By AtunaUnited States’ albacore exports are showing a tremendous recovery during this first semester of 2009, compared to the same period last year. American albacore fishermen managed to sell over double the amount of the fish overseas, reaching...
By Atuna
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Steering Group has invited global fisheries scientists and experts on tuna fishing to a 4 day workshop in Sukarrieta, Spain this November.
Attendees will review what is...
Source: The Economist
The tuna industry associations OPAGAG and ANABAC, which together represent 100% of the Spanish tropical tuna fleet, yesterday rejected to transport private security on board their vessels in the Indian Ocean.
In a press...
Source: Business WorldThe European Union (EU) has turned down requests to defer implementation on Jan. 1 next year of a fish conservation policy, with an EU official expressing confidence that local fishers can “keep up with the challenge.â€â€œWe’re...
Source: Science DailyAccording to the AZTI-Tecnalia researchers, the first estimations of the geographical location of the recovered tag revealed that this fish had undertaken migrations between the Azores and Portugal during the winter, later to...
Source: The Economist NamibiaThe Namibian fishing sector contributed close to N$3 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country in the 2007/08 financial year.According to the latest annual report of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine...
Source: Big News BizDuring a time where people are looking for deals and bargain shopping to get the most bang out of their buck, SAFCOL provides a healthy solution for bodies and wallets. People are looking to stay in shape economically and...
As of this writing, the official death toll in both Samoas was hovering around 100. This figure will almost certainly increase as rescue teams reach remote villages and as more of the missing become accounted for in one way or the other. President...
Source: EuropoliticsThe European Commission initialed, on 30 September, a new fisheries partnership agreement with the Solomon Islands, replacing the current one, which entered into force in October 2006. The new agreement covers a period of three...
Source: CBC NewsA majority of P.E.I. bluefin tuna fishermen have voted in favour of delaying the opening of the fall fishing season by three days to avoid depressing the price of the fish.The season, originally set to start on Monday, will be...
Source: OceanaThe Spanish Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs published this week in the Official State Bulletin a total prohibition on the catch of hammerhead and thresher sharks[1]. With this highly awaited Ministerial Order,...
Source: ABC NewsThe founder of the Port Lincoln Tuna company, Clean Seas, will be stepping down as chairman to make way for someone with international experience.Hagen Stehr says the move is part of a new commercialization phase for the company but...
Source: VNAAn increase in tuna exports from Vietnam to Canada has made the northern American country one of the top importers of the aquatic product.The Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers of Vietnam (VASEP) reported that tuna exports to...
By AtunaThe acidification of the world's oceans is a subject which increasingly starts to worry fisheries scientists and is getting more attention within the fisheries industry. The tuna industry, on the other hand, hasn't put a lot of...
Source: FFARecent meetings of Fisheries Observers who our on-board tuna vessels in the WCP Ocean indicate that observers need more support to meet the increasing challenges set by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).This...
Source: Bumble Bee Press ReleaseBumble Bee Foods, America's leading premium tuna brand and the producer and marketer of a full line of canned and pouched seafood products, extends its commitment to health and wellness today in joining the...
Source: Talking RetailPrinces UK is launching a new tuna product to meet growing consumer demand for healthy snacks.Princes Tuna Bites - cubes of tuna in Tetra Pak cartons - are available in three variants, Tuna Bites in brine, sunflower oil and...
Source: Associated PressSpain is working to secure the release of a Spanish tuna trawler hijacked in the Indian Ocean with a crew of 36 but the ordeal could drag on, the defense minister said Monday.Pirates seized the ship Alakrana on Friday about...
Source: Carolina CoastThe Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) is urging the federal government to stop the international trade of bluefin tuna to combat overfishing.The association made this request to the federal government after the results of...
Source: ABC NewsThe export of iron ore through Port Lincoln has been approved by the South Australian Government.Centrex Metals will build bulk-handling equipment at Port Lincoln to export more than 1.5 million tons of iron ore per year from its...
Source: Malta TodayOfficials from the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs were this week dispatched to il-Kalanka, limits of Delimara, to investigate a slew of thick, white scummy pollution drifting into the bay from the direction of a nearby...
Source: El Mundo
The owners of the Spanish tuna fleet, consisting of 17 ships, have given orders to all employers operating in Indian Ocean waters to leave the fishing grounds, as a precautionary measure until they can guarantee the security...
Source: PR NewswireA vital step towards closed life cycle farming of the commercially valuable Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna (NBT) was achieved in the Adriatic farming sites of Kali Tuna, a Croatian tuna farming company and the laboratories of the...
Source: Reuters Somalia's prime minister has promised to help efforts to free a Spanish tuna fishing boat seized by pirates off the Somali coast, Spain said on Monday.Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos spoke by telephone to Omar Abdirashid...
Source: AFPWhile Spanish tuna purse seiners have been ordered back to port due the threat to their crew of hijacking by Somali pirates; the French fleet is still able to operate. French boat owners have struck a deal to have soldiers on board to...
Source: AFPThe capture in the Indian Ocean of the Spanish tuna hauler FV Alakrana has revived controversy over the protection of French and Spanish tuna boats threatened by pirates off the coast of Somalia.“We’re in danger the whole time and we’re...
Source: Radio NZBumble Bee Foods has announced a contribution of 100,000 US dollars for the American Samoa Tsunami Appeal.The San Diego-based tuna and seafood products manufacturer is providing a cash donation of 50,000 dollars and ready-to-eat food...
By AtunaFrozen bigeye tuna for sashimi imports went down dramatically in the past 5 years within members of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). From 2003 until last year, the amount of imports reported through the Bigeye Tuna Statistical...
Source: Minivan NewsA parliamentary committee was formed yesterday in the Maldives to compile a report on the difficulties faced by fishermen and measures to revive the industry. The committee was formed following a debate on a motion proposed by...
Source: EITBThe Seychelles-flagged fishing vessels operating in the Indian Ocean will count on private security on board as of tomorrow, Friday October 9th, onwards. This is something that involves an expense of 24,000 Euros per month.Eight...
Source: GreenpeaceGreenpeace today called for the arrest of the captain of the Japanese tuna long liner ship Koyo Maru 3, which the environmental organization claims, was fishing illegally in the Cook Islands.The Greenpeace ship Esperanza,...
Written by Anna TomovaThe ‘Ten Riskiest Foods’ list compiled by the Centre for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has the food industry, understandably upset. The CSPI looked at FDA-regulated products to make the list, figuring out lettuce, eggs,...
Source: CBC NewsThe fall fishing season for bluefin tuna has changed yet again in P.E.I.The season, originally set to begin on Oct. 5, and delayed until Oct. 8, is now set to start Oct. 10 at 7 a.m., according to the P.E.I. Fishermen's...
Source: ABC NewsThe blacklist of fishing vessels that will be banned from catching tuna in the main Pacific fishery could grow dramatically by year's end. The blacklist was a hot topic at the Central and Western Pacific Fisheries Commission -...
By AtunaThailand, the world’s greatest canned tuna producer, hasn’t been able to recover the market share its product used to have in most countries in 2008. During the first 8 months of 2009, the country exported 309.427 M/T of canned tuna, 10%...
Source: FFA Press Release
If it is up to the Compliance Committee of the WCPFC there will be soon stricter rules introduced in the Western Pacific ocean in regard to tuna fishing – both by purse seiners as by longliners.
At the Fifth Regular...
Source: Vancouver SunA study published in the journal Global Change Biology predicts climate change through 2055 may lead to a 30-to-70-per -cent increase in catches at higher latitudes and a drop of up to 40 per cent in the tropics. Norway,...
Source: SunStarThe local tuna industry has expressed support to domestic and international conservation efforts to ensure its long-term sustainability and competitiveness in the global market.Marfenio Y. Tan, president of the Socsksargen Federation...
Source: AFPA NATO spokeswoman says 11 suspected pirates have been captured after a foiled attack on French fishing ships in the Indian Ocean.Jacqueline Sherriff of the maritime unit of NATO in Northwood, outside London, says the coast guard in the...
Source: African Press AgencyThe authorities in the nearby French dependency of Reunion have warned that all fishing vessels flying the Mauritian flag caught operating in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the island will face heavier fines than...
Source: Sunday TimesThere are an estimated 5,000 multi-day fishing craft in Sri Lanka. A majority of them are involved in tuna fishing. Since tuna has become a delicacy in many countries it has become a thriving global business. Countries compete...
Source: WA TodayThe federal government has indicated it may do more to protect stocks of the overfished Southern bluefin tuna.A report has been released on the state of remaining tuna stocks, and the Australian Greens have called for the fishing...
Source: Associated PressThe two tuna cannery plants sit right next to each other in long, white rectangular buildings along a narrow waterfront in Pago Pago Harbor's small industrial zone.The tsunamis largely spared both plants even though they...
Source: APPirates attacked two fishing boats in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, but French soldiers protecting the trawlers returned fire and forced the assailants to flee, France’s military said.Coast guard vessels from the nearby Seychelles...
Source: La RazonSeveral Basque tuna vessels, sailing with Seychellois flag, were resuming their fishing activities on Saturday with the support of private security to prevent attacks by Somali pirates.
One of these vessels is the “Demiku†which...
Source: The NationalThe controversial multi-million US$ tuna processing zone that is now taking shape in Madang PNG has won full support from six legitimate landowner clans living around the project site.
The landowners belonged to the Kananam...
Source: Central News AgencyA Taiwanese deep-sea fishing boat hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean in April is still docked in Somalia but its crew is safe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman Henry Chen said Monday.
Chen made...
By AtunaAccording to local tuna producers, the typhoons Ketsana and Parma - which recently claimed about 600 lives – have not affected tuna canneries in the area.
The typhoon Ketsana hit Manila directly two weeks ago and the typhoon Parma is...
Source: Taiwan News
Two crew members on board the Yu Chun No.166 threatened the Taiwanese skipper, Shih Chin-hsing, with a knife while the ship was fishing off Southern Japan on Oct. 2. Shih and another Taiwanese crew member barricaded themselves...
Source: AFP
France’s navy Monday handed over five Somali pirates, accused of attacking La Somme flagship in the Indian Ocean six days ago, to officials in Somalia’s Puntland region, a French naval spokesman said.“The five pirates were released this...
Source: ReutersTwo Somalis suspected of taking part in hijacking a Spanish fishing boat which is still under the control of pirates were brought to Madrid on Monday to face piracy charges, a defense ministry spokesman said. The National Court...
Source: Radio NZThe Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority is moving to adopt new fishing regulations that could lead to the prosecution of American purse seiners who violate the rules within its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
The...
Source: Seychelles NationJoint action between Seychelles and France has resulted in the owner and captain of a Taiwanese boat being fined R1,050,000 (USD 104,000) for illegal fishing.The boat had falsely reported its position and had not recorded...
Source: Journal PioneerThe fall tuna season had only been open a couple of hours when Terry Harris nabbed a giant.The 34-year-old fisher from Lower Rollo Bay says it was a combination of a lot of luck and a little skill that helped him and his first...
By AtunaThe main issues on the agenda for the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Technical and Compliance Committee (TCC) 5th meeting completed last week were the activities of observers who were placed on purse seine fishing...
Source: Oceana Press Release
The European Commission will propose 2010 TACs and quotas this Friday, but the system must be strengthened to be a useful tool for sustainable fisheries
An analysis by international marine conservation...
By Atuna
The Technical and Compliance Committee (TCC) of the Western Central Pacific Ocean Commission (WCPFC) has recommended that an online system be developed to acquire more vessel details from its Vessels Monitoring System (VMS).
All fishing...
By AtunaRecently, some tuna fishermen are claiming that lower catches in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) are the result of a new upcoming “El Ninoâ€, whereas others blame climate change. Assumptions have been made that the tuna is migrating in...
By AtunaThe United States yesterday announced that it will seek the strongest possible management for the conservation of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA (National Oceanic...
Source: Food Biz DailyLast week at the port of Itajaà (Santa Catarina - Brazil), Gomes da Costa Cannery initiated the loading of the very first batch of fish sold to Iraq by a Brazilian company. It was 300 thousand cans of tuna, a deal totaling...
Source: Journal PioneerIsland tuna boats will get another crack at landing the big ones this week, but it might only be the early birds who get results.The executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, Ed Frenette, said preliminary...
Source: EuroNewsTwo of the 36 pirates who were captured earlier this month have appeared in a Madrid court facing hijacking charges.The two men were caught by the Spanish navy as they tried to make their way ashore. The pirates still holding the...
Source: AFPSomali pirates holding a Spanish tuna trawler for the past 12 days on Wednesday demanded four million dollars for the release of the ship and its 36-member crew, one of the pirates told AFP.The pirates also demanded, as a pre-condition of...
Source: ReutersFrench marines deployed on a tuna fleet off the Seychelles fired at suspected Somali pirates on Tuesday, the second such clash in the space of a few days as France protects its highly lucrative tuna industry.While navies from around...
Source: Algerian PressAccording to media coverage in Algeria cited above and below, the General Secretary and the Director of the Algerian Ministry of Fisheries, and 5 Turkish and 2 Algerian ship-owners, have been charged with illegal fishing...
Source: Pew Environment Group
Great disappointment within the environmental sector about the position of US administration failure to co-sponsor a proposal for consideration by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild...
Source: FISThe Ministry of Defense offered shipowners of tuna fishing vessels the possibility of training private security personnel for hire and facilitating their transfer to the Indian Ocean. However, it insisted on its refusal to allow military...
Source: Europa PressThe tuna inter-trade organization (Interatún), that represents to the tuna fleet and the Spanish canning industry, indicated last week that the Spanish Government should carry out “all the possible efforts†to free the 36 crew...
Source: All AfricaIncreased illegal fishing activities in the Indian Ocean are threatening to destock tropical tunas along the Eastern and Southern African coast, says Fisheries Development minister Paul Otuoma.
Dr. Otuoma, in a speech read on his...
Source: Economic TimesNow fish will have their private lives pried into, thanks to scientists, who are using GPS tags to track them underwater.Until now it has been difficult to track fish with any accuracy. Traditional GPS tags narrow the range to...
Source: Radio NZMore than 200 people have staged a noisy march to the Madang provincial government office in Papua New Guinea to petition the Government to stop work on the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone.PNG’s National newspaper says the Zone is...
Source: Fish UpdateSome of Britain’s leading restaurants - including many with Michelin star ratings - have been accused of serving endangered varieties of fish. The exposure was made by The Sunday Times, the country's top selling Sunday...
Source: The Hindu“New draft bill will only help the foreign vessels owned by ‘dummy’ Indian entrepreneursâ€.The Centre’s decision to repeal Maritime Zones of India Act, 1981 and replace it with Maritime Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Act has...
Source: AFPFrench Defense Minister Herve Morin asked authorities on the Seychelles on Sunday to prosecute suspected pirates operating in the Indian Ocean.Bringing to justice suspected Somali pirates captured by international navies in the Indian...
By Natalia Freitas for Atuna.comIn response to a recent motion presented to the parliament, a Parliamentary Committee was formed in the Maldives to compile a report on the difficulties faced by fishermen and on solutions to improve the current...
Source: ForbesMaruha Nichiro Holdings slid 2.8 percent to 137 yen after the seafood processor cut its operating profit forecast for the year to March by 35 percent to 13 billion yen ($143 million), citing dwindling consumer spending and falling...
Source: Australia ToOver-fishing comes to Madang, Papua New Guinea, as local people prepare to resist 10 tuna canneries. "Support indigenous South Pacific coastal people as they are peacefully protesting right now".In the peaceful South Pacific town...
Source: The AdvertiserClean Seas Tuna has unveiled a $54m capital raising to pay back almost $21m of debt and cope with reduced credit terms imposed by its feed provider.Shares plunged almost 40 per cent to 30c within two hours of the company coming...
Source: AFPSeveral Spanish tuna trawlers based in the Seychelles are employing former British soldiers to protect themselves from pirates off the coast of Somalia, daily newspaper El Pais reported on Monday.The decision was taken following the...
Source: Shipping IndustryThe Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association said that there are still too many environmental concerns regarding the iron ore exports from Port Lincoln.According to the ASBTIA, research into the potential...
Source: Associated PressThe European Union agreed Tuesday on tougher penalties to counter illegal fishing, considered a major cause of the depletion of fish stocks in European waters, particularly of prized cod and bluefin tuna.The penalties include...
By AtunaThe World’s largest food fair, the ANUGA, which took place last week in Germany, brought together approximately 153.500 trade visitors from more than 180 countries, with 61% (about 93.500) coming from abroad. Attendance was slightly lower...
Source: HaveeruThe Maldives National Defence Force’s (MNDF) Coastguard has seized two Iranian fishing vessels that were fishing illegally in Maldivian territorial waters. The two vessels were seized during the second joint surveillance operation...
Source: Radio NZThe American Samoa Governor, Togiola Tulafono, says it is unfortunate that the legislature has decided not to back a bill which would allow the Government to purchase the assets of Samoa Packing cannery.The cannery shut down and left...
Source: Reuters AfricaA Spanish court said on Tuesday it would free one of two suspected Somali pirates captured after the hijacking of a Spanish fishing boat because he appeared to be under 18-years-old.The immediate future of the suspect, whose...
Source: Khaleej TimesThe European Union’s fisheries commissioner said Tuesday that he was withdrawing a proposal for a fisheries partnership with Guinea, saying it would be ‘politically unacceptable’ to go ahead. Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg said...
Source: VietnamNet BridgeVietnamese tuna exporters are facing difficulties, because they cannot import materials for processing, while export markets are narrowing.
According to the General Department of Customs, by mid September 2009, Vietnam had...
By AtunaA white shark managed to make its way into a tuna farm in Spanish waters last week.The 4,5 meter-long white shark made a hole in one of the tuna farms located off the Coast of Murcia and swam its way into the pen. Once inside it started...
Source: The NationalOpponents of the construction of the Papua New Guinea’s Madang l Pacific Marine Industrial Zone PMIZ- are making heavy accusations towards the tuna industry. The PMIZ, at Vidar along the North Coast Road, is projected to be one...
By AtunaNowadays the final focus for the Atlantic Bluefin is getting the species on the CITES list as last resort to protect it for total extinction. Less attention has there been for the consistent inability over the last 10 years of the...
By AtunaThe International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) has been recently pressured to present a stock assessment for bluefin tuna under its management. Shortly after the European Union announced its refusal to support the...
Source: Jakarta PostThe Europe-Indonesia Business Dialogue (EIBD) has agreed to form a team specifically to handle matters in the trade of fish between the two economies, following Indonesia's complaints about the Eurozone's high import...
Source: ABC NewsAustralian officials at a crucial meeting on the future of southern bluefin tuna have made it clear to their counterparts they think the species is in crisis.The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna is currently...
Source: ABC Radio AustraliaThe world’s fishing stocks are in crisis, most fisheries are over-exploited, and there seems to be no let-up in the building of bigger and better fishing vessels, but the best managed fishery in the world now has rules...
Source: Radio NZThe Parties to the Nauru Agreement are to investigate closing off additional high seas pockets to rein in illegal tuna fishing.The fisheries ministers from the PNA countries - the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the...
We all know how the “dolphin safe†label can add value to tuna products while also providing peace of mind to the consumer, however how reliable are some of these labels and what is the difference between them? There are a large number of “dolphin...
Source: MSN NewsThe Seychelles archipelago said Thursday it was to deploy troops to some of its outer islands to deter Somali pirates that have been hunting their prey ever closer to the tiny Indian Ocean state.President James Michel “approved the...
Source: The AdvertiserAustralian fisheries will have to cut their take of southern bluefin tuna by 30 per cent, according to a decision agreed on tonight.But the decision to cut the total allowable catch of the prized southern bluefin tuna by only...
Source: WWF Press ReleaseNew study reveals first ever method to genetically identify all eight tuna species
A new paper published today in PLoS ONE, the online open-access scientific journal, unveils for the first time a method to accurately...
Source: Associated PressHawaii’s State Board of Land and Natural Resources has voted to approve the development of the first tuna farm in the US.Hawaii Oceanic Technology’s plan was approved in a 4-1 vote, which gives the company the go-ahead to put...
Source: ABC NewsNew South Wales far south coast fishermen say they will be hit financially by the latest quota cuts.The international body controlling southern blue fin tuna hauls has slashed the Australian catch by 25 per cent.While most of...
Source: AFNClean Seas Tuna has announced the appointment of John Ellice-Flint to the role of non-executive Chairman of the Australian aquaculture pioneer. The news comes as Australia’s share of the worldwide quota of Southern Bluefin Tuna has been...
Source: EITBBasque president Patxi Lopez made the announcement on Monday and hopes the central Spanish government will finance a further quarter of the costs, with ship owners making up 50% of the total outlay.Basque president Patxi Lopez meets with...
Source: Radio AustraliaPresenter: Pacific Correspondent Campbell Cooney Speakers: Executive Officer of the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, Andrew Wright; Port Lincoln's mayor Peter DavisThe Pacific Tuna fishing industry says...
Source: Manila BulletinRepresentatives of six countries surrounding the Coral Triangle, known as the “center of marine biodiversity in the world,†will meet in Manila to discuss financial support, business investments, and environment protection on...
Source: FIS
The European Union (EU) warned the Central American fishing sector that those countries that facilitate illegal fishing will not be able to accede to the European market as of next year, said a European representative.According to...
Source: EITBThe decision comes after shipowners and Basque PM Patxi Lopez met on Monday to evaluate the situation of the Basque tuna boat ‘Alakrana’, hijacked since October 2.The armed protection of the Basque tuna fishing boats working in waters of...
Source: ABC NewsThe Federal Government says it will consider what level of support it can offer Port Lincoln’s tuna industry.The Federal Government says it will consider what level of support it can offer Port Lincoln’s tuna industry once plans are...
Source: EITBThe Somali pirates demand that their two colleagues in a Spanish prison are released in five days’ time.Somali pirates holding a Basque fishing boat and its crew hostage have threatened to hand crew members over to the families of two...
Source: Radio NZThe US House Committee on Natural Resources will hold a hearing on the American Samoa Protection of Industry, Resources and Employment bill next week.The legislation will provide cash incentives for companies that process tuna in...
Source: ABC Australia
Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean says he is confident the new government in Tokyo will move to police any future over-fishing of the southern bluefin tuna by the Japanese fleet.In Tokyo for trade talks, Mr. Crean...
Source: WWFAtlantic bluefin tuna meets the criteria for a ban on international trade, according to global scientists of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). This official assessment of bluefin’s extreme stock...
Source: EIIIn reaction by the Earth Island Institute on the story “How Dolphin Safe Is Tuna?†(published by FIS October 23, 2009 and covered by atuna.com) the dolphin protection organization says the article badly misses the mark.
Earth Island...
By AtunaEcuadorian exports of tuna to Venezuela have almost tripled in less than two years. Until September of 2009, numbers reached 15.062 M/T; quite a hike from 5.240 M/T in 2007.
Exports of the goods has jumped from 2007 to 2008 and it’s...
