 5th STreering Group Meeting `Task A20. Explain the role and importance of harvest strategies to management agencies in relevant countries. Action Engagement to Pursue Robust Harvest Strategies Adopted and Implemented in the Atlantic Ocean` 21 May 2018 — Participated in ICCAT meetings - SWGSM and SCRS `Close overlay Task A17. Engage with relevant member countries to ask them to support proposals to develop management objectives as soon as possible; in preparation for key meetings, e.g. the Standing Working Group on Science-Management Dialogue, SWGSM, SCRS Action Engagement to Pursue Robust Harvest Strategies Adopted and Implemented in the Atlantic Ocean` 1 May 2018 — OPAGAC has a research agreement with AZTI to support and improve the sustainable management tropical tuna in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.This will significantly contribute to the development of indices of abundance (both fishery dependent and independent). 19 March 2018 — Participate in existing projects aimed at improving compliance with data requirements, as considered useful (e.g. ICCAT, ABNJ, WWF) 12 March 2018 — OPAGAC participated in the COMHAFAT/ATLAFCO meeting held in Morocco (12-13 March 2018), on the establishment of a Regional Harmonized Port Inspection Program in the ATLAFCO region; promotion of a EU Dialogue on Fisheries Governance to enhance regional initiatives, organized by LDAC, with COMHAFAT (date tbd) 1 September 2017 — Progress on Task B2 on Observer Data Collection and Quality Control 3 October 2016 — Propose a draft work plan and timetable for the implementation of 15-07 for all outstanding stocks to ‘harvest strategy group’ for review. Note: The work plan should be consistent with the milestones set out in Appendix 2, if possible. 1 October 2016 — Improved data collection for bycatch, discards, and interactions with improved mitigation where required 1 October 2016 — Verification and improvement of the Code of Good Practices 1 May 2016 — Research into different designs of FADs including non-entangling and biodegradable, based on the evaluation in D2
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Jul 18	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 July 2018 — Cetaceans are included in the Code of Good Practices from 2018 onward. `Task C4. Inclusion of cetaceans in the code of good practice: identification of best practice for avoiding / handling Action Code of Good Practices` 22 September 2017 — Verification of the implementation and outcome of the code of practice (the Observer Program) - Report presented to ICCAT
5. Improvements on the Water	—	Verifiable improvement on the water
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public

Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs)

Certifications

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

SELECT MSC

NAME

St. Helena pole & line and rod & line yellowfin, bigeye, albacore and skipjack tuna

STATUS

Not certified

SCORES

This fishery was identified as not certified by the Marine Stewardship Council on October 26, 2010

Principle Level Scores:

Principle	Score
Principle 1 – Target Species – Bigeye tuna	76.5
Principle 1 – Target Species – Yellowfin tuna	75.8
Principle 1 – Target Species – Albacore	75.8
Principle 1 – Target Species – Skipjack tuna	74.4
Principle 2 - Ecosystem	81.0
Principle 3 – Management System	80.4

Certification Type:

Certifications

Sources

Credits

Abreu-Grobois, A & Plotkin, P. (IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group) 2008. Lepidochelys olivacea. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.

Amande, M.J., Ariz, J., Chassot, E., de Molina, A.D., Gaerner, D., Murua, H., Pianet, R., Ruiz, J. and Chavance, P. 2010. Bycatch of the European purse seine tuna fishery in the Atlantic Ocean from 2003-2007 period. Aquatic Living Resources 23:353-362.

Bonfil, R., Amorim, A., Anderson, C., Arauz, R., Baum, J., Clarke, S.C., Graham, R.T., Gonzalez, M., Jolón, M., Kyne, P.M., Mancini, P., Márquez, F., Ruíz, C. & Smith, W. 2009. Carcharhinus falciformis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1.

Chassot, E., Amande, M.J., Chavance, P. Pianet, R. and Dedo, R.G. 2008. A preliminary attempt to estimate tuna discards and bycatch in the French purse seine fishery of the eastern Atlantic Ocean. SCRS/2008/117.

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). 2009a. Report of the 2009 sailfish stock assessment. Reciefe, Brazil, 1-5 June 2009.

International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). 2009b. Report of the 2008 ICCAT yellowfin and skipjack stock assessments meeting. Collective Volume of Scientific Papers ICCAT 64:669-927.

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). 2010a. Recommendation by ICCAT on the by-catch of sea turtles in ICCAT fisheries. Recommendation 10-09.

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). 2010b. Recommendation by ICCAT on hammerhead sharks (family Sphyrnidae) caught in association with fisheries managed by ICCAT. Recommendation 10-08.

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). 2010c. Recommendation by ICCAT on the conservation of oceanic whitetip shark caught in association with fisheries in the ICCAT convention area. Recommendation 10-07.

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). 2011a. Report of the 2011 blue marlin stock assessment and white marlin data preparatory meeting. Madrid, Spain, 25-29 April 2011.

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). 2011b. Recommendation by ICCAT on the conservation of silky sharks caught in association with ICCAT fisheries. Recommendation 11-08.

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). 2012a. Report of the standing committee on research and statistics (SCRS). PLE-104/2012, Madrid, Spain, 1-5 October 2012.

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). 2014. Report of the standing committee on research and statistics (SCRS). Madrid, Spain 29 September to 3 October 2014.

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). 2014b. Report of the 2014 ICCAT east and west Atlantic skipjack stock assessment meeting. Dakar, Senegal June 23 to July 1, 2014.

Marine Turtle Specialist Group 1996. Caretta caretta. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.

Mortimer, J.A & Donnelly, M. (IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group). 2008. Eretmochelys imbricata. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.

Seminoff, J.A. (Southwest Fisheries Science Center, U.S.) 2004. Chelonia mydas. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.

Turtle Expert Working Group (TEWG). 2007. An assessment of the leatherback turtle population in the Atlantic Ocean. NOAA Technical memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-555.

Skipjack tuna

Eastern Atlantic Ocean

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

IDENTIFICATION

ANALYSIS

FISHSOURCE SCORES

RECOMMENDATIONS

FIPS

CERTIFICATIONS

Fisheries

Fisheries

Analysis

OVERVIEW

1.STOCK STATUS

2.MANAGEMENT QUALITY

3.ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY

Analysis

FishSource Scores

FishSource Scores

Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs)

Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs)

Certifications

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

NAME

STATUS

SCORES

Certifications

Sources

Sources

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