• Based on preliminary figures for Jul (and revised data), overall purse seine fishing effort moderately increased with slight increase in fishing intensity (fishing days/calendar day) while overall catch rate declined, and total catch declined. Fleet concentration remained heaviest in the west as ENSO-neutral conditions prevailed.
• Overall effort increased 4% to 3,739 days in Jul and the distribution across zones showed more than half in PG and combined with FM, accounted for 74% of total. The slight overall increase in fishing intensity came from the increase in EEZs as intensity in HS declined. Preliminary data for early Aug showed that fleets continue to concentrate in PG EEZ.
• VDS usage in Jul was 6% higher at 3,646 and 3% higher YTD and total usage by year-end likely around 40,000 days. 
• The average day catch during Jul was lower by 20% at 34t as catch rates decreased across all zones except for HS and TV with HS recording the highest catch rate of 98t. Catch rates for SKJ declined 24% to 29t as those for large and small BET also declined while there were increases for large and small YFT. Early Aug data showed an improvement of 29% to 44t in overall daily catch rate.
• The overall catch in Jul was lower by 17% at 127,000t driven by lower SKJ catch along with declines in BET catches that more than offset the increases in YFT catches. PG accounted for 61% of total catch and there is a similar occurrence in early Aug catch data.
• Reported total transhipped volume decreased by 12% to just more than 82,000t, mostly through PG and FM accounting for 78%.
• Bangkok SKJ prices in Jul as reported by Thai Union steadied at $1,580/mt compared to Jun. The Singapore MGO price marginally declined to an average $741/mt and the differential between the prices was marginal.

The ENSO index for the May-Jul period reduced to +0.2 Degrees Celsius (Neutral) from +0.4 Degrees Celsius (Neutral). The latest weekly data showed all Nino Regions in negative territory except for Region 4 (western) at +0.3oC. NOAA forecasts transition to La Nina by Sep-Nov period.