6. Global tuna purse-seine fishing capacity

The analyses presented in this paper provide estimates of fishing capacity for the tuna purse-seine fisheries of the EPO, WCPO, Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean.

Estimated total purse-seine catch, fishing capacity and excess capacity in the four regional fisheries for skipjack and for yellowfin and bigeye combined are provided in Figures 6.1-6.4 and Table 6.1. In examining these figures, it should be borne in mind that different analyses were applied in different regions due to data considerations and the fact that the estimates for the Indian and Atlantic Oceans are extreme lower-bound estimates of capacity. From the estimated global purse-seine fishing capacity for skipjack it appears that fishing capacity peaked in 1999, declined in 2000 and 2001 and then returned to 2000 levels in 2002. Excess capacity followed a similar pattern, with a significant increase in 1999, followed by declines in 2000 and 2001 of more than 50 percent and then a small increase in 2002. Excess capacity, as a percentage of the catch, also peaked in 1999, and from then until 2002 it was in continuous decline.

TABLE 6.1
Observed global purse-seine catch and estimated purse-seine fishing capacity by ocean area

Note: Figures in brackets provide excess capacity as a percentage of observed catch.

It appears that global purse-seine fishing capacity for yellowfin and bigeye was on a downward trend between 1998 and 2000, even though observed catch levels were slowly increasing. In 2001 global purse-seine fishing capacity for yellowfin and bigeye, returned to 1998 levels and then declined again in 2002. Excess fishing capacity decreased by more than 40 percent between 1998 and 2000, and its level in 2001 was similar to that in 1999. In 2002 excess capacity was less than in 1998, 1999 and 2001, but greater than in 2000.

As stated previously, excess fishing capacity is a result of both technical inefficiency (or skipper skill) and under-utilisation of variable inputs. In other words, the catches can be increased either through an increase in the efficiency of purse-seine vessels or through an increase in the utilisation of variable inputs, such as increases in the numbers of days spent fishing and searching. In the analysis of the EPO and WCPO purse-seine fisheries, fishing capacity, purged for TE, was also estimated. In other words, it was assumed that TE (or skipper skill) remained constant and that fishing capacity could be increased only by increasing the levels of variable inputs employed. In both analyses under this assumption, there was a significant reduction in the estimated level of fishing capacity. For the EPO the estimated average excess capacity level, purged for TE, measured against observed catches for skipjack and for yellowfin and bigeye combined during 1998-2002 were around half the levels of the estimated excess capacity measured against observed catches. For the WCPO, average excess capacity level, purged for TE, measured against observed catches for skipjack and for yellowfin and bigeye combined during 1998-2002 were around 60 percent less than the levels of the estimated excess capacity measured against observed catches. These results indicate that increases in TE (or increases in skipper skill) of inefficient vessels are required if capacity output levels are to be fully achieved.

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