Key trends:

• Based on preliminary figures (and revised data), Nov saw an increase in overall purse seine fishing effort, but total catch marginally declined as the overall catch rate declined. Fleet concentration remained heaviest in the west as La Nina persisted.
• Overall effort rose 10% to 3,972 days in Nov with highest concentrations in PG, FM and SB (65% combined) while KI and HS also accounted for sizable portions (31% combined). Overall fishing intensity in Nov in EEZs increased by 17% while intensity in HS rose 2%. Early data for Dec showed broadly similar concentrations as in Nov.
• The overall average daily catch rate in Nov was 30t (-11% on Oct) with highest rates in FM, PG and SB. Improved catch rates only occurred in FM and KI while stable in SB. By species, SKJ dropped to 24t (-10%) as large YFT and large BET catch rates also declined to 3t (-27%) and 0.6t (-22%) respectively. Early Dec data showed a lower overall catch rate of 24t as catch rates for SKJ lowered to 19t and large BET to 0.3t while large YFT increased to 5t.
• The Nov overall catches marginally declined to 121,000t (-1%) as SKJ remained stable at 96,000t and large YFT and large BET both declined (-19% and -14% respectively). Small YFT and small BET both increased (22% and 25% respectively). Highest catches were from PG, FM and SB that together accounted for 71% of total catch.
• Reported total transshipped volume decreased 4% to almost 71,000t, mostly through PG (52%).
• Bangkok SKJ prices in Nov as reported by Thai Union stood at $1,580/mt (-5%) while the Singapore MGO average price declined to $704/mt (-2%). The SKJ and MGO price differential reduced but still above the long-term differential average.
• La Niña persisted during Nov with the Nino 3.4 index at -0.6 degree celcius below average SSTs across the central and eastern Pacific. Predictions are for La Nina to persist through to at least Dec 2025 before transitioning to ENSO-neutral in Jan-Mar 26 (68% chance).