Certifier : 
SCS Global Services
Certified status : 
Certified
Certified since : 
12 Jul 2016
Certificate expires : 
08 Jun 2026

Overview

Fisheries are composed of one or more parts, each of which is entitled to receive an MSC certificate. These parts or “units” are defined by their target stock(s), fishing gear type(s) and if relevant vessel type(s), and the fishing fleets or groups of vessels.

When the term “Unit of Certification” is used for fishing units that are in assessment, it refers to the “Unit of Assessment” or “Unit of potential certification”. Expand a status below to view the parts that form this fishery. To check the detailed scope, download the latest certificate or open the Assessments page to get the latest report. Find out more by visiting our page on Fisheries

Units of Certification & Certificate Information

  • Certified
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Certificate Code
    UoC-1221 Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) Hooks And Lines - Handlines and pole-lines (hand-operated) 71 (Pacific, Western Central) MSC-F-30002
    UoC-1222 Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines): All set types 71 (Pacific, Western Central) MSC-F-30002
    UoC-1219 Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) Hooks And Lines - Handlines and pole-lines (hand-operated) 71 (Pacific, Western Central) MSC-F-30002
    UoC-1220 Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines): All set types 71 (Pacific, Western Central) MSC-F-30002
  • No longer in the program
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Status (Units of Certification) Certificate Code
    UoC-1609 Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) Hooks And Lines - Longlines 71 (Pacific, Western Central) Withdrawn
    UoC-2639 Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) Hooks And Lines - Handlines and pole-lines (hand-operated) 71 (Pacific, Western Central) Withdrawn
    UoC-2637 Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines): All set types 71 (Pacific, Western Central) Withdrawn
    UoC-2638 Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines): anchored FAD sets 71 (Pacific, Western Central) Withdrawn
    UoC-1224 Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines): anchored FAD sets 71 (Pacific, Western Central) Withdrawn MSC-F-30002
    UoC-1223 Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines): anchored FAD sets 71 (Pacific, Western Central) Withdrawn MSC-F-30002

View glossary of terms

Catch by Species

Species Reported Catch Year Metric Tonnes
Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) 2022 16,740
Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) 2022 6,948

Information is provided by an independent Conformity Assessment Body as live weight (the weight of species at the time of catch, before processing) and where a fishing season covers multiple years, the end year is given as the reported catch year. Additional information is available in the latest report, see the assessments page.

About this Fishery

This fishery is run by international producer Tri Marine, whose eight vessels in the area target skipjack and yellowfin tuna.

Skipjack are a highly productive tuna exhibiting great variability in life history characteristics. They grow up to a metre in length, and gather in surface shoals of up to 50,000 individuals. They reproduce at a greater rate than other species of tuna, and are responsible for more than half the world tuna harvest.

Yellowfin are fast-moving and wide-ranging pelagic predators. They spend the majority of time in the top 100m, but make occasional deep dives to much greater depths. They are one of the larger species, reaching weights above 180kg, but often mix with other tuna. Schools of small yellowfin and skipjack are common.

In 2013 purse seiners in this fishery produced 14,203 tonnes of skipjack and 10,446 tonnes of yellowfin; while pole and line accounted for 1,389 tonnes of skipjack and 277 tonnes of yellowfin.

Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) image © Scandinavian Fishing Year Book

Market Information

Most of the catch goes as frozen cooked tuna loins or is canned for the EU market.