Yellowfin Tuna, Indian Ocean, Pelagic longline

Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna has been scored a high risk. The biomass is too low and fishing mortality rates are too high for optimal harvesting and the stock is at risk of being outside limit reference levels.  

The management of the yellowfin tuna Indian Ocean fishery is a high risk. In 2016 managers adopted measures to address the current status of yellowfin tuna. These measures appear to not be working and catches have increased and not decreased since implementation. 

The bycatch in the yellowfin tuna pelagic longline fishery operating in the Indian Ocean has been scored a moderate 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 yellowfin 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.