Tuna are among the most cognitively complex fish and face significant welfare problems from industrial fishing methods including purse seining around fish aggregating devices.
Tuna caught in purse seines die by crowding, exhaustion, and suffocation over extended periods. Longline-caught tuna experience prolonged suffering during retrieval. Given growing evidence of fish pain perception and tuna cognitive complexity, the welfare implications of these fishing methods are significant. Pole-and-line fishing that catches individual fish is generally considered higher welfare.