NOAA Fisheries held a public hearing on Tuesday on a proposed rule allowing fishermen in the US Virgin Islands to use spearguns commercially to catch and sell tuna. These fishers hold the Highly Migratory Species Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permits. The expansion of fishing options has been made available to fishers catching yellowfin, albacore, bigeye, and skipjack in the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean. However, the proposed speargun fishing would be subject to size and retention limits including requiring mariners to be in the water when firing a speargun, using freediving, scuba, or other breathing devices. Only free-swimming tuna can be taken and the fish can not first be restrained on a line, according to news site The Virgin Islands Consortium.

A second hearing on the topic is scheduled for October 1, while written comments will be accepted through October 13. Speargun fishing for tuna already exists in the Virgin Islands as a recreational activity.

Walker’s Tuna, the retail brand of Mooloolaba-based Walker Seafoods Australia, began sales in Coles supermarkets across the nation from August 9. The products comprise MSC-certified albacore in 200 g jars and 70 g pouches. Walker’s Tuna is mainly in the business to business segment but launched its consumer brand in August 2024. Until last month, the products were sold through some supermarkets and online stores. The recent expansion to Coles is expected to mark its strong foothold in the Aussie retail market.

Walker Seafoods, in business since 2002, has supplied Australian tuna to restaurants and export markets for more than two decades before kicking off its retail brand in 2024. Heidi Walker, the company’s Managing Director, said securing space in the supermarket tuna aisle was a major step for the business and Australian seafood producers. “It means shoppers now have a genuine Australian option in a category that has traditionally been dominated by imported products,” reported Aussie news sites.

The Nicaraguan Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INPESCA) recently conducted a 15-day biological monitoring survey of yellowfin and other fish stocks in Nicaragua’s Pacific Ocean EEZ. The study was carried out aboard a longline vessel and designed to gather key information on the status of species in the area, according to INPESCA. The collected data included details on bycatch in the longline yellowfin fishery, specifically rays, as well as sightings of protected species such as marine mammals and sea turtles. This is considered important for assessing and supporting biological conservation.

Data obtained from the study will help marine biologists to assess the abundance, diversity, and distribution of species, and gather other information, including fishing yields. It will also strengthen the information available for decisions on the responsible management of fisheries resources, stated INPESCA. The monitoring is also part of the Insitute’s efforts to follow the guidelines of the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity, promoting the responsible and sustainable use of fishery resources for the benefit of Nicaraguan families.