Catch status and stock management of tunas and related species in the Persian Gulf and the sea of Oman

The tuna fishery industry in the Indian Ocean has shown a remarkable increase over the past decade which is mainly due to the improvements in the catch data collection system in various countries of the region as well as the recent development in the purse seine fishery. The total tuna catch from all countries in the region, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, has been recorded at over 56000 MT in 1989. The Islamic Republic of Iran with 21000 m. stands in the second place after the Sultanate of Oman. The total catch of seer fishes in the Indian Ocean has increased from 43000 MT in 1988. The total landing of seer fishes from the Persian Gulf and The Sea of Oman has also been recorded as 31000 MT in 1989, of which Iran landed 4188 MT. The total catch of tuna and seer fishes from all countries of the region has been compared and discussed. According to the estimation of the total production of tuna species per unit area of the coast line for each country in the region and the average production per unit area from whole region, it has been concluded that Islamic republic of Iran can achieve an annual catch potential of 25 to 33 MT of tuna species. The development and management prospects of tunas and seer fishes both in Iranian waters and other regional countries along the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman has also been discussed.