Yellowfin Tuna, Atlantic Ocean, Purse seine - unassociated

Atlantic Ocean yellowfin tuna has been scored a moderate risk. This is because the stock biomass is only slightly below levels necessary to produce the maximum sustainable yield but fishing mortality rates are sustainable.

The management of the yellowfin tuna Atlantic longline fishery is moderate risk. The population remains overfished but current management methods aim to allow the population to rebuild by 2024. Surveillance and enforcement is mainly good, although not all countries routinely comply. 

There is no adopted target reference point, although work towards developing a limit reference point and harvest control rule is being conducted.

The bycatch in the yellowfin tuna Atlantic purse seine unassociated fishery has been scored a moderate risk. This is because unassociated, or free school sets can incidentally capture other species including, billfish, elasmobranchs and sea turtles.

The habitat impact of the yellowfin tuna Atlantic Ocean purse seine 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.