By the accounts of the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and others, the WCPFC Convention Area annually produces 54-60% of the world's tuna: almost 3 million tonnes valued at between USD 6-7 billion.
Tuna and other commercial species are harvested by several methods: mainly purse seine and longline, also troll and pole-and-line. The WCPFC prides itself on the fishery’s management and resource sustainability, such that the future of the fishery is said to be bright.
The dark side of the fishery is not talked about, much. Even though more and more records of abuse of crewmen are published, few people attempt to effect change. ‘Eyeballing’, acknowledging, and acting appear to make the majority of tuna experts uncomfortable; crew are ‘just there’ and part of the vessels which the-man-in-the-street also doesn’t pay attention to.
The stories from the men and their families, and the business of longline fishing needs to be told in the interest of human rights and sustainability of the oceanic fish fauna.
Is it only market pressure (not humanity) that can persuade administrators to ‘pay attention’? Yes – with assistance from total regional adoption of the Port State Measures Agreement, the ILO’s C188 and other treaties.