In the Indian Ocean, healthy tuna stocks are vital to coastal livelihoods, food security and marine biodiversity. Yet rampant overfishing is depleting stocks beyond safe limits.  

 

Without urgent action, theses stocks will remain at risk and the communities that depend on them will pay the price. Blue Marine is working with coastal states, scientists and partner NGOs to secure the transparent decision-making, fair quota allocation and sustainable fishing practices that can help tuna thrive.  

  

Blue Investigations has been documenting the process of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) as members negotiate catch limits and management measures, working with those most affected to help combat the overwhelming power of the EU and its industrial tuna lobbies in the region.  

 

In 2015, the IOTC declared yellowfin tuna to be overfished and advised that significant catch reductions were necessary to save the stock. Despite almost a decade of continued overfishing, the IOTC has recently claimed that the stock is no longer overfished, surprising scientists and coastal states and opening the door for increased exploitation.  

 

Blue Marine’s statement to the 29th IOTC session in April 2025 summarises some of the serious concerns over the data used, methods employed and independence of the most recent IOTC yellowfin tuna assessment.  

  

Blue Marine’s 2023 report The UK’s Tuna Blindspot reveals the EU’s industrial purse seine fleet as a dominant force in the region. Many vessels use drifting fish aggregating devices (FADs) that attract juvenile yellowfin and overfished bigeye tuna before they have had a chance to breed, kill sharks, turtles and other marine life, and pollute coastlines when abandoned. 

  

An improved management measure for drifting FADs was successfully secured in 2023. However, the EU objected to the new measure in the Indian Ocean. Together with BLOOM Association, Blue Marine took legal action against the European Commission for this objection, and in July 2025, the European Court of Justice ruled in favour of our challenge. The Commission must now review its decision. 

 

Blue Marine is calling for: 

  • An independent review and revision of the 2024 yellowfin tuna stock assessment. 
  • Equitable tropical tuna allocation that respects the rights of Indian Ocean coastal states.  
  • A ban on drifting FADs in the Indian Ocean. 

 

Blue Investigations will continue to expose harmful practices and hold decision-makers to account until the overfishing of Indian Ocean tropical tuna comes to an end.