SelecTuna

TECHNOLOGY FOR SELECTIVE FISHING

PIONEER PROJECT WORLDWIDE

With the goal of improving selective fishing for tropical tuna and accurately distinguishing between the three primary species, Project SelecTuna, launched by the Spanish fleet in Opagac and Satlink, is deploying technology across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans to gather data over a year. This data will enable more efficient fishing while protecting vulnerable species, supporting long-term sustainability.

Tropical tuna fishing is a key industry for Spain, providing essential products valued in the country’s diet.

1. Why is Project SelecTuna necessary?

Project SelecTuna is necessary because purse seine fishing primarily targets skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), which maintains healthy stocks globally. However, in smaller proportions, it also captures yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), which are more sensitive species.

Given the varying exploitation levels of these three species, tools are needed to help crews determine the specific composition of tuna schools. This information enables better decision-making for fishing strategies while actively protecting more sensitive species in certain oceans.

2. A New Status Quo for the Tuna Supply Chain

Project SelecTuna challenges the current status quo of the tuna supply chain, as some fishing restrictions are based on the assumption that species cannot be separated in catches. In 2021, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food stated, “The purpose of this capture limit is to prevent overfishing of yellowfin in a fishery where this species cannot be separated from others” (Order APA/25/202, Boletín Oficial del Estado 18: 5967 - 5976, January 21, 2021, BOE-A-2021-885) to justify limitations in the Indian Ocean.

3. Technology for Selective Fishing

In response to this need, and aligned with its ongoing commitment to sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals, Satlink began developing its Selective DSF (Device for Sustainable Fishing) based on its traditional DSF, using the latest knowledge in applied acoustics.

Thus, the Selective DSF provides real-time estimates not only of the size of tuna aggregations beneath objects but also an estimation of the proportion of each tuna species (skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye).

The Selective DSF relies on the different acoustic responses generated by various fish species depending on the presence and size of the swim bladder. Its dual echosounder and acoustic technology system,unique in the market, can be able to differentiate between skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna.

This technology has been tested in very stable oceanographic conditions, achieving highly promising results in differentiating between species without swim bladders (skipjack) and those with swim bladders (yellowfin and bigeye).

4. The Spanish Fleet of Opagac, at the forefront of sustainability

The Spanish fleet of OPAGAC, essential for the development of this project, will be responsible for fieldwork and a significant part of data collection in the three target oceans (Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific). This will allow for the assessment of the performance of the Selective DSF in different oceanographic contexts, under real working conditions at sea, and to obtain the data necessary to improve the differentiation of the three species. Additionally, the data collected will be used for potential future developments and to enhance understanding of tuna biology. Subsequently, Satlink’s DSFs will be calibrated for size distinction of the detected specimens.

5. Sustainable Exploitation of Tuna

By accurately estimating species composition, Satlink's Selective DSF will allow the crews of the Spanish OPAGAC fleet to focus on species that are sustainably exploited and optimize the catch of yellowfin and bigeye tuna.

Thus, this tool will help crews improve their fishing strategies, reducing search time, total time at sea, and consequently, reducing fuel consumption and the carbon footprint of the vessels.

TECNOLOGÍA PARA UNA PESCA SELECTIVA

Partners

OF THE PROJECT

Thanks to the essential collaboration of the Spanish fleet grouped in Opagac and their fieldwork, the project will allow for the expansion of information and data collection on the ground.

Objectives

PROJECT SELECTUNA

The main objective of SelecTuna is to develop a tool that enables the OPAGAC fleet to optimize their fishing strategies by increasing the selectivity of their catches.

Adaptation to Oceanographic Contexts

ADAPTING THE SELECTIVE DSF TO DIFFERENT OCEANOGRAPHIC AND REAL WORKING CONDITIONS AT SEA.

The Selective DSF has been tested under very stable conditions with promising results. Now, the selective buoy will be tested in different oceanographic conditions to reveal the necessary adjustments to compensate for these differences.

Refining Species Discrimination

IMPROVING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN SKIPJACK, YELLOWFIN, AND BIGEYE TUNA SPECIES.

Currently, the Selective DSF distinguishes between species with and without swim bladders with 80% accuracy. The data collected in this project will enhance the differentiation among the three tropical tuna species, allowing for active protection of the more sensitive species.

Science: Tuna Biology and Behavior

ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL TROPICAL TUNA POPULATIONS FOR IMPROVED KNOWLEDGE.

The data collected within the framework of the project will also serve to enhance knowledge about the biology of tropical tuna populations and may lead to new developments and functionalities for the Selective DSF.

Data

COLLECTION METHODS

The data collection procedure is carried out using three different data sources. This ensures the reliability and accuracy of the information while minimizing the impact on the routines and work of the participating crews.