The Organization for the Promotion of Responsible Tuna Fisheries (OPRT), whose １members are involved in production, trade, distribution and consumption of sashimi tuna in the world,
Noting that, with the aim to ensure sustainable use of tuna resources, OPRT has been and is continuing its efforts to prevent overfishing capacity of large scale tuna longline fishing vessels by restricting the number of large scale tuna longline fishing vessels in the world, with the cooperation of its members and the governments to which its members belong;
Recognizing the fact that the catch of tunas by purse-seine fishing vessels in the world continues to be at a high level of 2.6 million tons (i.e. 62% of the world’s total catch in 2007), and especially that the massive catch of small-size bigeye and yellowfin tunas is causing serious concerns over sustainable use of tuna resources;
Noting that, in its International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization calls on States and regional fisheries organizations confronted with the issue of over-capacity, to endeavor to limit at the present level, and progressively reduce, the fishing capacity applied to affected fisheries;
Resolves that it requests:
1. that regulations on bigeye tuna catch by purse-seine fishing vessels, to be implemented by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) from 2009 in the Western and Central Pacific, be implemented fully and in good faith by all the parties concerned;
2. that other regional tuna fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) introduce as soon as possible the measure to control fishing capacity in purse-seine fisheries and massive catch of small-size tunas, notably in the eastern Pacific adjoining the WCPFC Convention area; and
3. that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the RFMOs develop as expeditiously as possible the global measures to control the number of large scale tuna purse-seine fishing vessels and their fishing capacity.
World Major Tuna Catches by Fishing Gears（1950-2007）
Tuna Catches include Bluefin tuna, Southern bluefin tuna, Bigeye tuna, Yellowfin tuna, Albacore and Skipjack.
Data compiled by Miyake based on RFMOs bases
