Wildlife

Yellowfin Tuna Welfare in Longline Fisheries

Yellowfin tuna caught on longlines experience prolonged suffering that better gear design and regulations can reduce.

Key Facts

Yellowfin tuna can be hooked on longlines for hours before hauling
They are highly active fish whose confinement on a hook causes extreme physiological stress
Circle hooks reduce bite rates in some non-target species
Tuna caught by pole and line show lower pre-slaughter stress than longline caught fish

Welfare Considerations

Tuna hooked on longlines experience hours of exhausting struggle against the tension of the line. Their high metabolic rate means oxygen depletion and lactic acid buildup cause physiological distress rapidly. By hauling time many fish are severely compromised or dead. Pole and line methods produce fish with lower cortisol at death, representing better welfare outcomes while also being more selective.

What You Can Do

Choose pole and line or handline-caught tuna where available
Look for Marine Stewardship Council certification that includes bycatch standards
Advocate for fishing methods that reduce time-on-hook for target species
Support research into tuna welfare and humane catch methods