Stock depletion of yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre 1788) in the Northeastern Indian Ocean

Abstract

The stock of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) has been in a declining trend in the last five years. Although the noticeable decline mainly occurred in the western part of the Indian Ocean, uncertainty lingers on how this phenomenon will affect the opposite leg. The study aimed to investigate the dynamics of stock through monitoring several indicators by utilizing logbooks, scientific port sampling, and observer data available. The result showed that both relative abundance and estimated catch trend are declining in recent years, a sign that the negative global inclination also influences Indonesian tuna longline fisheries. Further studies are needed to understand whether this phenomenon also impacts other gears. Hence, mitigation on conserving the resource by reducing the catch and strengthening the data collection should be the priority to maintain the livelihood and welfare of many coastal communities.