Pacific-Wide Catch
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): 2011 – 2020
Landings by Country
The plot below shows average annual landings by country for all
species recorded in IATTC data.
The Other category includes Chile, Vanuatu, Canada, Belize, Unknown,
Guatemala, El Salvador, each of which has landings less than 1% of the
total, and others not specified in the source data.
Landings by Species
During 2011-2020 Albacore accounted for 5.7% of total landings,
Bigeye tuna for 14.2%, Skipjack tuna for 44.9%, and Yellowfin tuna for
35.2%.
Landings by Gear
The Other category includes Recreational , Gillnet, Pole-and-line,
Harpoon and others not specified in the source data.
Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC Data): 2011 – 2020
Landings by Country
PNG: Papua New Guinea, FSM: Federated States of Micronesia; the Other
category includes Spain, Ecuador, New Zealand, Fiji, El Salvador,
Tuvalu, Australia, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Samoa, French Polynesia,
Palau, Tonga, Tokelau, Belize, Canada, each of which has landings less
than 1% of the total.
Landings by Species
During the 2011- 2020 period, Albacore accounted for 4.1% of total
landings, Bigeye Tuna accounted for 5.6%, Skipjack Tuna accounted for
66.4%, and Yellowfin Tuna accounted for 23.8%.
Landings by Gear
*Small-scale hook-and-line (Philippines and Indonesia). The Other
category from source data.
North Pacific (ISC Data): 2012 – 2021
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, 68%, averaging 58,536 metric tons annually during the
2012-2021 period. U.S.landings averaged 12,844 metric tons or 15% 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 2019 at 39,631 mt, Pacific bluefin landings were lowest in
2018 at 10,201 mt, and swordfish landings were lowest in 2021 at 5,201
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 94% 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 86% of total Pacific bluefin landings. Setnet
landings increased markedly in 2017. Setnet is a passive gear so this
may reflect increasing stock abundance.
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.
