Pacific Albacore Tuna Management in Canada

The Pacific albacore tuna fishery includes smaller vessels that fish the coastal waters of British Columbia and the west coast of the United States, as well as a high seas fleet of larger troll vessels operating in the international waters of the North and South Pacific Ocean. The fleet currently operates as a jig fishery, which only includes the use of troll gear. As many as 200 or more licensed harvesters from British Columbia take part in this fishery, with 135 vessels reporting fishing activity in 2009.

Canada’s coastal tuna harvesters are currently allowed to fish and land their albacore catches in American waters through a bilateral treaty with the United States until 2011. In accordance with this agreement, 110 Canadian vessels have access to U.S. waters to fish for albacore during a four-and-a-half month season, from June 15-October 31.

This reciprocal arrangement, known as the Canada-U.S. Pacific Albacore Tuna Treaty, or simply the Tuna Treaty, also permits American tuna harvesters access to Canadian west coast waters and ports to fish and land their albacore catches. The Canada-US Albacore treaty is of great importance to Canadian harvesters and is a mutually beneficial agreement given the highly migratory nature of albacore tuna. The treaty builds on the cooperation which is essential to sustainable fisheries management for highly migratory species. The current Canada-U.S. Pacific Albacore Tuna Treaty expired October 31, 2011. The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of the Treaty and will continue to take every opportunity to renew this agreement with the United States.

Canada’s tuna fleet is also subject to the requirements of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). These regional fisheries management organizations are responsible for maintaining sustainable tuna stocks, including the northern stock of Pacific albacore that is the mainstay of the Canadian albacore fishery. The WCPFC is also responsible for the management of the albacore stock found in more tropical waters in the South Pacific.

Fishing activities by Canada’s coastal fleet primarily take place from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to the Southern Oregon coast. While this fishery normally peaks in August and September, the time-period may change depending on ocean and weather conditions, albacore migration, fuel costs, market prices, and other factors. Offshore fishing in the North Pacific usually starts in June and lasts through the late fall (again, depending on the weather and tuna abundance). The South Pacific fishery lasts from December through March.

Catches by the coastal fleet have ranged from 4,531 tonnes in 2000 to 7,856 tonnes in 2004, with average annual catches of about 5,700 tonnes. In recent years, more than 85% of this catch has occurred along the North American coast and the offshore fleet has decreased its effort in the Northwest Pacific. Catches in the South Pacific ranged from 38 to 453 tonnes between 2002 and 2007. In 2008 and 2009 Canadian vessels did not participate in this fishery.

Management Measures
Integrated fisheries management plans for Pacific albacore are developed annually by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in consultation with the fishing industry through their representatives on a Tuna Advisory Board. The Canadian Highly Migratory Species Foundation has one standing seat on this board.

The Pacific albacore fishery should be managed overall using the precautionary approach and based on the best available scientific advice. This is a tightly controlled fishery; a number of conservation, enforcement, and monitoring measures are in place, and Canadian harvesters’ compliance with their license conditions is high. Read more on monitoring and enforcement measures.

Marketing Sustainability
The Canadian albacore fleet recently underwent assessment by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for MSC certification purposes. As of March 29, 2010 the Pacific Troll Caught Albacore Tuna fishery has been certified as a sustainable and well-managed fishery. This internationally recognized certification is awarded only to those fisheries that comply with the MSC's strict standards.