Review of Japanese longline fishery and its albacore catch in the Indian Ocean

Status of effort, albacore catch and CPUE were summarized for Japanese longline fishery operating in the Indian Ocean including recent trends. Japanese longline vessels had been targeting albacore until late 1960s, albacore became non-target after that, but it appears to be one of target species in recent years. Fishing effort fluctuated and it sharply decreased in recent years due to the effects of piracy activities. Albacore catch was high in 1960s, sharply decreased in 1970s, gradually increased with fluctuation after that, and then is decreasing after mid 2000s. In the early period, the effort was deployed mainly in the tropical area, and then expanded to the south. Fishing effort in the northwestern part (around Somalia) sharply decreased after 2009 due to piracy activities. During 1960s albacore was main component of the catch in the western part between 10˚S and 35˚S, and is recently main component in the southern part including west off Australia and around Madagascar.