A review of fisheries closures in tropical tuna RFMOs

There are different management approaches in the tuna RFMOs that manage tropical tunas,
ranging from input or effort control in the Pacific Ocean tuna RFMOs to output or catch
control in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In some cases, input controls are used for some
fisheries and catch controls for others. Among the various management options and tools,
full purse seiners closures and FAD closures are also utilized, each serving distinct overarching
management objectives. For instance, full closures are the primary management tool
employed by the IATTC for purse seiners, whereas FAD closures serve as supplementary
management options to attain various objectives within ICCAT and WCPFC.
In this article, we describe and review tropical tuna fisheries, the stock status of tropical
species in different regions, the management approaches as well as the management
objectives. We also examine the science and data collection that underpins and supports the
identification of closure areas, if applicable, within the four tropical tuna RFMOs. This review
aims to provide insights into the diverse objectives, characteristics, and designs of these
closures, taking into account the unique attributes and characteristics of each region and
fishery as closures should be tailored to achieve specific management objectives, whether
they aim to reduce overall fishing effort on the three species, aid in the recovery of a particular
stock, curtail the catch of a particular life stage (e.g., juvenile catches) or reduce impacts on
non-target species.