Tuna
Tunas belong to the Scombridae family, which also includes mackerels and bonitos. Within this family, the tuna subgroup Thunnini includes 15 species—such as bluefin, yellowfin, and albacore—known for their streamlined shape, two distinct dorsal fins, and thick, muscular bodies that make them exceptionally fast and efficient swimmers.
Wild Oceans champions tuna conservation by advancing precautionary harvest strategies, non-destructive fishing practices, science-based limits, and ensuring the inclusion of recreational anglers in global management. Sustainable tuna fishing is only achievable through holistic management which prioritizes long-term health over short-term exploitation.
Tuna Management
Tunas are managed through a combination of domestic and international frameworks due to their highly migratory nature. In the US, tuna management falls under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and is primarily overseen by NOAA Fisheries. US management focuses on sustainable harvest limits, gear restrictions, time/area closures, and recreational reporting.
Internationally, tunas are managed through Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). These bodies set quotas, monitor stock status, and enforce conservation measures across national jurisdictions. Key provisions include catch limits, observer programs, and minimum size limits to promote healthy stocks. Since the 1970s Wild Oceans has been a strong advocate through board members, presidents, and staff representing the US. in the RMFO arenas.
A Voice for Tuna
Wild Oceans supports tuna conservation with strategic advocacy campaigns. A key piece of these campaigns are comment and sign-on letters, which are timely written public statements on specific regulations, agenda items, and initiatives that a fishery regulation organization is actively considering. These letters are where we make the case to managers for keeping the oceans wild. See our tuna comment letters below!
State of the Tuna Stocks
Overfishing and overfished statuses – terms which designate when too many fish are caught and when there are too few fish in sea, respectively – are a cause for concern. Wild Oceans’ staff spends significant time keeping track not only of a species’ existing stock status, but also what might change its status including new scientific modeling, reductions or increases in catch, changing ocean conditions, and many other factors that can adjust from assessment to assessment. We pride ourselves in this tracking and have constructed a comprehensive stock status matrix to keep you in the know.
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