Yellowfin Tuna, Indian Ocean, Purse seine - FAD associated

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 purse seine fisheries 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 Indian Ocean purse seine (associated) fishery has been scored a high risk. This is because purse seine sets made on floating objects and fish aggregating devices (FADs) have the potential to capture billfish, elasmobranchs, sea turtles and other bony fish.

The habitat impact of the yellowfin tuna Indian Ocean purse seine fishery has been scored as no impact. This is because purse seines that target tuna fish at the surface and do not come in contact with bottom habitats.