Worldwide tuna catches did not improve in the first quarter of 2012. During this time, Japanese and Taiwanese purse seiners in the Western Pacific reported that 80% of their catches consisted of smaller sized fish (2kg/pc).

The situation may improve in the coming months as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) have decided to lift the two fishing bans on pocket 1 and 2 of the Pacific Ocean, thus reopening the high seas for commercial tuna fishing in these zones. However, the Commission maintains that entry to the WCPFC marine reserves will be limited.  

In the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, IATTC reported that in 2011 tuna catches reached 593 897 tonnes. The catch composition was as follows:

• Skipjack landings made up 272 713 tonnes,
• Yellowfin 208 782 tonnes
• Bigeye tuna 44 090 tonnes.

Ecuador had the highest catches at 200 849 tonnes, followed by Mexico at 125 319 tonnes, Panama at 57 166 tonnes, Venezuela at 46 229 tonnes and Colombia at 43 809 tonnes.

In March, yellowfin and skipjack prices remained on the high side to canneries in Ecuador at USD 2 650 and USD 2 050 per tonne respectively, although fishing was relatively good. 

In West Africa (Abidjan), tuna prices continued to be lower than other areas at EUR 1 350/tonne for skipjack, ex fishing vessel. The yellowfin price increased to EUR 2 030/tonne, while in Mahe, Seychelles, the price was EUR 1 950 for yellowfin and EUR 1 350 for skipjack.

According to the Japan Fisheries Agency, tuna farms in Japan harvested 9 049 tonnes of bluefin tuna in 2011. Global production of farmed bluefin is estimated to be 25 000 tonnes, with production from the Mediterranean at about 7 000 tonnes, Mexico at 25 000 tonnes and Australia producing 6 000 tonnes. Japanese farmed bluefin fetches a higher price than the others.  

Japan

A Japanese government report highlighted the declining per capita consumption of sashimi tuna from 2000 to 2011; shrinking demand by the younger generation was one of the main reasons for this decline and the trend is expected to continue.

Japanese tuna imports fell again in 2011 as foreign supplies of fresh and frozen tuna declined to 236 338 tonnes compared with 278 023 tonnes in 2010. The only category that showed positive growth was the red-meat loin sector, for which imports increased by 24%. The trend was similar for frozen tuna.

In early April 2012 the tuna market was still suffering from supply shortage but auction prices were slowly firming up. Supplies of bigeye/yellowfin were low from January to April, including yellowfin from South East Asia and also from the Western Pacific. Spring demand for deep-sea caught skipjack, popular for tataki, increased because of poor landings of inshore pole/line skipjack in Japan.

Australian origin albacore was in good demand in the early months of the year as the fish seemed to have high fat content. It is popular with Kaiten sushi shops and also with supermarkets.   

USA

2011 was another disappointing year for the non-canned tuna market in the USA. As a result of high prices, imports fell by 14.25% compared with 2010. The product group is perceived to be expensive under the current financial situation. There was a 5% decline in air-flown tuna imports and the decline was greater (24%) for frozen loins/steaks for which imports totalled 17 520 tonnes.

Notably, there was considerable interest in frozen and fresh loin imports during the Boston Seafood Show; this could be a positive indication for 2012.

Outlook

The US non-canned tuna market is expected to improve during spring and summer, while in Japan, limited supply and good demand will keep tuna prices firm. In the Spanish market, slight increases have been seen already and the trend could continue in the coming months.