Overfishing of bigeye tuna continues in the western and central Pacific tuna fishery according to a report by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
According to Xinhua News Agency, the SPC made the assessment in a report released at the third African Caribbean Pacific fisheries meeting in Fiji.
Though the species is not at risk of extinction, and is never likely to be, bigeye fishing effort needs to be reduced by at least 32 percent from the average levels of 2006 to 2009 to ensure long-term sustainability, the assessment report said.
The 2010 catch for all four species is estimated at 2.42 million metric tons, the second highest annual catch on record, representing 83 percent of the total Pacific Ocean catch and 60 percent of the global tuna catch.
"Overall, the fishery is in the best shape of all the tuna fisheries in the world," said John Hampton, manager of the SPC Oceanic Fisheries Program.
"On a scale of 110, we estimate it as 67, a green traffic light tinged with orange. But there has been an upward trend in total tuna catch for many years, mainly due to increases in purse- seine fishery catches, which accounted for 75 percent of the 2010 catch."
The purse-seine fisheries and domestic surface fisheries of the Philippines and Indonesia take large numbers of small bigeye, says the report, recommending that the yellowfin catch in the western equatorial Pacific be limited to around current levels and that limits on skipjack fishing be considered.
Illegal fishing is a growing trend and is a serious concern in the world of fisheries and forests, which undermines efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks, Fijian Ministry of Fisheries' Permanent Secretary Inoke Wainiqolo said.
Fiji has developed a National Plan of Action (NPOA), with the assistance of United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization ( FAO), on IUU fishing based on the provisions of the International Plan of Action.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
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