The global tuna catch in 2022 increased to 5.2 million tonnes, a 2% increase from 2021.
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86% of global tuna catch comes from stocks at healthy levels while 10% requires more efficient control, the latest International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Status of the Stocks report alerts. Compared to the 2023 report findings, this is a 1% improvement.
Also, the report indicates that overfished stocks amount to 10% of the total catch (11% in the previous report). However, the catch that came from stocks at an intermediate level of abundance (4%) didn't change.
In the same line, fishing mortality saw the same numbers as in 2023. 13% are experiencing overfishing, and 9% are at an intermediate level. On the other hand, the total catch in 2022 increased to 5.2 million tonnes, a 2% increase from 2021.
Finally, the report informs that the five largest catches in tonnes still are Western Pacific Ocean skipjack, Western Pacific Ocean yellowfin, Indian Ocean skipjack, Indian Ocean yellowfin, and Eastern Pacific Ocean yellowfin.
WeAreAquaculture informed in late February that the European Council presented new regulations focused on the management, conservation, and control measures in the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) convention area.
The ISSF produces several Status of the Stocks reports each year to provide clarity about where we stand to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks.
It uses the most current scientific data on 23 major commercial tuna stocks. There are 23 stocks of major commercial tuna species worldwide, 6 albacore, 4 bigeye, 4 bluefin, 5 skipjack, and 4 yellowfin stocks.
The Status of the Stocks summarizes the results of the most recent scientific assessments of these stocks, as well as the current management measures adopted by the Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs).
