Big-eye tuna tagging to fill knowledge gap

Scientists are hoping a recent tagging expedition in the Western Pacific will improve the assessment and understanding of tuna stocks.

Of particular concern are the movements of the heavily fished bigeye tuna species which made up 75 percent of the more than 2000 (2135) fish tagged during the 36 day expedition.

Very little tagging of bigeye tuna has been carried out in the Western Pacific in the past.

The expedition covered parts of the Exclusive Economic Zones of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

The principal fisheries scientist at the Pacific Community Neville Smith spoke with Koroi Hawkins about the science of tagging.