Pacific tuna fishing boats must follow new international conservation rules

US regulators are enforcing new international rules for tuna fishing in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This means boats catching bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack tuna will have to change how they operate starting in 2026.

International agreements set fishing limits, but countries must enforce them. This rule makes the US responsible for ensuring its fishing fleet follows new limits on tropical tuna. It also adds specific measures to protect sea turtles and clarifies rules for dolphin-safe fishing.