The ghosts of the ocean, the Pacific bluefin tuna, have been depleted by a staggering 97.4%, a haunting statistic that unveils a global crisis where many other tuna species are teetering on the edge of collapse.
Key Takeaways
- The Pacific bluefin tuna spawning stock biomass has declined by 97.4% from unfished levels as of 2019 assessments
- Western Atlantic bluefin tuna population is at only 13% of maximum sustainable yield levels per 2022 ICCAT assessment
- Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna biomass increased to 36% of unfished levels by 2021 after strict quotas
- Global tuna catch reached 5.3 million tonnes in 2020 FAO data
- Purse seine catch of skipjack in WCPO hit 2.8 million mt in 2022 WCPFC
- Yellowfin tuna Indian Ocean landings 400,000 mt annually averaging 2015-2022 IOTC
- Bycatch of sharks in tuna purse seines WCPO 200,000 mt annually WCPFC
- Silky sharks 45% of non-tuna catch in tropical purse seines ISSF
- Sea turtles entangled in longlines Pacific 4,000 loggerheads yearly NOAA
- Global tuna market value $42 billion in 2021 with 5% annual growth
- Pacific Island nations lose $500 million/year from tuna access fees mismanagement
- Canned tuna industry employs 1 million people globally ISSF
- ICCAT bluefin tuna TAC set at 36,000 tonnes for 2023-2025 recovering stock
- WCPFC tropical tuna FAD management non-entering limit 2024-2026
- IOTC yellowfin rebuilding plan adopted 2022 with 20% TAC cut over 4 years
Rampant overfishing has driven global tuna stocks to critically low levels.
Bycatch and Ecosystem Impacts
1Bycatch of sharks in tuna purse seines WCPO 200,000 mt annually WCPFC
Verified2Silky sharks 45% of non-tuna catch in tropical purse seines ISSF
Verified3Sea turtles entangled in longlines Pacific 4,000 loggerheads yearly NOAA
Verified4Billfish discard rates 20-30% in bigeye tuna longline fisheries ICCAT
Directional5Juvenile yellowfin mortality from FADs 50% of catch under 40cm IOTC
Single source6Oceanic whitetip sharks 73% decline linked to tuna fisheries IUCN
Verified7Mahi-mahi bycatch in purse seines EPO 50,000 mt yearly IATTC
Verified8Seabirds hooked in tuna longlines Southern Ocean 10,000 birds/year CCSBT
Verified9Rays and skates discards 15% biomass in Indian Ocean trawls for tuna IOTC
Directional10False killer whales Pacific longline bycatch 60 animals/year NMFS
Single source11Rainbow runner incidental catch 10% in skipjack purse seines WCPO
Verified12Hammerhead sharks finned from tuna vessels 100,000 fins/year est. WWF
Verified13Wahoo bycatch rates 5-10% in tropical longlines IATTC
Verified14Marine mammals total bycatch tuna fisheries 100,000/year global FAO
Directional15Jellyfish blooms increase 20% linked to overfished tuna predator control
Single source16Ecosystem trophic level of catches declined 0.3 since 1950 in tuna areas
Verified17Coral reef fish declines 30% near FAD moorings Pacific islands
Verified18Blue marlin Atlantic bycatch mortality 25% post-release ICCAT
Verified19Mobulid rays fins 20% from tuna IUU catches Pacific
Directional20Squid biomass increase 40% due to tuna predator removal Japan data
Single source21Leatherback turtles EPO longline bycatch halved to 200/year post-circle hooks
Verified22Ecosystem modeling shows 50% forage fish increase from tuna decline
Verified23Tuna overfishing causes 15% biodiversity loss in pelagic zones IUCN
VerifiedBycatch and Ecosystem Impacts Interpretation
The ocean is trying to tell us that our tuna sandwich is a tragically inefficient multi-species casserole, where the main ingredient comes garnished with a side of ecological collapse.
Conservation Measures and Recovery Efforts
1ICCAT bluefin tuna TAC set at 36,000 tonnes for 2023-2025 recovering stock
Verified2WCPFC tropical tuna FAD management non-entering limit 2024-2026
Verified3IOTC yellowfin rebuilding plan adopted 2022 with 20% TAC cut over 4 years
Verified4CCSBT Southern bluefin TAC 17,160 mt stable for 2023 with allocation scheme
Directional5IATTC yellowfin reference points adopted Fmsy proxy 2023 assessments
Single source6EU Common Fisheries Policy tuna quotas aligned MSC standards 2022
Verified7Pacific Bluefin ISC management procedure adopted 2021 with harvest control rule
Verified8FAO Port State Measures Agreement ratified by 150 countries combat IUU tuna
Verified9MSC certification covers 20% global tuna catch with 15 labels active
Directional10Circle hook mandates reduced turtle bycatch 60% in Atlantic longlines ICCAT
Single source11RFMOs vessel monitoring systems track 95% large tuna vessels real-time
Verified12Bluefin tuna Mediterranean farms closed 2008-2010 aiding 200% biomass recovery
Verified13WCPFC juvenile bigeye protections limit purse seine 10% under 55cm 2023
Verified14ISSF tuna measure resolutions adopted by all RFMOs FAD tracking 2023
Directional15US Big Island closed area Hawaii longline reduced bycatch 90%
Single source16IOTC ban on shark finning onboard tuna vessels since 2019 compliance 80%
Verified17Parties to Nauru Agreement vessel day scheme limits 45,000 days WCPO tuna
Verified18Albacore ISC harvest strategy interim F based framework 2022
Verified19Greenpeace market pressure led major retailers 100% sustainable tuna pledge 2020
Directional20Blockchain tuna traceability pilots Thailand/EU track 50,000 mt 2023
Single source21Observer coverage mandated 10% purse seine 100% longline RFMOs average
Verified22Bluefin electronic reporting systems ICCAT 100% compliance 2022
Verified23Marine reserves Palau Micronesia protect 20% tuna spawning grounds
Verified24AI satellite monitoring detects 30% IUU incursions Pacific Global Fishing Watch
Directional25Tuna RFMO compliance committees blacklist 50 vessels yearly average
Single sourceConservation Measures and Recovery Efforts Interpretation
Global tuna management has reached a precarious peak of bureaucracy and innovation, where regulators are frantically writing rules to save the fish we are still frantically catching.
Economic and Social Consequences
1Global tuna market value $42 billion in 2021 with 5% annual growth
Verified2Pacific Island nations lose $500 million/year from tuna access fees mismanagement
Verified3Canned tuna industry employs 1 million people globally ISSF
Verified4Japan tuna import bill $3 billion annually for sashimi markets
Directional5EU tuna processing sector €5 billion turnover 2022 STECF
Single source6Small-scale fishers Pacific 50,000 livelihoods threatened by industrial overfishing
Verified7Thailand canned tuna exports $2.5 billion 2022 but stocks declining
Verified8US West Coast albacore fishery revenue $50 million/year NOAA
Verified9IUU tuna trade costs $10 billion lost revenue globally yearly
Directional10Seychelles tuna fleet contributes 30% GDP from licenses $100 million/year
Single source11Mexico yellowfin fishery supports 40,000 jobs but overcapacity issues
Verified12Global tuna price premium for MSC certified 20-30% higher
Verified13Food security risk for 60 million people reliant on tuna protein FAO
Verified14China tuna processing industry $15 billion output 2022
Directional15Kiribati tuna revenue 80% government budget $150 million/year
Single source16Overfishing subsidies $4.6 billion to tuna fleets global
Verified17Ecuador purse seine fleet $1 billion revenue but bycatch costs extra $200 million
Verified18Vietnam canned tuna exports $1.2 billion 2022 growth 10%
Verified19Spain Basque tuna fleet economic loss from quotas €100 million/year
Directional20Indonesia artisanal tuna fishers 2 million people income halved since 2010
Single source21Global insurance claims for lost tuna gear $500 million/year FAD damage
Verified22Bluefin tuna ranching Italy revenue €300 million pre-2008 crash
Verified23Projected $20 billion loss by 2030 from tuna stock collapse WWF
Verified24Maldives pole-line fishers income stable at $50 million but competition rises
Directional25ICCAT bluefin TAC reductions cost fleets €1 billion since 2009
Single sourceEconomic and Social Consequences Interpretation
We’re paying billions to catch, can, and trade tuna while simultaneously paying billions more to manage its decline, a paradox as rich in folly as it is poor in future fish.
Fishing Pressure and Catch Volumes
1Global tuna catch reached 5.3 million tonnes in 2020 FAO data
Verified2Purse seine catch of skipjack in WCPO hit 2.8 million mt in 2022 WCPFC
Verified3Yellowfin tuna Indian Ocean landings 400,000 mt annually averaging 2015-2022 IOTC
Verified4Atlantic bluefin purse seine quota utilization 90% of 32,000 t TAC in 2022 ICCAT
Directional5Pacific bigeye longline catch 150,000 mt yearly WCPO 2020s WCPFC
Single source6Albacore North Pacific troll/pole catch 25,000 mt US fleet 2021 NOAA
Verified7FAD-associated purse seine sets WCPO increased 300% since 1995 to 60,000/year
Verified8Southern bluefin tuna total catch quota 17,160 mt for 2023 CCSBT
Verified9Eastern Pacific yellowfin purse seine catch 450,000 mt 2022 IATTC
Directional10Bigeye tuna Atlantic longline catch 60,000 mt annually ICCAT
Single source11Skipjack purse seine EPO 200,000 mt yearly average IATTC
Verified12Bluefin tuna Japanese longline catch reduced to 4,000 mt under quota 2022
Verified13Indian Ocean longline effort doubled to 20,000 sets/year for bigeye since 2010 IOTC
Verified14WCPO tropical tuna FAD fishing 55% of total purse seine effort 2022
Directional15US Bigeye tuna Hawaii longline landings 2,500 mt 2021 NOAA
Single source16Mediterranean bluefin farm transfers 20,000 mt annually pre-quota reforms ICCAT
Verified17Global tuna exports value $40 billion with 4.5 million mt traded 2021 ISSF
Verified18Pole and line skipjack Maldives catch 100,000 mt sustainable claim 2022
Verified19Atlantic yellowfin driftnet illegal catch estimated 10,000 mt yearly Greenpeace
Directional20Pacific albacore surface fishery catch 50,000 mt NZ/Australia 2022
Single source21IUU tuna catch Pacific estimated 20-30% of total or 200,000 mt WWF
Verified22Chinese distant water fleet tuna catch 500,000 mt globally 2020
Verified23EU purse seine fleet WCPO tuna landings 150,000 mt 2022
Verified24Korean longline bigeye catch EPO 15,000 mt average IATTC
Directional25Global FAD deployments estimated 100,000 units yearly ISSF
Single source26Tuna catch per unit effort global longline down 80% since 1950s
VerifiedFishing Pressure and Catch Volumes Interpretation
We've reached the point where we're so good at catching tuna that our global success is measured not in thriving populations, but in the startling efficiency of our own depletion, with a side of questionable math and a $40 billion price tag.
Stock Status and Population Decline
1The Pacific bluefin tuna spawning stock biomass has declined by 97.4% from unfished levels as of 2019 assessments
Verified2Western Atlantic bluefin tuna population is at only 13% of maximum sustainable yield levels per 2022 ICCAT assessment
Verified3Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna biomass increased to 36% of unfished levels by 2021 after strict quotas
Verified4Yellowfin tuna in the Indian Ocean Indian Ocean Tuna Commission estimates spawning stock at 30-50% below MSY in 2022
Directional5Bigeye tuna Western and Central Pacific stocks depleted to 15% of unfished biomass per 2023 WCPFC
Single source6Albacore tuna North Pacific stock at 40% of unfished spawning biomass in 2021 ISC assessment
Verified7Skipjack tuna in WCPO remains above MSY at 80% biomass but declining trend since 2010
Verified8Southern Bluefin Tuna global stock at critically low 5-10% of unfished levels per CCSBT 2022
Verified9Atlantic bigeye tuna overfished with F/Fmsy ratio of 1.8 in 2021 ICCAT data
Directional10Yellowfin tuna EPO stock biomass at 22% of unfished levels per IATTC 2023
Single source11Longtail tuna Indian Ocean stocks showing 25% decline in CPUE from 2010-2020 IOTC data
Verified12Bluefin tuna Adriatic nursery areas show juvenile abundance down 60% since 2000 per ICCAT
Verified13Pacific bigeye tuna juvenile biomass 70% depleted per 2022 assessment
Verified14North Atlantic swordfish linked to tuna fisheries shows proxy decline of 40% biomass
Directional15Bullet tuna Mediterranean stocks collapsed 80% post-2010 overfishing surge
Single source16Kawakawa Indian Ocean CPUE dropped 35% from 2005-2022 IOTC stats
Verified17Frigate tuna stocks in Gulf of Thailand at 20% historical levels per SEAFDEC
Verified18Little tunny Atlantic coast US surveys show 50% biomass reduction since 1990s NOAA
Verified19Blackfin tuna Caribbean populations estimated 65% depleted per ICCAT
Directional20Striped bonito Pacific stocks down 45% per ISC assessments
Single source21Global tuna stocks overall 60% overfished per FAO SOFIA 2022
Verified22Tropical tunas WCPO 80% of catch from FADs contributing to 50% juvenile mortality
Verified23Bluefin tuna age-1 recruits down 75% in 2020s vs 1980s Japan data
Verified24Yellowfin tuna Indian Ocean SSB at 0.35 Bmsy per 2023 IOTC
Directional25Albacore South Pacific biomass 55% unfished but fishing mortality high at 1.5 Fmsy
Single source26Skipjack Indian Ocean stocks pressured with 20% recent decline IOTC
Verified27Bigeye Atlantic SSB ratio 0.6 to BMSY proxy 2022 ICCAT
Verified28Pacific bluefin age structure skewed with only 10% mature fish in catches 2022
Verified29Eastern Pacific yellowfin F/Fmsy 2.1 indicating overfishing IATTC 2023
Directional30Global longline CPUE for bigeye tuna down 60% since 1990s ISSF data
Single sourceStock Status and Population Decline Interpretation
The ocean's tuna, once the silver currency of healthy seas, are now a collection of overdrawn accounts and bounced checks, with the Pacific bluefin nearly bankrupt at 3% of its original value and most others deep in the red.
Sources & References
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