Of the total global tuna catch, 85% comes from stocks at healthy levels, according to the latest figures from the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation.
The Status of the Stocks Report which reviews data on the 23 commercial tuna stocks around the world shows that 11% are overfished and 4% comes from stocks at an intermediate level of abundance.
No individual stock statuses have changed since the previous report in March 2023 which ISSF says highlights the value of continuous scientific assessments to inform management decisions.
Key figures from the new report
Whilst stock levels are generally healthy, Indian Ocean bigeye, Indian Ocean yellowfin, Mediterranean albacore and Pacific Ocean bluefin are all currently overfished.
Globally, 61% of the stocks are at a healthy level of abundance (unchanged from the March 2023 report), 22% are at an intermediate level, and 17% are overfished.
Sixty-six per cent of the catch is made by purse seining, followed by longline (9%), pole-and-line (8%), gillnets (4%) and miscellaneous gears (13%).
The five largest catches in tonnes, unchanged since the previous report, are Western Pacific Ocean skipjack, Western Pacific Ocean yellowfin, Indian Ocean skipjack, Indian Ocean yellowfin, and Eastern Pacific Ocean skipjack.
The total catch of major commercial tunas was 5.1 million tonnes in 2021. Fifty-seven per cent was skipjack tuna, followed by yellowfin (31%), bigeye (7%) and albacore (4%). Bluefin tuna accounted for 1% of the global catch.
