At the annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna in Brussels, participating countries identified priority seabird species and high-risk zones, but failed to adopt binding measures to reduce bycatch. This decision, taken on 5–8 October 2026, leaves unchanged the long-standing problem of albatrosses and petrels dying on longline hooks.
Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) inhabits the waters of the Southern Hemisphere, and its fishery is conducted by large longliners that set thousands of hooks at once. Birds attracted by the bait become caught on the gear and drown. An estimated thirty thousand seabirds die each year from longline fishing in the southern seas, although exact figures for this particular tuna species are lacking because of incomplete data.
The Commission identified thirteen priority species — mainly albatrosses, many of which already have protected status under the IUCN classification — and designated eleven grid squares of 5×5 degrees as high-risk zones. However, these designations remained without binding requirements: neither enhanced monitoring nor mandatory application of the "three out of three" measures (bird-scaring lines, night setting of gear, line weighting) was adopted.
The proposal by Australia and New Zealand was opposed by Taiwan, while Japan and South Korea expressed reservations. Decisions in the Commission are taken by consensus, so even a single dissenting party is enough to block measures. Participants cited the need for further analysis of the impact on the fishery, although similar requirements are already in force in other regional tuna organizations.
The tuna stock itself is meanwhile recovering: the total allowable quota for 2027–2029 increased by three thousand tonnes. This shows that a scientific approach to stock management works when it comes to the target species. However, ecologically associated species — seabirds — remain outside such attention, even though their deaths are directly linked to fishing methods.
The situation resembles a malfunction in a complex system: while one element — the tuna population — is returning to normal, another — the community of ocean birds — continues to lose numbers. Without binding action in the risk zones and without monitoring of already existing rules, progress remains only on paper.
International fisheries bodies can effectively protect marine ecosystems if member countries apply equally strict standards to all associated species, and not only to commercially valuable ones.
