Tuna: Bigeye

Ahi, Po’onui

Maguro

Bigeye matures at an early age, has a moderate lifespan, is highly fecund, and is widely distributed, making it inherently resilient to fishing pressure. Bigeye caught with troll or pole-and-line gear is the most sustainable option. Longlines, the most common catch method for bigeye tuna, result in large bycatch, including sea turtles, sharks and seabirds. Since there are no international laws to reduce bycatch, these longline fleets are contributing heavily to the long-term decline of some of these species. Most of the world’s bigeye populations have been depleted due to longline fisheries. Management of bigeye tuna is complex, and varies by ocean basin. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing remains problematic worldwide.

Bigeye matures at an early age, has a moderate lifespan, is highly fecund, and is widely distributed, making it inherently resilient to fishing pressure.

For all regions there is a moderate degree of stock status uncertainty. Overfishing is occurring or likely occurring in all fisheries with the exception those in the Atlantic. Declining long and short-term population trends are characteristic of all stocks. Overall stock status is considered poor (including Eastern Pacific, Western and Central Pacific and Indian Oceans – stocks representing 87% of catch) while stocks in the Atlantic (representing 17% of catch) are rebuilding.

Bycatch has not been well described for bigeye tuna fisheries in the Atlantic. In the North Pacific, longlining for tuna is known to have a high degree of bycatch including endangered species such as turtles and seabirds. There are also several species of shark that are caught as bycatch. International fleets have no obligation to report bycatch, and therefore bycatch is poorly understood. Available data suggest very high bycatch of endangered seabirds and turtles and therefore is a critical conservation concern.

Pelagic longlining is believed to have negligible effects on benthic habitat. The ecosystem effects of removing large predators such as tuna, billfishes and sharks remain a cause for concern.

The international pelagic longline fleet has no comprehensive observer program and no comprehensive international enforcement program. In the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans there are complete and robust stock assessments and adequate scientific monitoring; however, despite these initiatives, management has not maintained stock abundance in any ocean basin. Management of the international longline fisheries is deemed ineffective due to a lack of a bycatch mitigation plan and inadequate enforcement.

What kind of tuna is this?

Where is it caught?

How was it caught?

Adults and children should eat no more than 4 meals per month + Contaminant levels are unknown

No.