Status of Tuna Fisheries and Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

1. Status of Tuna Fisheries and Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP)

2. Overview • Summary of fishery trends through 2011, with some indicators for 2012 • Status of the stocks • Main tuna stocks • Other stock assessments from 2012 • WCPFC (and other) responses

3. WCPFC Convention Area

4. WCP-CA Tuna Catch by Gear

5. WCP-CA Purse Seine Fishery

6. PS Effort from VMS 20N – 20S, excluding domestic PS effort for ID and PH

7. 2011 versus 2012 2011 2012 La Niña -> El Niño

8. Trends in PS CPUE into 2012 Preliminary PS catch estimate for 2012 – 1.66 million t

9. WCP-CA Longline Fishery

10. WCP-CA Longline Fishery

11. WCP-CA Longline Fishery

12. WCP-CA Longline Fishery

13. Status of Stocks Summary Main tunas

14. Skipjack Approximately 1.6 million tonnes in 2010, dominated by purse seine, reduction in 2011, record catch likely in 2012 Stock decreasing slowly – now about 50% depletion from unexploited level Current catches now about MSY Outlook: stock falling to near MSY level, 25% of unexploited level

15. Yellowfin Catch plateaued since late 1990s in spite of increasing PS and LL effort Full exploitation potential of yellowfin has been reached Stock has decreased steadily Now approaching 60% depletion from unexploited level

16. Bigeye Catch has levelled out over past 10 years Mainly longline catch of adults Recent increase in purse seine catch with FAD introduction Biomass has declined steadily Very high level of depletion, approaching 80% Issues with assessment indicating increased productivity post-1980

17. South Pacific Albacore Fishery is mainly longline, catching adult albacore Catch has doubled since 1995, 30% increase in 2010 over 2009 Biomass has declined steadily since mid-1960s Stock depletion due to fishing is ~ 30% current catches approaching MSY

18. Stock Status Overview • All four stocks at or near their lowest observed biomass level

19. Stock Status Overview

20. Other Species • Southwest Pacific striped marlin • Close to MSY in terms of fishing mortality and biomass • Oceanic whitetip shark • Strongly overfished, spawning biomass <10% of unexploited level • Silky shark • Some uncertainties, but probably overfished with overfishing continuing

21. WCPFC Responses • Tropical tuna CMM (interim measures for 2013) • PS effort limited to: • 2010 levels for PNA EEZs collectively • 2010 or 2001-2004 average for other EEZs with >1,000 days PS effort annually in 2006-2010 • Other EEZs – self-nominated effort or catch limits • No increase in effort on the high seas • FAD closure (3 mo) + 1 mo additional closure or limits on FAD set numbers by flag • Longlinebigeye catch limits for DWFNs

22. WCPFC Responses • South Pacific Albacore CMM (2010) • No increase in vessels targeting albacore south of 20⁰S from 2005 or 2000-2004 average levels • SPC members working in a FFA process on comprehensive zone-based catch limits, but agreement has stalled

23. WCPFC Responses • Oceanic Whitetip CMM • No retention or landing, including fins • Live release where possible • Whale Shark CMM • Prohibition of deliberate PS setting on schools associated with whale sharks • Where inadvertent setting occurs, take all steps to ensure safe release