STATUS OF TUNA FISHERIES IN THE WESTERN CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN

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Assessment of tuna stock in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) and WCP-Convention Area (CA)(Figure 1) has been done annually by groups of scientist using the scientific data available provided by members and cooperating non-members. Attempts by WCPFC to improve the data collection and methodology of stock assessment from the past to present make major changes to better understanding the status and trends of tuna stock and how developing of the tuna fisheries in the WCPO. Target species are 4 major tuna, i.e., bigeye (Thunnusobesus), yellowfin (Thunnusalbacares),albacore (Thunnusalalunga), skipjack (Katsuwonuspelamis), and tuna like species such as major billfish species, i.e., black marlin (Makairaindica), blue marlin (Makairamazara), striped marlin (Tetrapturusaudax) and swordfish (Xiphiasgladius). Main fishing gears for tuna fisheries in the WCFO are purse seine (associated with drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD), log, and free school), longline, pole and line, troll and others. Different types of fishing gear are used for different tuna species, however number of By-catch from tuna fisheries are also take into consideration by the WCPFC on how fishing interaction to those by-catch species. In this review, by-catch and tuna like-species are not included.

Figure 1. the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) Area and the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) Area

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