Yellowfin and Bigeye Tuna Quotas Indian Ocean 2026: What Changes for Vessel Owners

Key data

Spanish purse seine freezer tuna vessels operating in the Indian Ocean now have their catch limits set for 2026. The Resolution of April 30, 2026 from the General Secretariat of Fisheries assigns individual yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) quotas, sets maximum bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) catch limits, and updates the CATI census of authorized vessels, originally created by Order APA/25/2021, of January 19.

The regulation has been in force since April 30, 2026, although its publication in the BOE occurred on May 12. This means that fishing operations must already be adjusted to the new allocations from that date.

What does this regulation establish?

The Resolution regulates three differentiated aspects for the 2026 campaign in the Indian Ocean:

• Individual allocation of yellowfin tuna quotas (Thunnus albacares): Fishing opportunities are distributed among vessels included in the CATI census. Each vessel has its own assigned quota that cannot be exceeded.
• Maximum bigeye tuna catch limits (Thunnus obesus): Catch caps for this species are set, which also operates as a target or bycatch species in tropical tuna fishing.
• Update of the CATI census: The specific census of purse seine freezer vessels authorized to fish for tropical tuna in the Indian Ocean, created by Order APA/25/2021, is updated with vessels authorized for the 2026 campaign.

The reference framework is the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), an international body to which Spain is bound and whose conservation and management agreements require setting these annual limits.

Economic and operational impact

For vessel owner companies, this Resolution has direct consequences on 2026 campaign planning:

• Planning of fishing trips and hold capacity: The individual yellowfin quota limits the total volume that each vessel can catch during the entire campaign. Exceeding that limit is not an operational option: it implies risk of penalty and authorization suspension.
• Management of bigeye tuna as bycatch species: The bigeye catch limit affects actual fishing operations, as this species frequently appears alongside yellowfin in the same fishing zones.
• Verification of CATI census: The census update may mean that some vessels have been removed or added. A vessel operating without being in the updated census incurs a serious violation.
• Risk of authorization suspension: Non-compliance with limits may result in suspension of fishing authorization and administrative penalties, which would halt operations of the affected vessel.

Who does it affect?

• Vessel owner companies with purse seine freezer tuna vessels operating in the Indian Ocean.
• Vessels included in the CATI census (Census of Purse Seine Freezer Vessels authorized to fish for tropical tuna in the Indian Ocean), created by Order APA/25/2021.
• Fleet directors and operations managers responsible for planning fishing trips and catch monitoring.
• Legal and compliance advisors of fishing companies with operations in the Indian Ocean.

Practical example

A vessel owner company with three purse seine freezer tuna vessels in the Indian Ocean, all included in the CATI census, receives with this Resolution the individual yellowfin quota assignment for each of its vessels and learns the maximum bigeye catch limit applicable to the 2026 campaign.

If one of its vessels reaches its individual yellowfin quota before the campaign ends, it must cease fishing operations for that species, even if the rest of the fleet has not exhausted its quota. Continuing to fish above the assigned limit exposes the vessel owner to suspension of that vessel's fishing authorization and administrative penalties.

Additionally, if upon reviewing the updated CATI census one of the three vessels does not appear in the new version, that vessel cannot legally operate in the 2026 campaign until its registration status is resolved with the General Secretariat of Fisheries.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify inclusion in the updated CATI census: Check that all fleet vessels appear in the census updated by this Resolution. If any has been excluded, contact the General Secretariat of Fisheries before continuing operations.
2. Review the individual yellowfin quota assignment: Consult the quota assigned to each vessel in the text of the Resolution (BOE-A-2026-10314) and incorporate it into the catch monitoring system.
3. Monitor the bigeye catch limit: Establish internal alerts when bigeye catches approach the set limit, to avoid unintentional overages during fishing operations.
4. Update onboard compliance protocols: Ensure that skippers and fishing managers are aware of the limits in force for the 2026 campaign and the procedures for stopping when limits are reached.
5. Document all catches with precision: Keep fishing logs and catch records updated and aligned with allocations, to be able to prove compliance in any inspection.