Pacific Tuna Tagging Program - PTTP |
The Pacific Tuna Tagging Programme started in 2006, is a WPCFC endorsed project being implemented by SPC.It is the largest tagging project ever implemented in the Pacific area.
The tuna fishery in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) has continued to expand over the last 3 decades and now produces approximately half of the world’s tuna and is of high economic importance to Pacific Island Countries and Territories. Throughout the WCPO, total annual catches of target tuna species (skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye and albacore tuna) are now approaching two and a half million metric tonnes (mt).
The fishery comprises a variety of fishing activities, the most important of which are the industrial-scale purse seine, longline and pole-and-line fisheries. Large catches are also made by numerous small fishing vessels employing a variety of fishing methods in the Pacific Ocean waters of Philippines and Indonesia. While the overall fishery is distributed widely from about 40°N to 40°S, by far the majority of the catch occurs in equatorial waters between 10°N and 10°S, and west of 180°.
The PTTP commenced in response to the continued expansion of the WCPO fisheries with particular emphasis on the growth of the purse-seine fishery.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
To achieve these objectives, the project used tags on skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna throughout the equatorial WCPO (10°N–10°S; 120°E–130°W). A chartered commercial pole-and-line vessel suitably modified for tagging operated for 20 months, primarily in the western part of this region (west of 180°). Other smaller chartered vessels undertook shorter cruises of 1–2 months in the central Pacific, targeting bigeye tuna by hand-line fishing on drifting FADs, oceanographic moorings and seamounts.
Tagging operation have been undertaken using a variety of chartered vessel FV Soltai 6, FV Soltai 105, FV Double D ,FV AoShibi Go and FV Pacific Sunrise. Tagging activities have been undertaken in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Palau, Philippines, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Indonesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru and the international waters enclosed within these zones.
Phase 1 focused very successfully upon the waters of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands with their large domestic fisheries and significant contribution to overall regional catches.
Phase 2, approved in August 2007 with substantial new funding initially from New Zealand and subsequently from Korea, aimed to considerably extend the operational area of the PTTP, as well as broadening the scope and operations of the project.Three extended pole-and-line based tagging cruises (WP1, WP2 and WP3), comprising a total of 11 months of charter operations, have been completed within Phase 2.
In 2011 dedicated sampling has PNG commenced with financial support from the National Fisheries Authority of PNG. Tagging cruises of 3 month duration each are planned for 2011, 2012 and 2013. The PTTP has been funded by the New Zealand (NZAID), European Union 9th and 10th European Union Development Fund), Australia (ACIAR), Global Environment Facility, Government of Korea, France (Fonds Pacifique), Republic of China. |