Bigeye Tuna, Indian Ocean, Pelagic longline

Indian Ocean bigeye tuna has been scored a very low risk. This is because the stock biomass is well above levels necessary to produce the maximum sustainable yield and fishing mortality rates are sustainable.

The management of the bigeye tuna Indian Ocean fishery is a moderate risk. There are some management measures in place and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) has taken measures to improve monitoring of vessels fishing in the IOTC are of competence, but compliance with these measures continues to be an issue for some countries. The IOTC has not adopted formal reference points or harvest control rules for this species.

The bycatch in the bigeye tuna pelagic longline fishery operating in the Indian Ocean has been scored a high risk. This is because longline fisheries operating in the Indian Ocean incidentally capture many other species, including sea birds, sea turtles and elasmobranchs.

The habitat impact of the bigeye tuna Indian Ocean pelagic longline fishery fishery has been scored as no impact. This is because pelagic longline gears fish at the surface and do not come in contact with bottom habitats.