Yellowfin tuna (Dicentrarchus labrax), a large and commercially valuable fish, is classified as “near threatened” by the IUCN Red List and is primarily sold canned, as steaks, or raw as sashimi. While stocks in the Western and Central Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are relatively healthy, yellowfin stocks in the Indian Ocean are severely overfished and at risk of collapse without stricter management. The Indian Ocean yellowfin fishery is the least well-managed of all yellowfin fisheries, with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) failing to enforce necessary reductions in catch despite scientific recommendations. In 2015, IOTC scientists recommended a 20% catch reduction to give the stock a 50% chance of recovery by 2024, but in 2017, the catch actually increased by 3%, and a 25% reduction is now required. Unfortunately, the IOTC’s governance structure is weak, and the current plan aims for only a 7% reduction, which is unlikely to be fully enforced.
European demand for yellowfin, especially in southern Europe, is significant, with countries like the UK consuming nearly 700 tons of yellowfin annually. However, the fishery in the Indian Ocean suffers from major weaknesses, including insufficient observer coverage, inadequate use of vessel monitoring systems, and a reliance on voluntary compliance, leading to disputes and poor data transparency. Despite ongoing fisheries improvement projects, none have achieved the necessary reduction in catches. Furthermore, a complaint to the European Commission highlighted that the Spanish fleet exceeded its catch limit by nearly 9,000 tons in 2017 and continued to fish unchecked in 2018. Large tuna processors such as Thai Union, Princes, and Bolton Group have used these projects to claim sustainability, even though they haven’t led to significant improvements.
If decisive action isn’t taken by the IOTC, it will be up to governments, retailers, NGOs, and consumers to demand stronger measures to protect the yellowfin tuna stock. In addition to preserving the tuna, reducing fishing capacity in the Indian Ocean would benefit other marine species, such as sharks, turtles, and seabirds, which are often caught unintentionally in longlines, gillnets, and purse seines. Without urgent and effective management, the future of the Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna stock is at serious risk.
