Tuna Fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

(including the Philippines)

I. Introduction

Based on Grolier International Encyclopedia (1991). tunas are among the largest and most
commercially important of all fishes. Seven species, making up the genus Thunnus of the tuna
and mackerel family Scombridae, are found in temperate and tropical oceans around the world
and account for a major proportion of the U.S. fish catch and U.S. fish imports. The two
dominant species of tuna in western and central Pacific Ocean are skipjack tuna and yellowfin
tuna whose distribution and spawning areas are shown in Map 1 below.

Tunas typically have cigar-shaped, streamlined bodies with two dorsal finlets—a narrow tail
region, and a large, deeply forked tail. They vary extensively in size, color, and fin length. Along
with the mackerel sharks, tunas are unique among fishes in having a body temperature higher
than that of the surrounding water—a result of a complex circulatory system and continuous
sustained activity. Fast swimmers, traveling at more than 48 km/hr (30 mph), they typically
migrate long distances and appear only seasonally in any one location. Tunas occur both in
surface waters and at great depths, where their large eyes help them to see in the dark. They feed
on other fishes and on squid.

The larget species, a highly prized sport fish, is the bluefin, Thunnus thynnus, found worldwide.
Some specimens exceed 4.2 m (14 ft) and weigh more than 680 kgs (1,500 lb). Other important
species include the albacore, T. alalunga, a small fish , often less than 18 kg (40 lb), which is
famed for its tasty while meat, the large yellowfin, T. albacares; and the deep-water bigeye, T.
obesus.

The tuna fishery is controlled by international agreements limiting how much fishers may take
and where they may fish—limits that not always observed. Another major problem is created by
the method used to harvest tuna (as well as salon and squid): huge nets are stretched across
kilometers of ocean, capturing sea birds, seals, porpoises, and dolphins and dolphin kill has been
huge, constituting a threat to their populations.

Map 1. Distribution and Spawning Grounds in the World

Distribution and Spawning Areas of Skipjack
Distribution and Spawning areas of Yellowfin tuna

Philippines Philippines
Geographic Distribution
Major Tuna Species of the World

Table 1 shows that the top 3 tuna species: skipjack, yellowfin, and big-eye are mainly caught in
the following countries: Southeast Asia (Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia), Micornesia (Samoa),
Cental/South America (Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador), Africa (Senegal and Ivory
Coast), and Europe (Spain and Italy).

Table 1. Showing the Pictures of the Different Tuna Species and Certain Data

Life Cycle

3 years
maximum

4 – 7 years

5 – 7 years

5 years
maximum

10 – 25 years
maximum

At least
12 years

1 – 2 years
Distribution of Catches of Tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

It is in the western and central Pacific ocean which has the highest concentration of tuna
population of the following species: yellowfin and big-eye tuna as shown in Map 2.

Map 2 Distribution of yellowfin (top left), bigeye (top right), albacore (bottom
left) and broadbill swordfish (bottom right) catches in the western and central
Pacific Ocean [Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community]
1 1

2 3
2 3

4 5 3 5

1
1

2 3 2 3

4 5 5
4
Ecological Importance of Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO)

The WCPO is characterized by the presence of islands as shown in Map 3.

Map 3. Showing the island countries in the WCPO

The ecological characteristics of WCPO indicates the following:

1. The presence of several humdreds of islands which surrounded by shallow waters and
coral reefs make it very rich in primary productivity and fishery productivity.

2. The vast expanse of the area with several thousand miles in length (west to east) and few
thousand miles in width (north to south) makes the area ideal for a) habitat, b) shelter and b)
spawning and nursery grounds for oceanic large pelagic migratory species of fish like tuna
Migration of Tuna (yellowfin and big-eye) from WCPO to Southeast Asian waters and
North/South America

It has been observed through research (the tagging method) that yellowfin and Big-eye tuna that
are found in the WCPO migrate towards westward (Indonesia and Philippines) and eastward
(North and Central America) as shown in Map 4; likewise, tuna from north and central america
migrate towards the WCPO. This indicates that there is only stock of said species of tuna in the
whole Pacific Ocean.

Map 4. Showing the Direction of Migration of Tuna

Pacific Ocean

Long-distance (>1,000 nmi) movements of tagged Yellowfin tuna

Japan
China
Taiwan Pacific Ocean

Australia

Long-distance movements of tagged Big-eyed Tuna

But in the case of yellowfin tuna being distributed throughout the tropical and sub-tropical waters
of the Pacific Ocean, there is some indication of restricted mixing between the western and
eastern Pacific based on analysis of genetic samples and tagging data. Adults (larger than about
100 cm) spawn, probably opportunistically, in waters >26 C, while juvenile yellowfin are first
encountered in commercial fisheries (mainly surface fisheries in the Philippines and eastern
Indonesia) at several months of age.

Tuna migration in the Philippines

Map 5 shows the direction of migration of tuna from the Philippine waters. It has been suggested
that juvenile yellowfin start to migrate out of Philippine waters at 30 cm size, and that most of
these juvenile yellowfin are gone from the region by the time they reach 60 cm in length.
Yellowfin larger than 110 cm are caught by hook-and-line fishers coming from the Philippines
(General Santos City, Sarangani, and Davao) in the northern Celebes Sea which is part of the
territorial water of Indonesia.

Map 5. Indicating Migration of Tuna from Higher to Lower Latitude

Yellowfin tuna migrate out

of the Philippine waters at Direction of migration is
30 cm in fork length ( 6 months old) towards the warmer water
15 temperature
o of the equatorial
region as Autumn approaches
But there are large tuna that are
caught in the Pacific side outside (Nov-December-January) or
of Municipal water but within the EEZ When tuna reaches 30 cm or
6 months old from spawning
Time (summer/early spring)
10o

Northern Celebes Sea

where yellowfin tuna
1.1 meter long (fork length)
are caugh by hook& line
fishers
5o
Most of this surface tuna
catch is made by fleets
of large purse-seiners
0o in the equatorial band
(5oN-5oS).

5o

Map 6 below shows the frequented fishing grounds for tuna being located near the equator within
the latitude 5o North and 5o South of the Equator, although tuna can be caught at higher latitudes
during certain months of the year particularly during summer/spring months when temperature is
relatively warmer.

Map 6. Showing Tuna Concentration near the Equator

California

Pacific Ocean

-5

Austrialia

Fishing Grounds of Tuna as indicated by dots

Food Requirement of Tuna

Based on the Food Web as illustrated below, tuna primary food are herrings, sardines, anchovy,
and squids. Certain species tend to become cannibalistic.

Figure 1. Food Web in Tropical Regions

FOOD WEB OF THE Large

TROPICAL SEA Sharks

Medium-sized
Marlin
Sharks
Top predators

Tuna/ Lancetfish
(e.g. swordfish)

Predators Mesopelagic Fishes Snake squid Dolphin

(200m-1km depth) Mackerel

Filterers Hyperiid
Amphipods Lantern
Vertically-migrating Sardines Ocean
Mesopelagic fishes
Sardines
Flying fish
Flying fish
(small fish
sunfish
Herring crustaceans)
anchovy

Herbivores Shrimps
Euphausiids Copepods
Copepods/
(zooplanktons) (zooplanktons
diatoms

Algae Dinoflagellates
Coccolithopores
(phytoplanktons)
(phytoplanktons)
The reason for the fact that most species of tuna particularly skipjack and yellowfin are usually
caught in the latitude 5o North and 5o South is that, it is in this area where primary production
and small pelagic fish production (as the main food of tuna) are highest as compared with those
of the higher latitudes.

II. Status of Tuna Fishery

A. Biomass and Recruitment

1. Initially, most of the biomass is estimated to have occurred in the tropical regions 2 and 3.
Recently, biomass has increased in both the northern (region 1) and southern (region 5) regions.

2. Overall, biomass increased strongly in the late 1970s and 1980s driven by the increased
recruitment, but has been in decline since the mid-1990s. The recent decline has been particularly
marked in regions 2 and 3. Despite these recent declines, current total biomass is estimated to be
at similar levels to the 1960s and 1970s.

3. Figure 2 presents the following: Region 1 highest recruit comes from Region 2 at 50%,
followed by Region 1 itself at 32%; Region 2 highest recruit comes from Region 2 itself at 74%,
followed by Region 3 at 18%; Region 3 highest recruit comes from Region 3 itself at 58%,
followed by Region 2 at 25%; Region 4 highest recruit comes from Region 2 at 43%, followed
by Region 4 itself at 27%; Region 5 highest recruit comes from Region 5 itself at 80%, followed
by Region 2 at 12%; Regions 2,3, and 5 with highest recruits coming primarily from within are
also receiving certan levels of recruits.

Figure 2. Showing Tuna Recruits from Different Regions

5 5 5 5
3 3
4
5
2 3
3
3
2
2

1 21 3
1 2
1
1

B. Fishing Pressure (Tuna Production)

1. Tuna Production (Worldwide)

Total annual world tuna production in the year 2000s is 3.159 million metric tons. Catch of
skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, and big-eye tuna represent 50-55%, 35%, and 8% of the total tuna
catch, respectively.
 a. The western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) currently supports the largest industrial
tuna fishery in the world, with total annual catches from 1991 to 1994 of approximately
1,000,000 mt. The three gear types accounting for most of the catch in the area are longline, purse
seine and pole-and-line. Large-mesh drift-net, handline and trolling gear have been utilised in
some areas, but not to the extent of the above-mentioned gear types. The primary target species
are skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye and albacore. Skipjack is the most important of the four major
tuna species in the fishery, accounting for 67 per cent of the catch by weight in 1992, followed by
yellowfin (24.5%), bigeye (5%) and albacore (3%). Purse seine gear was responsible for 80 per
cent of the total catch, with pole-and-line gear accounting for 7 per cent, longline gear 12 per cent
and troll gear 1 per cent.

b. Nearly 70% or 2 million ton of the world’s annual tuna harvest, currently (2000s) 3.2
million tons, comes from the Pacific Ocean

c. Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) dominate the catch. Although skipjack are
distributed in the surface mixed layer throughout the equatorial and subtropical Pacific, catches
are highest in the western equatorial Pacific warm pool, a region characterized by low primary
productivity rates that has the warmest surface waters of the world’s oceans.

2. Tuna Production (Philippines)

a. In the Philippines, the 2000 catch of big-eye tuna and yellowfin ccategorized as
“tambakol” catch) skipjack, and bonito was 243,000 m.t. or 7.7% of world production (see Graph
1 below).

Graph 1. Philippine Marine Fish Catch (BAS Fisheries Statistics 2000)

Philippine Marine Fish Catch

Skipjack - 113,000 m.t.

2000 Yellowfin/Big-eye - 90,000 1,740.30
1800 Oceanic Bonito - 40,000 m.t
1600 243,000 m.t.
Catch (x000 m.t.)

1400 1,316.60

1200
1000
800
600
355.5
400 256
200.5
200 113 112.2 92.9 90.3 79.6 71.4 67.3 53.7 46.8 40 36.3 29.5 26.8
0
Tambakol
Tamban

Matangbaka
Gulyasan
Tulingan

Hasahasa
Galunggong

Pusit
Oceanic Bonito

Total for Tuna

Total (15 species)
Dilis
Tunsoy

Philippines
Alimasag
Sapsap
Alumahan

Bisugo

Frigate Species
tuna Big-eye and
Skipjack
Yellowfin tuna Katchorita
tuna

3. Comparison of Tuna Production (Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia)

 a. Durng the period 1981-1991, top tuna producers among the ASEAN countries were the
Philippines and Indoneisa (see Graph 2 below). It is estimated that Indonesia (also facing the
Pacific ocean) which is closer to the tuna-rich equatorial region and the fact that yellowfin tuna
and big-eye are considered already overfished in the western and central Pacific Ocean has
surpassed now the Philippines in tuna production.

b. Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand use purse seine, longline and vertical
handlines to fish for tunas in the region; the same oceanic and neritic tuna species are also taken.

c. In the Philippines the marked increase in growth of the tuna fishery has been attributed to
the use of FADs (called payaos in the Philippines). Yellowfin tuna, skipjack, and frigate tuna
(Auxis thazard) are the principal species caught in the Philippines. Purse seines, ring nets, and
handlines catch juvenile yellowfin ranging in size from 16 cm to 55 cm. Since few yellowfin
between 60 cm to 200 cm are caught by the Philippine tuna fishery, it has been suggested that
juvenile yellowfin start to migrate out of Philippine waters at 30 cm size, and that most of these
juvenile yellowfin are gone from the region by the time they reach 60 cm in length. Yellowfin
larger than 110 cm are caught by hook-and-line fishermen in the northern Celebes Sea. Catches
reported by the national authorities in Indonesia have been used in this assessment, but further
validation is required. Increased purse seine catches using FAD sets in region 3 have also
contributed to the increase.

Graph 2. Comparison of Tuna Production among 4 ASEAN countries

450 Skipjack
Yellowfin
Big-eye/Yellowfin
Skipjack Indonesia tuna catch increasing
400
Frigate
Frigate Tuna
Tuna
Big-eye
Bonito Tuna
Philippines

Philippines Philippines

Indonesia

Thailand
Long-tail
Frigate tuna
Malaysia Yellowfin

92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01

d. In Indonesia the yellowfin tuna and skipjack are the dominant species in the catch. The
use of FADs (called rumpons in Indonesia) also play an important role in the development of the
Indonesian tuna fishery. Presently tuna are caught by a variety of gears including purse seines,
handlines, troll lines, and longlines.
C. Catch by gears - WCPO

1. Since 1990, the yellowfin tuna catch in the western and central pacific oecean (WCPO)
has varied between 320,000 m.t. (1990) and 485,000 m.t. (1998) as shown in Graph 3 but starting
1998 total volume of catch had decreased

Graph 3. Showing the WCPO Yellowfin Catch by Gears

Metric Tons

2. Yellowfin tuna are harvested with a diverse variety of gear types, from small-scale
artisanal fisheries in Pacific Island and southeast Asian waters to large, distant-water longliners
and purse seiners that operate widely in equatorial and tropical waters. Purse seiners catch a
wide size range of yellowfin tuna, whereas the longline fishery takes mostly adult fish

3. Purse seiners harvest the majority of the yellowfin tuna catch (49% by weight in 1996–
2000), with the longline and pole-and-line fisheries comprising 15% and 3% of the total catch,
respectively. Yellowfin tuna are often directly targeted by purse seiners, especially as
unassociated schools.

4. Longline catches in recent years (56,000–73,000 t) are well below catches in the late
1970s to early 1980s (which peaked at 117,000 t), presumably related to changes in targeting
practices by some of the larger fleets.

5. Catches in the ‘Other’ category are largely composed of yellowfin tuna from the
Philippines and eastern Indonesia. These catches come from a variety of gear types (e.g. ring net,
gillnet, handline and seine net) and have increased steadily over the past decade. Based on catch
data provided by those countries, recent catches represent approximately 35% of total WCPO
yellowfin tuna catches.

Catch by Gears – Philippines (Northern Samar)

1. Map 7 shows that beyond the 15-km limit municipal water in all municipalities, there is
large area for tuna fishing. Yellowfin tuna and skipjack (gulyasan or budlis) are caught through
“payao” fishing using hook & line outside of the 15-km limit. It has been reported that the size
of tuna caught in said area is much more smaller than those caught in the offshore of Gamay by
commercial fishing boats coming from as far as General Santos City.
 Map 7 Northern Samar indicating the tuna fishing ground
Bugko Pating Smallerr Yello wfin Tuna
Payao Dolphin towards shallow water
Drifted Sibubog of San Bernardo Strait Big
by strong Budlis
current/waves Yellowfin t o w g er Y
100 payao last July 2004
PAYAO
lamadang
M
AMIHANig rato o f t ard s d e llo w
50 Bugko San Bernardino Strait ry P h e P eep f in
NOV-APR a th o acif er w Tun
f Tu ic o ate a
PAYAO na ( ce a r
ye llo n
Other Group wf in
payao
PAYAO and
Other group s kip
jac k
25 kms 1 00
)
from shore s
land
1000 fathoms 0f
ath
m is om
it fro
2,500 has s
at er l im
ici pal w
m mu n 0 5 10 15 kms

15 k
Batag
100 fathoms Island
nd
coral m ain la mud
10
sand limit f
rom rocky 0f
Biri m ath
Island 15-k Kahayagan o m
coral 50 fathoms (90 meters)
Island s
rel ine

Cauhagan
Island
sho

mud
limit
from mainland

m Laoang Laoang
sand 8 -k Bay Island
rock
20 fathoms Laoang
sand Bantayan
Bay
15 km distance

Camongon
Pambuhan
Island Bugko
Chitongco Palapag
Dona 25 km s San Roque

Rosario SanSanJose
Jose
Lucia
Mondragon Laoang Catubig
River
Rosario

Bobon Catarman
Catarman
Mondragon
To
Catubig

Northern S a m a r
Gamay

2. The catch of tuna is all-year round, but the peak season is during the period of “habagat”
that covers the months of May to October. Graph 4 shows that Frigate Tuna or “tulingan” was
caught in big quantity in August by Dona Lucia fishers but within the nearshore water, while
Budlis and yellowfin were the main catch by Chitongco fishers in May (Graph 5) and by Bugko
fishers in April and May (Graph 6) all in the fishing grounds beyond the 15-km limit.

Graph 4. Showing the Hook & Line Catch of Brgy Dona Lucia
Graph 5. Showing Fisch Catch of Brgy Chitongco Fishers using Hook % Line

Graph 6. Showing Fish Catch of Brgy Bugko Fishers Using Diff. Gears

During the months June to August N. Samar was frequented by typhoons and bad weather when
deepsea “payao” fishing could not be possible, hence fishers confined their fishing activities
within the nearshore water.

D. Effect of fishing to total biomass

1. The greatest impacts of tuna fishing have occurred in regions 2 and 3, where the “actual”
BIOMASS has DECREASED between the period 1962-1998/2000) as shown in the Graph 7.
This result would suggest that there has been a significant DEPLETION OF SUB-
POPULATIONS in these regions, primarily by the domestic fisheries of the Philippines and
Indonesia and the combined purse seine fishery. But the BIOMASS (or sometimes called the
standing stock biomass) is computed based on several data subjected to computer program which
only experts can be able to do.
Graph 7. Showing the Decreasing Biomass of Yellowfin Tuna and Exploitable Abundance
versus Actual Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE)

Exploitable abundance is
Higher than the CPUE
Between 1980-2000

Exploitable abundance is
lower than the CPUE
Between 1990-2000

Exploitable abundance is
lower than the CPUE
Between 1990-2000

Exploitable abundance is
lower than the CPUE
Between 1990-2000

Exploitable abundance is
Higher than the CPUE
Between 1990-2000

2. Graph also shows that there was too much fishing mortality or higher fishing pressure
directed at the juveniles than that of adult yellowfin tuna.

3. Aside from biomass level, an indicator of overfishing can also be gleaned from the
comparative data between the actual catch per unit of fishing effort (CPUE) and the Exploitable
Abundance of tuna in each region as shown in above Graph 7 which show that it is in Regions 2
and 3 and to a certain extent Region 4 where the actual CPUE is more than the Exploitable
abundance. Therefore, Graph 7 (on biomass change) is validated by the Graph 7 (on CPUE vs.
Exploitable Abundance).

E. Effect of Fishing on the Size of Fish Population (Length-Frequency)

1. The Graph 8 below shows the length-frequency of the catch by the different fishing
gears. Longline used in the 5 Regions have yellowfin tuna catch of larger size; catch of purse-
seines in Regions 2 and 3 using fish aggregating devices (FADs) and Logs consist mostly of
smaller size groups; the catch in the Philippines using ring net and handline and Indonesia both
countries being part of Region 2 consists of smaller size group; and Ring net used in the
Philippines has catch of yellowfin tuna of the smallest size group.

Graph 8. Showing the length-frequency of yellowfin of the different fishing gears in different
Regions of WCPO.

45 cm (fork length) catch of yellowfin in

Northern Samar (May-Aug) in “payao” area
0.5 of maximum size of
yellowfin
 2. There is a pattern that yellowfin tuna and other species are found in the Philippines and
Indonesian waters during the early years of their life cycle and then migrate towards deeper
waters as they grow in size.

Length-weight-age relationship

1. The Length-frequency data are used to determine the status of the fishery species. The
information needed are the relative size or the ratio of the average size of fish caught and the
attainable maximum size of the fish. Based on the available data on yellowfin tuna, the Graph 9
below is constructed.

Graph 9. Showing the Weight-Length-Age Relationship

Growth Rate of Yellowfin Tuna
1.9-2.1 meters
(fork length); max 7 years
115-150cm or = 176 kgs
2.1 meters
200 130cm ave.

180 176 176 176 176

90-125cm or
160 120-165mc or
Individual Weight (kgs)

110 cm ave.
At 30 cm fork length 140cm ave.
140 (1 kg) Yellowfin tuna
Starts to move out of Maturity age
Philippine waters; a 120 cm fork
120 significant number larger length 63.5 kgs=
than 30 cm are still
caught within Philippine = 2 - 3 yrs 4 years
100 waters
47-67 or
18 cm
80 60 cm ave.
(Fork length)
20 kgs =
= 20 kgs (2.5 years) 63.5kgs
60 2.5 yrs
3.4 Kgs=
40 (1.5 years)
20
0 0 3.4

1
0 2
0.5 3
1.0 4
1.5 5
2.0 6
2.5 7
3.0 8
3.5 9
4.0 10
4.5 11
5.0 12
5.6 13
6.0 14 15
6.5 7.0

Age (years)

Graph 10. Showing the Attainable Max.Size and half-max size of Yellowfin tuna
Length-Weight Relationship of Yellowfin Tuna
Fork
Fork length
Length
Max.= 180cm
Max.=190 cm
or 176 kgs
200
180
160
140
120
Weight (kgs)

100
Fork length
80 ½ max.=95cm
or 20 kgs
60
40
20
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

Fork Length (cm)

2. Based on Graph 10 above, the half-maximum size of yellowfin is 96 cm or 20 kgs.
Average of size of yellowfin catch below this size (length and weight) is considered overfished.

3. Based on the preceeding item no. 2, the status of yellowfin may be characterized as
follows:

a. It is in Regions 2 and 3 where the length-frequency has modal point value less than half
the maximum size of the fishery species. If the maximum of yellowfin tuna is 1.9 meters, its half
value is 95 cm (or 20 kgs) which is just 0.5 the maximum length which means that the specie is at
the boundary between overfished and high-yielding status. Graph above shows that yellowfin
tuna is already overfished in regions 2 and 3 and the fishing gears that contributed to their
conditions are purse-seines and ring nets with fish aggregating device. The use of long line in
Regions 1, 2. 3, 4, 5 resulted to the catching of large size yellowfin which is more than 0.5 of the
maximum observed length. This means that longline is a more sustainable gear.

b. In the case of Northern Samar, Philippines which is part of Region 2, Graph 11 shows
that the size of yellowfin ranges from 30 cms to 45 cms which is less than half the maximum
sizes of the specie indicating that yellowfin is being overfished. But it has been yellowfin caught
in the offshore water of Gamay are of the big size which is more than half the maximum size of
the specie. On the other hand, skipjact tuna or “budlis” catch has average size of 40 cm (standard
length) or 42.5 cm (fork length) whish is more than half the usual maximum size (80 cm)
showing that this specie is still high-yielding in the Philipiine waters.

c. But considering the western and central Pacific Ocean as a whole, it is only in the
Philippine and Indonesian water that undersize yellowfin and big-eye tunas are caught. The main
reason is that these species stay in the Philippine-Indonesian water in the early stage of their life
cycle and migrate towards the deeper and warmer waters as they grow in size.
 Graph 11. Catch data on yellowfin and budlis caugh by fishers of Brgy Chitongco

Payao Catch data on Yellowfin by Chitongco Fishers per day (April-June)

Individual weight (kg)
Standard length (cm)
50
45 45 45 45 45
45 43

38 39 39
40
Invidividual weight and standard length (cm)

35
30
Yellowfin becomes
30 Sexually Mature at
25 120 cm (FL) or 2-3
20
Yrs of age; others
mature at 50-60 cm
15
or 1-1.25 yrs.old)
10

5 2.5 2 2.25 2.25 2.5 2.5 2 2.5

1.5 1.25
0
April August
Month (2004)

Payao Catch data on Budlis per day per fisher (April-June)

individual weight (kg)
50 Standard length (cm)
45
45 43
41
40 40 40
40 38
Weight (kg) and Standard length (cm)

35
Skipjack between
30
30 41-87cm (FL) can
25
disperse between
80,000 and
20
. 2,000,000 eggs per
15 season
10

5 2 3
1.5 1.25 1.9 1.5
0.75 0.9
0
April August
Months
Weight Frequency

1. Weight-frequency is similar to length-frequency. Instead of length, the weight data are

used to determine the change over time or comparing the weight composition of a given specie
caught in different Regions or catch of said specie by different gears in the same Region.

Graph 12. Showing that Longline weight-frequency catch

Half-maximum length
rf 95 cm or 20 kgs
2. The correctness of the constructed length-weight data of yellowfin is confirmed by the
weight-frequency of the yellowfin caught by longline as presented in Graph 13 below. The half-
maximum length as shown in the length-frequency graph which is located to the left of the
distribution curve as in the case of longline is also the same point in the distribution curve of the
weight-frequency curve. This means that both the length-frequency and weight frequency can be
used in determining the status of the fishery. Longline fishing does not contribute to overfishing.

Graph 13. Showing the Longline weight-frequency catch during 1997-2001

1 year

Half-maximum
Size of yellow fin
1 year

1 year

1 year
3. The above Graph indicates that since 1997 until 2001, longline fishing has been
consistent to be contributing to sustainable fishing.

Tuna Producing Area and Tuna Fishing Operation

1. Map 8 shows that the Philippines and Indonesia are near the equatorial region and
facing the tuna-rich WCPO. For being so, the said countries have the highest tuna
production among ASEAN countries.

Map 8. Showing the Major Tuna Producing Countries in Asia and Tuna Fishing Grounds

Major Tuna Producing

Countries in Asia:
Philippines
Indonesia
Thailand
Malaysia

a
an
iw ng e sslarge
yL f
T h i
an e Fi vel n o
d s
, i o s
re larg lat lati cie
a
K o e
h R pu pe
th wit
u
So tuna Po na s
n , tu
a pa hing
ing
J tc
Ca et h
PHILIPPINES Fl e is ,
THAILAND
-r ich line
a g
Tun ( lon ine)
e e
a rg ound se-s
L Gr ur
p

General Santos/Davao
MALAYSIA Transhipment Place
for Tuna caught in the
Pacific Region
INDONESIA
The following Table 2 presents 2002 tuna fish catch in the western and central Pacific Ocean
(WCPO), by fishing gears, by what nationality, and the status of tuna species:
Table 2. Showing WCPO tuna fishery data
Species Fishing Gears
Purse-seine Pole & Line Longline Troll gears Status
Catch (m.t.) % Catch (m.t.) % Catch (m.t.) % Catch (m.t.)
2002 level of stocks are high
Sipjack- 962,233 83 281,322 85 - - - and catch levels are easily
66% sustainable
2002 not being overfished and
current level of exploitation is
sustainable; any future
Yellowfin- 176,175 15 16,548 5 82,252 34 - increases in fishing mortality
22% would not result in any long-
term increase in yield and
may move the yellowfin stock
to an overfished state
Stocks not in an overfished
state although overfishing is
occurring and the current
Big-eye- 21,696 2 3,309 1 82,252 34 - level of exploitation appears
6% not to be sustainable in the
long term, unless the high
recent recruitment is
maintained in the future.
The impact of the fishery on
Albacore - 29,787 77,412 - the overall stock is estimated
Tuna – to be small, and higher levels
6% of catch could likely be
sustained.

TOTAL 1,160,104 58 330,968 17 241,917 11 4,477

Catches for the Atlantic tuna is Caught by large also other variety
REMARK Korean and caught by Japanese vessel and of artisanal gears
Taiwanese fleet coastal and offshore distant water mostly in eastern
increased in fleet fleet of Japan, and southern
2002 while Korea, and Philippines;
Japan catch Taiwan lower effort of
decreased USA fleet

2. Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) contributes 66% in total tuna catch in the WCPO
(see Table 2), 70% of the total tuna catch in the Pacific Ocean, and 50-55% of the world tuna
catch, but the largest catches are taken from the warm-pool in the western equatorial Pacific.
U.S. purse-seine fishing vessels catch skipjack tuna and based on the analysis of catch and effort
data, it was found out that one of the most successful fishing grounds is located in the vicinity of
a convergence zone between the warm (>28-29° C) low-salinity water of the warm-pool and the
cold saline water of equatorial upwelling in the central Pacific

3. Yellowfin tuna constributes 22% of total tuna catch in WCPO, 35% of the total world
tuna catch and is being harvested by smalls-cale artisanal fisheries in Pacific Island and southeast
Asian waters to large, distant-water longliners and purse seiners that operate widely in equatorial
and tropical waters. Purse seiners catch a wide size range of yellowfin tuna, whereas the
longline fishery takes mostly adult fish.

4. Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) contributes 6% of the total tuna catch in WCPO and is
considered an important component of tuna fisheries throughout the Pacific Ocean. They are the
principal target species of the large ‘distant-water’ longliners from Japan and Korea and of the
smaller ‘fresh sashimi’ longliners based in several Pacific Island countries. Bigeye tuna are
fundamental to the economic survival of the longline fishery in the western and central Pacific
Ocean.
5. Purse-seine tuna catch in the WCPO is the highest at 58%, followed by pole % line at
17%, longline at 11%, and troll line with other artisanal gears mostly in eastern Indonesia and the
Philippines at 14%. A typical high-tech purse-seine fishing vessel is shown in Figure 3.

6. The western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) currently supports the largest industrial
tuna fishery in the world The three gear types accounting for most of the catch in the area are
longline, purse seine and pole-and-line. Large-mesh drift-net, handline and trolling gear have
been utilised in some areas, but not to the extent of the above-mentioned gear types. The primary
target species are skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye and albacore.

7. The foreign tuna fishing vessel operators have been doing transshipment of their tuna
catch at General Santos City or Davao City so that they can economize in their cost of operation
and continue fishing operation. However, in the process certain volume of tuna with lower
quality (particularly caught by purse-seine and ring net) are marketed in the country at lower
price than those large tuna caught by small Filipino fishers in the tuna-rich northern Celebes Sea
using handline. This results to the lowering of the market price of tuna caught by the handline
fishers. Therefore, the good quality tuna are marketed abroad possibly through Japanese/Korean
outlets at lower price ensuring them high profit.

Figure 3. Typical Purse-seine fishing vessel and purse-seine operation

Purse-seine
Boom
Hauling of seine net (mechanized boom) Radar
Service boat
used in tugging
the other end of the
Surface line floaters net while Mother
boat moves in
circular manner as
to encircle the
school of fish

Trapped
fish

Bottom line with sinkers enclosed forming purse

Conclusions

1. There is the harvesting of the same tuna stock(s) by countries fishing in the same region.
Using the most efficient fishing gear (Filipino-owned or joint venture with Japanese, Taiwanese,
Koreans, and U.S.), each country harvests the tuna at a particular size and at a particular point in
the migration route. Thus, the harvest of tuna by one country impacts the present and future
catches of the same stock(s) of tuna by countries which harvest these resources later on in the
migratory route of the tuna.

2. Based on item no. 1, there is an urgent need to study interactions among fisheries
nationally and regionally. Without a coordinated and directed approach to gather, document,
analyse, and interpret the relevant data, the tuna fishery resources in the southeast Asia region
cannot be assessed and managed effectively to ensure sustained harvests.

3. Fishing mortality for juvenile yellowfin tuna has increased strongly since about 1992,
partly as a result of catchability increases in the purse seine fisheries. But a significant component
of the increase is attributable to the Philippines and Indonesian fisheries, which have the weakest
catch, effort and size data. This is of continuing concern. There has been recent progress made in
the acquisition of a large amount of historical length frequency data from the Philippines and
regular sampling operations are now in place there. However, uncertainty with the total catch and
size composition data for the Indonesian fishery continues to be a problem.

4. The overall impact of fishing on stock biomass is estimated to be in the vicinity of 35%
in recent years. The impact is differentially high in the tropical regions (around 50%) compared to
the subtropical regions. This means that the tropical regions which are the most productive in
fishery are also the most exploited fishing grounds. However, the level of yellowfin biomass in
the MCPO areas is not yet in the critical condition (or being overfished or in an overfished side).

5. The Philippine waters and Indonesian waters have the most productive tuna fishery
among the ASEAN countries being both facing the WCPO areas found to be thickly populated
with yellowfin tuna and big-eye tuna. However majority of the tuna biomass in said countries are
composed of juveniles indicating that this part of the WCPO serves as the tuna habitat in their 1 st
few months of their life cycle. And it is towards the winter months that yellow fin and big-eye
tuna (about 30 cm in fork length) migrate out of the Philippine waters towards the equatorial
region at less than 5o latitude. However, large size tuna can be caught in large quantities off
Samar island outside of the municipal water.

6. Based on item no. 5 above and the fact that tuna fishery (yellow fin and big-eye) in the
WCPO areas are still not considered overfished particularly the skipjack tuna, the smallscale and
artisanal fishers should be provided with incentives to engage in tuna fishing through the use of
FAD using handlines or ring net for periodic total harvest.

7. The transshipment scheme of foreign tuna fishing vessel operators to dump tuna
catch of poorer quality being caught by purse-seines in the southern Philippines’ fish
landing areas (General Santos City – tuna cannery in the Philippines) for the purpose of
lowering down the price of qood quality tuna caught by the Filipino tuna handliners must
be exposed and opposed.
REFERENCE CITED

BAS Fisheries Statistics

Chee, P.E. Tuna fisheries interactions in Malaysia. Fisheries Research Institute, Dept of Fisheries Malaysia,
11700 Gelugor, Penang Malaysia.

Grolier International Enclopedia. 1991

Hampton, J, Langley, A., Williams, P. The Western and Central Tuna Fishery 2002.

Hampton, John. Stock assessment of yellowfin tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean.
SCTB15 Working Paper, Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community; Noumea,
New Caledonia

Hampton J., Bigelow, K., Labelle, M. A summary of current information on the biology, fisheries and stock
assessment of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the Pacific ocean, with recommendations for data
requirements and future research. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
(SPC).

Lehodey P., Andre J-M, Bertignac M., Hampton J., Stoens A., Menkes C., Memery L., Grima N. Predicting
skipjack tuna forage distributions in the equatorial Pacific using a coupled dynamical bio-geochemical
model. Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).