Yellowfin Tuna: A Species Nearing Freefall

If catch levels remain stable at 2017 rates, projections by the IOTC Scientific Committee place the collapse of the yellowfin tuna population at 2027. After this point, drastic measures will be required to rebuild stocks and success will not be guaranteed. The repercussions for livelihoods and food security will be severe.

This fact sheet highlights the threats faced by yellowfin tuna populations in the South West Indian Ocean due to overfishing and insufficient policies to reduce annual catch. It urges members of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) to take accountability for non-compliance with IOTC resolutions and recommends the adoption of a three-year-long 30% catch reduction for the yellowfin population to stabilise by 2030.

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