Fisheries in the Pacific region are facing increasing pressure from overfishing, climate change, and weak governance, which threaten food security, economic stability, and marine biodiversity. This review paper examines the current state of offshore and coastal fisheries across the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO), highlighting the dominance of industrial tuna fishing, the vulnerability of coastal resources, and the heavy reliance of the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) on marine ecosystems for subsistence and income. Findings of the review show that while important key tuna species remain abundant in some areas, some are at risk of overexploitation, and coastal fisheries are broadly overharvested and poorly monitored. The existence of regional management bodies and community-based initiatives such as marine protected areas (MPAs) and Vessel Day Schemes (VDS) is faced with challenges associated with a lack of local capacity and data. These findings underscore the urgent need for stronger regional collaboration, investment in data-driven management, and support for local governance. For aquaculture and fisheries practitioners, these results emphasize the necessity of integrating sustainable practices and ecosystem-based approaches to support resilience and address food security issues across the Pacific Island communities.
- Open Access
- Review
Offshore Fisheries in the Pacific: A Review of Tuna Stock Status, Exploitation and Management in the West and Central Pacific Ocean
- David Piritasi Yeeting
Author Information
Received: 22 Aug 2025 | Revised: 26 Feb 2026 | Accepted: 20 Mar 2026 | Published: 09 Apr 2026
Abstract
Keywords
tuna | overfishing | Western Central Pacific Ocean | sustainability | management | Pacific Islands | IUU fishing
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