BAXIN tuna production capacity expansion accelerates

Published 2025년 12월 23일

Tridge summary

Key point: The tuna industry in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has seen its export scale continuously expand, driven by the expansion of the fleet size and the enhancement of local processing capabilities. Marcelo Hidalgo, the Chief Operating Officer of the Fisheries Industry Association of Papua New Guinea (FIA), stated that the number of fishing vessels entering the PNG waters has increased significantly over the past two years, driving up both the catch volume and external supply. According to data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, PNG's tuna catch in 2024 accounts for approximately 18% of the global total. In the central-western Pacific fishing area, which is a core tuna production region globally, PNG has become a key player.

Original content

The growth in fishing in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC) was particularly notable in 2024. The annual tuna catch in the WCPFC increased by 58% year-on-year to 268,000 tons; the catch for the first 11 months of 2025 was 249,000 tons, with the annual level expected to remain higher than the previous year. After an unusually high yield of yellowfin tuna in 2024, the species structure returned to normal in 2025, with skipjack tuna accounting for about 60%. Currently, there are over 50 fishing vessels operating in the WCPFC exclusive economic zone, with the main activities concentrated in domestic waters rather than the broader Pacific Nauru Agreement (PNA) waters. Foreign-owned fleets have become an important force for expansion. Taiwan's Fu Yuan Fisheries Group continues to dispatch more purse seiners to the WCPFC Marine Stewardship Council-certified fisheries, South Korea's Dongwon Industries plans to deploy several tuna vessels by 2026, and Taiwan's Guo Hsiung ...

Source: Foodmate