Eastern Pacific tuna fishery may see closure reduced from 64 to 42 days

Scientists of the Inter‑American Tropical Tuna Commission (CIAT) have presented a technical proposal to shorten the seasonal fishing closure for tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from the current 64 consecutive days to a maximum of 42 days. The recommendation is based on recent assessments showing a favorable biological status for skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna populations, attributed to conservation measures such as the Individual Vessel Threshold (IVT) that have limited juvenile catches.

The existing regulation for 2026 sets a 64‑day closure, split into two periods for certain vessel classes, with deadlines for owners to report the number of vessels that will fish during the first period by 15 July and the season beginning on 6 August. While the scientific models indicate that the technical criteria would permit a full removal of the pause, the CIAT panel advises a cautious, step‑wise reduction to avoid future stock declines that could trigger stricter limits. Ecuador’s tuna sector has not yet taken an official position, pending consensus among industry groups.

If adopted, the proposal would keep the precautionary approach while allowing a gradual increase in fishing days, potentially affecting export volumes valued at about $2 billion annually.