In pole-and-line fishing, tuna are caught one-by-one using a hook attached to a line and pole.
Key Statistics
- About 8% — Percentage of total global tuna catch attributed to pole-and-line fishing
- Between 100,000 and 150,000 – Number of tons of pole-and line-caught skipjack and yellowfin on the international market annually
Bycatch
Pole-and-line fishing reduces bycatch of sharks, turtles and other larger marine animals.
Our report, ISSF 2024-03: Tuna Fisheries’ Impacts on Non-Tuna Species and Other Environmental Aspects: 2024 Summary, examines the effects of different tuna-fishing methods on non-tuna species like sharks.
Fuel Efficiency
According to an ISSF-commissioned study, the pole-and-line method consumes 1,485 liters of fuel to land one ton of tuna.
POLE-AND-LINE RESOURCES
Pole-and-Line Skippers Guide
On our ISSF Guidebooks site, we offer a skippers guide in PDF format for pole-and-line fishers produced in collaboration with the International Pole and Line Foundation.
The guide covers target tuna species, fishing operations, catch handling, and baitfish/live bait.
Pole-and-Line Tuna Catches
Use our “Interactive Stock Status and Catch Tool” to visualize the current pole-and-line tuna catch —and pole-and-line catch trends over time.
Download the data in different file formats, and generate custom graphics to share via email, Twitter, or Facebook.
