- Certifier :
- Control Union (UK) Limited
- Certified status :
- Certified
- Certified since :
- 09 Jun 2015
- Certificate expires :
- 11 Feb 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
Catch by Species
| Species | Reported Catch Year | Metric Tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) | 2023 | 2,001 |
| Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) | 2023 | 117 |
| Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) | 2023 | 500 |
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
Albacore is a highly migratory tuna found in oceans around the world. It matures relatively early, at around six years, and has a moderate lifespan of about 10-12 years. It also produces many eggs at a time – some 2.6 million at each spawning.
As a highly migratory species, albacore are targeted by fishing fleets from several nations. However, information from all fisheries catching albacore tuna is available, which reduces the risk of overfishing.
The Cook Islands, which lie between Hawaii and New Zealand in the South Pacific, have a population of about 20,000 people. Fish and seafood products are one of their largest export commodities.
The certified fishery is operated primarily by Chinese vessels, using longlines to catch tuna. To maintain MSC certification, it has committed to make a number of improvements. These include implementing harvest control strategies that ensure healthy stock levels are maintained and fish stocks are well managed.
Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) illustration © Scandinavian Fishing Year Book
Market Information
All the catch is processed on board and then quick-frozen, primarily for canning. Most of the catch is delivered to ports outside the Cook Islands (predominantly Pago Pago in American Samoa, as well as Suva in Fiji, and the Solomon Islands).