Exploiting the “gold of the ocean”: Can live storage solve the paradox of the purse seine fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna in Norway?

Summary

The Norwegian quota for Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT) (Thunnus thynnus) is not completely caught every year. This is paradoxical because Norway is a leading fishing nation. The fishery is currently executed by rod-and-reel and purse seine, with ~ 80 % of the quota being allocated to the latter. Purse seine is therefore the main determinant for the overall success of the fishery and vessels aim to take catches that are manageable for their size (typical LOA < 40 m). These vessels are not designed to target ABT, so they tend to have variable capture efficiency, inadequate catch control technology and often produce inconsistent product quality of relatively low value. Furthermore, participation in more profitable fisheries with better shore-based infrastructure and marketing channels is prioritised over ABT fishing. The storage of purse seine caught ABT in cages is currently practiced worldwide but not in Norway. Storage allows on-demand supply to the market and can improve quality by allowing physiological recovery after capture. There is therefore great interest from Norwegian policymakers and industry in developing a live storage fishery. This manuscript investigates aspects related to ABT live storage in Norway. Findings are presented from sea trials exploring the feasibility of these procedures. Challenges that will determine the future perspective of Norwegian live storage are discussed, and the potential of alternatives such as longlines, traps and rod-and-reel is examined. Any future success in developing the Norwegian ABT fishery will serve as an example for other fisheries around the world facing similar challenges.