Key trends:

• Preliminary figures indicate that both overall purse seine fishing days and VDS day usage rose slightly in April, with fishing intensity (fishing days/calendar day) increasing around 7%. Note that April figures may be adjusted as NFDs are processed.
• Total purse seine catch (EEZs+HS) rose in April, up by around 16% on the March total. Higher catch was largely driven by increases in SKJ volume, with YFT catches remaining relatively stable. Catch and effort remained broadly concentrated in the west, with catches highest in PNG. 
• Based on preliminary figures, overall catch rates rose in April, reaching the highest catch rate since December ‘20. SKJ catch rates rose sharply, while catch rates of large YFT fell to low levels.
• Transhipment volumes rose, up by around 21% on March volumes. Transhipments were highest in PNG and RMI, collectively accounting for around 81% of total volume.
• Bangkok SKJ prices averaged $1800 in April, down from $1900 in March, according to Thai Union figures. Singapore MGO price contiued it’s sharp rise, averaging $1,144/mt in April.
• Amongst key SE Asian processing countries, new case numbers in Vietnam have fallen sharply from over 250,000 new cases per/day in mid March to <3,000/day in mid-May. Thailand’s new daily case numbers have fallen to <7,000/day, while cases in Philippines, Indonesia and Ecuador have fallen to low levels. Amongst PNA Parties, new case numbers remain high in the Solomons and Palau, but have fallen in Kiribati. RMI reported 10 new cases in April, all in managed quarantine facilities, with no community transmission. FSM and Nauru also have a small number of active cases in managed facilities with no community transmission.

Find attached the covid19 detailed and updated reports;