Fiji albacore tuna longline
Last Updated: 9 February 2012
Number of fisheries: 1
Species
Albacore Tuna (thunnus alalunga)
MSC assessment status
The Conformity Assessment Body, Intertek Moody Marine, has proposed an additional peer reviewer for the review of the Draft Fiji albacore tuna longline fishery Assessment Report.
If you wish to provide feedback on the proposed peer reviewer, please contact Jo Akroyd no later than 5pm GMT, 11 April 2012
For further information, please visit the assessment downloads section.
Fishery location
South Pacific Ocean in FAO statistic areas 71,77 and 81.
Fishing method
Pelagic longline
Fishery management
The FTBOA’s albacore tuna fishery is currently managed under the Western and Central Pacific Fishery Commission (WCPFC). Under this international convention, Fiji is responsible for managing the fishery within its waters but must ensure that the management is compatible with agreements under the Commission and vice versa.
Commercial market
Sold predominantly in fresh form to markets in Japan, USA, Thailand and American Samoa
Assessment timeline
The assessment process is expected to take 12 months and is scheduled for completion around June 2012. Please see the download section for a detailed assessment timeline.
The target eligibility date for this fishery is the 01/06/2011.
The MSC ecolabel can only be applied to product from certified fisheries. The MSC program does allow, in certain circumstances and within strict traceability requirements, the MSC ecolabel to be applied following certification to product caught before the actual date of certification. The target eligibility date therefore represents the date from which products may become eligible to carry the MSC ecolabel, however they cannot be sold until and if the fishery is certified. The actual eligibility date will be determined if the fishery is certified to the MSC standard.
To find out more about when fish from this fishery may be sold with the MSC ecolabel, please follow this link (http://www.msc.org/get-certified/supply-chain/eligibility-dates).
Tonnage of the fishery
3,000 to 4,000 metric tonnes of albacore each year.
