Fisheries in the Pacific

Overview of tuna fisheries, stock status and management framework…
WCPO albacore catch (143,227 t 5%) was the second highest on record. Prior to
2001, south Pacific albacore catches were generally in the range of 25,000-50,000 t,
with a significant peak in 1989 (49,076 t) when driftnet 18 fishing was still in
existence. Since 2001, catches have greatly exceeded this range, primarily as a result
of the growth in several Pacific Island domestic longline fisheries.
Figure 11: Catch (in tonnes) by gear (top) and species (bottom) for the Western
and Central Pacific region, 1960-2013 (Harley et al. 2015)
3,000,000
2,500,000
Other
Troll
Purse seine
P
Longline
2,000,000
Catch (t)
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012
Years
3,000,000
2,500,000
Yellowfin tuna
Skipjack tuna
Bigeye tuna
Albacore tuna
2,000,000
Catch (t)
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012
Years
Note that data for 2013 are preliminary.
18. Drifnets are nets that can reach up to 50 km long and are set vertically in the water, maintained by
floats at the surface or near the surface. They drift with the current, and fish striking the net become
entangled in the mesh. Driftnet fishing ceased in 1991.
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