Tuna Fishing in the Azores – One of the World’s Most Sustainable

Tuna is one of the world’s most popular fish and therefore one of the most commercially valuable. It is fished in more than 70 countries and is heavily overfished in many places. In addition, bycatch is a major problem in fishing.

Tuna is usually caught using longlines, which the UN has classified as the fishing method with one of the highest levels of bycatch of all gear types. On average, bycatch in longline fishing accounts for more than a quarter (28%) of the total catch. Not only tuna are caught in the hooks, but also sharks, sea turtles, swordfish, seabirds, dolphins, juvenile fish, and other fish species.

In the Azores, they have taken a different approach. By combining centuries-old craftsmanship with a large network of marine protected areas, they have managed to achieve both large catches and more fish remaining in the sea.

Fishermen in the Azores use almost exclusively rod and handline techniques. Tuna are caught one by one using barbless hooks and live bait such as sardines or mackerel. This entirely manual method means that there are never any bycatches.

Not everything is rosy, however, as there are those who want to fish in other ways, fish within the protected areas, and take larger catches. The Azores parliament is currently debating whether to allow fishing within fully protected marine conservation areas. However, naturalists and the local secretariat are opposed to this. And so far, they can point to a globally unique sustainable tuna fishery that provides jobs, income, and a unique brand for tuna.