The status of bluefin tuna stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Seas is moderate.
Handline fishing is unlikely to cause significant harm to non-target species. There is insufficient data on bycatch or discards in the handline tuna fishery in the Mediterranean. Mortality resulting from discards is likely to account for less than 5% of the total catch. Landings and bait are likely to contain less than 6% unmanaged or overfished species.
Uncovered fyke nets are unlikely to cause significant harm to populations of ETP species. No fish are discarded in this fishery, and landings contain only around 5% non-target, unmanaged species. The fishery has no impact on the food chain or the functioning of the ecosystem. The impact on habitat is considered minimal. Trap fishing for tuna is a low-carbon fishery and there is little risk of gear loss.
For purse seine fishing, no bycatch data are available, but there is evidence that it can have negative impacts on ETP species in the area and disrupt the local food web. Mortality resulting from discards is likely to account for less than 10% of the total catch. Purse seine fishing does not damage benthic habitats and has low carbon emissions, but there is a moderate risk of gear loss and associated pollution. Purse seines generally have a stronger negative impact on local ecology than handlines and fyke nets in this area and receive a final assessment of yellow.
Management of bluefin tuna falls under the responsibility of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The measures established for ETP species are merely statements of intent, as few measures are taken to minimise negative impacts on the ecosystem or habitat. Some measures have been established to help reduce the scale of IUU fishing in the long term. The effectiveness of these measures is not fully clear. Some measures have been established to improve compliance with fisheries regulations. Information and data on the fishery and decision-making process are partially available. Stakeholders have limited input into management decisions.
Plans are in place to ensure that total biomass remains within MSY, although this figure has not yet been established.