The data used in the graphs and summaries below use Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) public domain data, Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Tuna Fishery Yearbook annual catch estimates, and International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean (ISC) annual catch tables.
Eastern Pacific Ocean Landings (IATTC Data): 2009 – 2018
Landings by Country
The plot below shows average annual landings by country for all species recorded in IATTC data.
The Other category includes French Polynesia, Chile, Vanuatu, Canada, Belize, Guatemala, each of which has landings less than 1% of the total, and others not specified in the source data.
Landings by Species
During 2009-2018 Albacore accounted for 6.0% of total landings, Bigeye tuna for 14.8%, Skipjack tuna for 42.3%, and Yellowfin tuna for 36.9%.
Landings by Gear
The Other category includes Recreational , Pole-and-line, Gillnet, Harpoon and others not specified in the source data.
Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC Data): 2009 – 2018
Landings by Country
PNG: Papua New Guinea, FSM: Federated States of Micronesia; the Other category includes New Zealand, Fiji, Ecuador, Tuvalu, El Salvador, French Polynesia, Australia, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Samoa, Palau, Tonga, Eastern Pacific Us Purse Seine Fleet, Belize, Tokelau, Niue, Canada, Senegal, each of which has landings less than 1% of the total.
Landings by Species
During the 2009- 2018 period, Albacore accounted for 4.7% of total landings, Bigeye tuna accounted for 5.7%, Skipjack tuna accounted for 67.0%, and Yellowfin tuna accounted for 22.7%.
Landings by Gear
*Small-scale hook-and-line (Philippines and Indonesia). The Other category from source data.
North Pacific (ISC Data): 2009 – 2018
The ISC provides member country catch data for the species it assesses. Of these, landings of North Pacific albacore, Pacific bluefin tuna, and swordfish are summarized here. (The other assessed species are blue and short-fin mako sharks, and striped and blue marlins.). ISC catch table data provided in a suitable format for processing by the ISC Data Manager, Kiara Nishikawa.
Landings by Country
Japan accounts for the largest proportion of these three species landings, 66%, averaging 61,654 metric tons annually during the 2009-2018 period. U.S.landings averaged 14,550 metric tons or 16% of total landings.
Landings by Species
As depicted below, landings of albacore, Pacific bluefin, and swordfish have declined over this 10-year period. Albacore landings were lowest in 2018 at 49,318 mt, Pacific bluefin landings were lowest in 2018 at 10,148 mt, and swordfish landings were lowest in 2016 at 10,623 mt. The decline in Pacific bluefin landings may be partially attributable to the implemention of catch limits in the WCPFC Northern Committee’s stock rebuilding plan.
Albacore Landings by Gear Type
The gear types depicted below are the three top ranked in terms of landings and accounted for 95% of total albacore landings.
Pacific Bluefin Tuna Landings by Gear Type
The gear types depicted below are the three top ranked in terms of landings and accounted for 87% of total Pacific bluefin landings. Setnet landings increased markedly in 2017 but fell dramatically in 2018. Setnet is a passive gear so this may reflect increasing stock abundance and a subsequent management response to limit catch.
Swordfish Landings by Gear Type
The gear types depicted below are the three top ranked in terms of landings and accounted for 97% of total swordfish landings.
