#BycatchProject 2013

On May 21st the Cape Finisterre departed from Pago Pago on ISSF’s sixth bycatch research cruise. A team of three researchers, led by Jeff Muir of the University of Hawaii, will focus on observing tuna interactions with FADs, how fish behave inside a fishing net and tracking large marine animals to document their survival after encountering the fishing process. Observing fish in the net will help scientists determine how different species might separate when encircled in a net, which could provide opportunities for releasing the non-targeted catch. By using tags to track shark and other species after their release, the scientists will be able to determine how stress or physical damaged caused by inadvertent capture effects the animals after release.

Click here for more information about the Cape Finisterre cruise. 

Research Goals

Jeff Muir, lead scientist on the Cape Finisterre research cruise, joins ISSF in a hangout to discuss the value of seeing first hand the behavior of fish and other marine animals in order to effectively design ways to avoid bycatch during the fishing process.

Jeff shares footage from his last ISSF bycatch research cruise and some of the scientific goals for the current work on the Cape Finisterre.

Click here to access Jeff’s video. 

Bycatch 2012 Revisited

David Itano, Melanie Hutchinson and Jeff Muir, the scientific team on the first Cape Finisterre bycatch cruise, hangout with ISSF’s Mike Crispino and recount some the incredible discoveries made during their research cruise in 2012.

Click here for the video

#BycatchProject cruises again in world’s most productive tuna fishing grounds

PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA – 21 May 2012 - A veteran group of scientists and fishers will embark on a weeks-long journey through the Pacific in search of better fishing practices, identifying techniques that reduce the potentially wasteful catch of unwanted species. They’ll be onboard the Cape Finisterre, part of Tri Marine’s fleet of fishing vessels, for the sixth leg of the ISSF #BycatchProject in a region where roughly 51 percent of the world’s tuna is fished. At least 75 percent of the catch is made by purse seine vessels, which use a net to encircle and catch tuna. The #BycatchProject aims to reduce bycatch associated with purse seine vessels, particularly those that utilize floating objects, called FADs.

The research team will focus on three main projects, including observing tuna swimming underneath fish aggregating devices (FADs), as well as studying how these fish behave inside the fishing net. This information helps to determine how different species might separate when encircled in a net, which could provide opportunities for releasing the non-targeted catch.

“We’re thrilled to get back out on the water, along with this crew in order to build upon our successes from last year,” said lead scientist Jeff Muir. “And these truly are ‘our’ successes. The guys that work on this vessel played an important role in our project last year and they will be just as important to the discovery process this time.”

Researchers will also spend part of their trip tracking large marine animals. The survival of these species – such as sharks and manta rays – will be studied through tagging onboard the Cape Finisterre. When the opportunity arises, researchers will handle the animals using identified best practices, tag them and then release them back into the Pacific. Stress or physical damage can prevent them from thriving once released, so tagging and following the released sharks and rays can help to determine their chances of survival.

According to ISSF President Susan Jackson, “Supporting scientific initiatives to reduce the impact of FAD usage on tuna stocks and the greater marine ecosystem is a core component of ISSF’s strategic vision and this cruise promises to advance our understanding of what works, and what doesn’t.”

ISSF’s 5-year strategic plan focuses on fishery performance improvement through support of initiatives and science-based approaches to the continuous improvement of tuna fisheries. This includes addressing core issues, like bycatch and FADs, which will most directly improve tuna fisheries. In addition to facilitating scientific exploration in the area of bycatch, ISSF continues to reach out and share best practices with fishing fleets. Findings of the #BycatchProject inform best practices workshops and guidebooks.

For real-time updates from researchers follow #BycatchProject and @ISSF on Twitter.

About the #BycatchProject
Since 2011, ISSF has sponsored a series of cruises for scientific researchers to work with fishers to find methods to mitigate bycatch and better understand how fish behave around FADs. These globally coordinated cruises covered the Indian and Pacific Oceans and lasted anywhere from 11 days to two and a half months. The research team worked to gain scientific inputs to initiate improvements within the tuna purse seine fishery to reduce the environmental impact of fishing for tuna with FADs. Each cruise accomplished a series of tasks to test improved gear designs and study the behavior of tuna and non-targeted species gathering at FADs. Researchers also tracked the survival of sharks released after being caught.

Over the last few years ISSF, along with many interested stakeholders, has actively worked toward the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks and their ecosystem through science-based approaches and best practices. Reflecting these efforts, in 2013 ISSF participating companies will begin to meet several important sustainability commitments first made in 2011, with additional commitments to be met in 2014 and beyond.

While much progress has been made, we continue to learn and refine our approaches as new insights and information becomes available. Since 2011, we have gained greater access to information gathered through at-sea research, in the course of working with industry stakeholders, and through enhanced relations and interactions with regional and national governing bodies. Through this continued work, we’ve determined that a few of ISSF’s specific goals outlined in Resolution 11-03, and added in Resolution 12-03, will require adjustments to ensure we achieve our goals.

In order for all ISSF commitments to be met in a meaningful way, enhancements to the implementation process and adjustments to specific dates have been made to certain of these commitments, now contained in ISSF Resolution 13-01, which are briefly described below:

FADs –To address concerns among vessel owners about the possible commercial implications of sharing FAD data – including where boats are fishing – with RFMOs in a near real-time way, transmittal of this data to the RFMO science body will take place on a six-month delay. Importantly, ISSF is advocating for FAD data collection requirements for each RFMO and will recognize such data submissions to RFMO science bodies as sufficient. We encourage our partners and other interested stakeholders to do the same.

Bycatch Retention – To better understand opportunities for utilizing bycatch that must be retained, ISSF will implement regional pilot projects to understand market impacts and opportunities related to bycatch, with an emphasis on understanding potential impacts on local markets and utilizing bycatch to enhance food security. Resolution 13-01 adjusts the completion date for full bycatch retention to accommodate these pilots.

Vessel Flag – RFMO Membership/Substantial Compliance – A comprehensive audit conducted by ISSF affirmed that RFMO governance changes are required to ensure the level of transparency required for this commitment to be effectively implemented. Therefore, the Board approved a 12-month delay for completion of this commitment to provide one full meeting cycle to allow time for advocacy and for each RFMO to consider the required changes. Further, ISSF has developed plans to advocate to RFMO member and cooperating non-member countries to encourage these changes.

Observer Coverage – Many fleets in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans have found it difficult to find trained and qualified observers for all of their boats, and some in the Indian Ocean have been unable to place observers on board due to piracy-related issues. To deal with these practical realities, in 2013, a vessel will be considered to have made satisfactory progress if an observer has been on board on at least one trip (which will be a significant improvement to the current very low level of coverage). In 2014, 100% observer coverage on all trips will be required. This change will allow more time for the acquisition and training of enough qualified observers.

Full Retention of Tunas – To facilitate implementation, retention will be considered satisfactory in 2013 if a qualified observer validates full retention on at least one trip. In 2014, full retention must be validated on every trip by a qualified observer. This change has been made to accommodate the requirement of observer coverage as stated above.

Click here to download a tuna sourcing compliance checklist

This set of science-based deadlines for vessels and industry participants provides the road map and strategies to significantly advance the sustainable use of global tuna stocks.

While some adjustments have been made to dates, the goals initially established haven’t changed. With a global undertaking such as ours we have to be willing to make adjustments in order move forward, and we must do so with as much transparency as possible. In our view, if the changes we ask of stakeholders are implemented in a feasible time frame they are more likely to be achieved. And achieving change through continuous improvement remains our goal.

RESOLUTION 13-01

Resolution by ISSF to Amend Resolution 12-03 to Establish Multi-Annual Commitments to Strengthen Purse Seine Vessel Conservation and Management Measures for Tuna Resources;

Recalling that in 2011 ISSF adopted a Resolution to Establish Multi-Annual Commitments to Strengthen Purse Seine Vessel Conservation and Management Measures for Tuna Resources (Res. 11-03) and amended in 2012 (Res. 12-03);

Recognizing the need to amend Resolution 12-03 to take into account new information that has become available since then;

Recalling that the Tuna Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs) are responsible for ensuring, though effective management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks in the world’s oceans;

Noting that the objective of the ISSF is to facilitate, in support of the RFMO’s mandates, the effective conservation and management of tuna resources and the ecosystem to which they belong;

Noting that effective monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities within the area of each RFMO is necessary for effective management;

Noting further that a scientific committee or staff supports each RFMO, comprised of some of the world’s finest scientists who study and understand the health of the world’s tuna populations and the ecosystem to which they belong;

Recognizing that the scientific study of the RFMO scientific bodies is only as good as the completeness and accuracy of the supporting data;

Conscious of the need of RFMO scientific bodies to receive and analyze comprehensive data on all substantial sources of fishing on the tuna stocks, including from FAD fisheries;

Noting that all tuna RFMOs are already collecting or receiving some data on FAD fisheries through observer programs or fishing logbooks, and that these efforts must be made more comprehensive in order to properly assess the impact of FAD fisheries;

Recalling that the Committee of the Fisheries of FAO adopted on 2 March 2001 the International
Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fisheries, and that the Council of FAO adopted it on 23 June 2001;

Noting that this plan of action stipulates that the identification of vessels carrying out IUU activities should follow agreed procedures and be applied in an equitable, transparent and non-discriminatory way;

Recognizing that IUU fishing diminishes the effectiveness of conservation and management measures and the long-term sustainability of the resources being managed;

Further recognizing that IUU fishing denies the RFMOs important and valuable data and thereby undermines the effectiveness of their scientific programs;

Being aware that member government and flag state enforcement of and compliance with existing and future conservation measures and the successful elimination of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing requires transparent, timely information about the compliance with existing and future conservation measures;

Recognizing that ISSF is working to improve the performance of RFMOs in adopting and member governments in complying with and enforcing conservation and management measures;

Further recognizing that levels of compliance are varied, and in some instances, non-compliance with adopted measures has become the norm;

Conscious that, at the present time, ISSF Resolutions can be most effective and transformative in the purse seine tuna fishing sector;

Determined to continue working, using its tools of advocacy and market action, to improve effective conservation and management of tuna resources and the ecosystem to which they belong and monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities;

Expecting that this multi-annual plan will accelerate reform in the conservation and management of tuna resources and the ecosystem to which they belong and monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities;

Desiring that other NGOs, fishing industry participants, RFMO members and cooperating non-member governments will support these efforts;

______________ ISSF will promote the use of its Proactive Vessel Register (PVR) as a verifiable tool, audited by a third party, to identify purse seine vessels that comply with specific commitments.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation Resolves to adopt the conservation measure that processors, traders, importers, transporters and others involved in the seafood industry, beginning on the Commitment Completion Dates given below, for purse seine caught tuna conduct transactions only with those vessels that comply with the specific Commitment Objectives below.

A.  Data Collection and Reporting

DATA REPORTING BY PURSE SEINE VESSELS

FAD logbooks
Commitment Objective:  Purse seine vessels report their Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) use to RFMO scientific bodies. The data will consist of the elements in ANNEX 1.

• For vessels fishing in the area of an RFMO that adopts mandatory FAD data collection/reporting requirements to the RFMO scientific body that are consistent with ANNEX 1, data submissions will take place through the mechanisms and in the time frames set up by that RFMO (e.g., regional observer program, fishing logbooks, national data submissions, etc.);
• Otherwise, data submissions from vessels will take place within one month of the end of each fishing trip through a third-party mechanism set up by ISSF, or through an authorized national research institute or management authority. Transmittal to the RFMO science body will take place with a six-month delay in order to protect time-sensitive information. The data should be as detailed as possible (e.g. set-by-set), taking into account each RFMO’s requirements for the level of aggregation required for catch/effort data and to be treated under the confidentiality rules set by the relevant RFMO.

Commitment Completion Date:  06/30/2014

Multi-Annual Plan:

2011 - 2012
Working with ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), ISSF Vessel Committee, RFMOs, and other experts, develop format and content of FAD data to be recorded and develop reporting, training and dissemination vehicle.  Advocate to main purse seine fishing nations to require through their national legislation the use of FAD logbooks on purse seine vessels

2013
Advocate to RFMOs to adopt consistent RFMO-wide measures to require mandatory reporting of comprehensive FAD information as outlined in ANNEX 1.

2013 – 2014

Train fleet owners, skippers, and observers on data to be collected and reported.

Work with fleets that are using electronic logbooks to facilitate the consolidation of data.

Assist RFMO Secretariats, as needed, to assimilate the data into their databases.

B. Bycatch Mitigation

1 FULL RETENTION OF SHARKS AND OTHER FISH

Purse seine vessels
Commitment Objective: Total catch retained on board except those individuals that are released alive or those whose retention is prohibited  by an RFMO Resolution or vessel’s flag state’s national law.  Training on proper handling and release of bycatch will occur.

Commitment Completion Date: 12/31/2015. To be revisited at the last 2015 Board meeting.

Multi-Annual Plan:

2011-2015
Implement regional projects to understand market and other impacts of retained fish being landed, with special emphasis on avoiding conflicts with subsistence and artisanal fisheries and enhancing food security through the development of durable local markets for retained fish.  RFMO advocacy for adoption of requirement.  Fleet advocacy and education relating to this requirement and to ensure proper handling of bycatch.

2013-2015 – Two or three specific coastal countries will be identified for pilot projects, such as in the Western Pacific and Western or Eastern Africa, with the individual projects designed to explore the market viability of a retain-all strategy in different cases:

(i) Cases where the processing plants can utilize the bycatch (e.g. to make fishmeal or other products) without substantially impacting local fishers;

(ii) Cases where local markets can buy and re-sell the bycatch without significantly undermining subsistence fishers or coastal fishing communities;

(iii) Cases where reliable transportation options exist to market the bycatch outside of the port of landing, without undermining the viability of local businesses or fishers;

ISSF Participating Company, environmental NGOs, and fleet partnerships will be essential to promoting and executing these pilot projects, as will active engagement with local fisheries resource management authorities and local and regional scientific bodies.

2  BYCATCH MITIGATION

Skippers Training– purse seine vessels
Commitment Objective: All purse seine vessel skippers participate in annual training (which will be facilitated with internet-based tools) on best practices  for purse seine school and FAD fishing, bycatch reduction and shark / turtle handling.

Commitment completion Date:  3/31/2013.

Multi-Annual Plan:

2011
Working with ISSF SAC, Bycatch Steering Committee, Vessel Committee, and other experts develop training and dissemination method.  Begin to train skippers.

2012
Conduct skippers workshops and training.

2013 and ongoing
Require skippers to complete annual training / refresher programs.

C. Monitoring, Control and Surveillance:

1 UNIQUE VESSEL IDENTIFIER (UVI) NUMBERS FOR PURSE SEINE VESSELS

Unique Vessel Identifier (UVI) for purse seine vessels that are NOT required to be on an RFMO list.
Commitment Objective: All purse seine vessels must have a UVI number regardless of RFMO vessel registry listing requirements such as size and fishing area.

Commitment Completion Date:  1/1/2013

Multi-Annual Plan:

2011
Conduct a study on mechanisms that can be used to assign UVIs to vessels that are too small to receive IMO numbers, including special arrangements with Lloyds­ Fairplay, RFMO Secretariats or other means. Develop implementation plan

2012
Implement the plan to assign UVIs, including capacity-building assistance where needed.

2 VESSEL FLAG – RFMO MEMBERSHIP / COMPLIANCE

Purse seine vessels flag and compliance
Commitment Objective:  Purse seine vessels must be flagged to a member of the relevant RFMO (or cooperating  non-member, if membership  is not available under the RFMO Convention) and the flag state is in  substantial compliance with RFMO obligations. During the phased implementation of this commitment, some allowances will be provided for purse-seine vessels listed on the ISSF Proactive Vessel Register if they are  in good standing with all mandatory requirements.

Commitment Completion Date:  12/31/2014

Multi-Annual Plan:

2011 – 2012
Conduct review across all RFMOs on levels of members’ compliance with RFMO obligations in purse seine fisheries.

2013
RFMO advocacy, with assistance from the Vessel Committee and Environmental  Stakeholder  Committee, for increased transparency and detail in RFMO compliance  process.

Publish an implementation and communications plan for the definition and measurement of “substantial compliance”

3  OBSERVER COVERAGE / TRAINING

3.1 Observer coverage – purse seine vessels
Commitment Objective:  100% observer coverage (human or electronic if proven to be effective) of purse seine vessels.

Commitment Completion Date:  1/1/2013 unless prevented by force majeure[1] conditions in a particular region. To facilitate implementation, coverage for a vessel will considered to be satisfactory in 2013 if the vessel has an observer onboard in at least one trip. Starting in 2014, taking into advice the recommendation from the ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee, 100% coverage will require presence in every fishing trip and observing every fishing operation.

Multi-Annual Plan:

2011-2012
Conduct advocacy to critical fishing nations and fleet owners.

3.2 Observer training- purse seine vessels
Commitment Objective:  Observers on board purse seine vessels satisfactorily complete annual observer training, with course content to be regularly updated (which will be facilitated with internet based tools and in-person training).

Commitment  Completion Date:  1/1/2014

Multi-Annual Plan:

2011 – 2012
Working with ISSF SAC, RFMO’s, Vessel Committee, and other experts, develop standards for observer programs and observer training material.

2013

Conduct training and testing of observers.

2014 and ongoing

Skippers to complete annual training / refresher programs as required.

4 TRANSSHIPMENT

Purse seine vessels
Commitment Objective: No transshipments at sea, whether high seas, EEZ, territorial seas or archipelagic waters. Exemptions will be made in cases where the at-sea transshipments are authorized (as necessary, by all of the following: the vessel’s flag state, by the coastal state where the transshipment took place, and by the relevant RFMO) and the transshipped catch is adequately sampled according to the RFMO science provider. Such exemptions shall be based on a detailed report that will be reviewed and approved by the ISSF Board and announced publicly through the ISSF Web Site.

Commitment Completion Deadline:  1/1/2012 

D. Tuna Stock Health

FULL RETENTION OF TUNAS

Purse seine vessels
Commitment Objective:  All purse seine caught tuna (skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye), except those unfit for human consumption, retained onboard (“unfit for human consumption” will follow the definition adopted by WCPFC CMM 2009-02).

Commitment Completion Date:  1/1/2013. To facilitate implementation, retention will considered to be satisfactory in 2013 if the vessel does full retention in at least one trip with an observer onboard. Starting in 2014, full retention will pertain to every fishing trip, in the presence of an observer as in paragraph 3.1.

Multi-Annual Plan:

2011-2013
RFMO advocacy efforts for adoption of permanent requirement. 

This Resolution replaces ISSF Resolution 12-03 in its entirety.

ANNEX 1

FAD data to be reported by vessel operators in a ‘logbook’ or other reporting mechanism

a) An inventory of the FADs present on the vessel specifying in particular for each FAD:

i. FAD identifier (i.e., FAD Marking or beacon ID or any information allowing to identify the owner)

ii. FAD type (anchored FAD, drifting natural FAD, drifting artificial FAD),

iii. FAD design characteristics (dimension and material of the floating part and of the underwater hanging structure),

b) Any visit on FADs. For each visit on a FAD, whether followed or not by a set, the,

i. position,

ii. date,

iii. hour,

iv. FAD identifier (i.e., FAD Marking or beacon ID or any information allowing to identify the owner)

v. FAD type (anchored FAD, drifting natural FAD, drifting artificial FAD),

vi. FAD design characteristics (dimension and material of the floating part and of the underwater hanging structure),

vii. type of the visit (deployment, hauling, retrieving, loss, intervention on electronic equipment).

c) If the visit is followed by a set, the results of the set in terms of catch and by-catch.

Eastern Pacific Ocean fishing nations are getting ready to meet for the annual meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the world’s oldest tuna regional fishery management organization (RFMO). Our coalition has a list of things we would like to see member nations accomplish. You can download our position statement here or you can use this page filled with interactive links to learn more about the issues that matter most.

We have a library of videos, reports and blogs to help get the word out about the challenges and opportunities facing our global tuna resources and the greater marine ecosystem. So sit back and click your way through our priorities for eastern Pacific Ocean tuna fisheries.

Global Issues

Harvest Control Rules (HCRs) and Reference Points.  HCRs are a set of well-defined management actions to be taken in response to changes in stock status with respect to target and limit reference points.  Unless there is a pre-agreed upon action plan for avoiding overfishing or for rebuilding an overfished stock, long negotiations lead to delayed action or inaction.  This delay can lead to further damage to the stock, requiring even more aggressive curtailing of fishing.  The adoption of HCRs is a key aspect of modern fisheries management, and is also a requirement of several eco-label certification programs.

Click here to watch a video about HCRs  |  Click here to read a blog about the importance of HCRs   |   Click here to download a report on HCRs

ISSF urges the Commission to establish stock-specific reference points as required by the Antigua Convention. Specifically, IATTC should adopt the interim reference points and harvest control rule recommended by the staff at the 2013 SAC meeting. In 2014, these should be tested for robustness to the main uncertainties in the assessment, such as the stock-recruitment relationship.

Closed Vessel Registries and Management of Fleet Capacity.  Experts agree that there is overcapacity in the global tuna fleets.  Fishing fleet overcapacity increases pressure to weaken management measures and eventually leads to stock overexploitation.  The first step towards managing capacity is to establish limited entry via a comprehensive closed vessel registry with an eye towards ultimately reducing the number of fishing vessels to an appropriate level.  Though the IATTC is the only tuna RFMO with a closed vessel registry, its current capacity is well in excess of resource productivity.

Click here to watch a video on capacity   |  Click here to learn about ISSF’s capacity resolution

ISSF supports the Kobe III call for a freeze in purse seine fishing capacity by developed fishing nations and creating mechanisms to transfer capacity to developing countries with aspirations to participate in these fisheries. These steps should be taken now, since scaling back fleet capacity will become even more difficult as new vessels are introduced.

Specifically, ISSF strongly supports amending IATTC Resolution C-11-06 (Resolution on a Regional Vessel Register) to require IMO numbers for large-scale purse seine vessels, and subsequently extending that requirement to large-scale longliners.

Click here to visit the ISSF IMO Database here  |  Click here to learn how to obtain an IMO number for your vessel

Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) Management.  Setting on FADs accounts for nearly 40% of global tuna catches and 50% of global skipjack catches. The time is ripe for a concerted global effort to gather and report to RFMOs data on FADs (e.g., via logbooks) in order to better monitor FAD usage and to establish a sound basis for their management in every ocean region. With this information, scientists can advise decision-makers on how to reduce catches of small tunas and bycatch of non-target species that are commonly associated with FADs.  Providing science bodies with detailed data on FADs and other floating objects can also greatly improve their stock assessments.  However, with the exception of data collected through observer programs, there remains a need and opportunity to improve the information about this type of fishing at the RFMO level.  In addition there is a growing understanding of best practices in FAD construction and bycatch mitigation – developments that ISSF is actively promoting – that could be implemented in the short term.

Click here for a video on managing floating objects

ISSF urges IATTC members to convert the existing “voluntary pilot project” on FAD data collection (in C-12-01) into a mandatory requirement with clear data reporting as noted above. In addition to improving FAD data collection, ISSF strongly supports the adoption of guidelines for the mandatory use of non-entangling FADs. This is a critical step in the reduction of shark mortality in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Click here to download non-entangling FAD designs  |   Click here for a video on saving sharks & turtles

IATTC Conservation & Management Measures

Tuna Stocks Bigeye and yellowfin tunas According to the “base case” assessments presented by the IATTC scientific staff at the 2013 SAC meeting, the yellowfin stock size is 17% below the MSY level and the bigeye stock is slightly above the MSY level; fishing mortality for both stocks is close to FMSY. Although the bigeye analyses indicate that the conservation and management measures – including the purse seine closures – adopted by the Commission since 2009 have had a very positive effect, these results are highly dependent on various assumptions (notably, that recruitment is independent of parental stock size). If a stock recruitment relationship is assumed, then both stocks are overfished and subject to overfishing. ISSF urges the IATTC to extend the measures contained in C-12-01, for one more year, to January 2015. In addition, the IATTC Commission should direct the staff to develop management advice that is robust to these uncertainties, for presentation at the 2014 annual Commission Meeting to be implemented beginning in 2015.

Dive into the details about the current state of tuna stocks in the Pacific Ocean & around the world!

Pacific bluefin The last assessment from the ISC indicates that the stock is highly depleted and that fishing mortality exceeds all reasonable target and limit reference points. Current management measures adopted by WCPFC and IATTC in 2011 and 2012 may be insufficient to rebuild the stock. ISSF urges the IATTC to adopt stronger conservation measures for bluefin, particularly to reduce the exploitation rate on young age classes.

Compliance and Performance The IATTC must improve its transparency regarding the levels of compliance by members with their obligations to the Commission, for example the IATTC does not provide information on the degree to which members follow up on identified infractions, and the Review Committee should annually make clear recommendations to the Commission regarding non-compliance by members and CNMs. ISSF urges the adoption of amendments to C-11-07 to increase the transparency of the IATTC compliance process (i.e., make public the responses from members to areas of identified non-compliance) and increase the level of detail in the Review Committee report regarding the specific areas where members and CNMs are non-compliant and its recommendations to address such non-compliance.

Click here to read about promoting compliance in tuna RFMOs

Furthermore, the Commission lacks a formal regime for responding to types of non-compliance by members and CNMs. ISSF strongly supports the adoption of a scheme of responses to non-compliance that builds on the CCSBT and/or ICCAT models. Also, IATTC members have failed to agree on the text for a Resolution to conduct a performance review of the IATTC. An independent performance review is a vital quality-control practice to critically assess the performance of RFMOs in meeting their conventions’ objectives. ISSF notes that of the five tuna RFMOs, only the IATTC has not yet had its performance reviewed. ISSF urges members to agree to a performance review, to be completed prior to IATTC’s 2014 annual meeting, following the criteria suggested under the Kobe Process of the tuna RFMOs.

Sharks ISSF supports the IATTC staff’s recommendations for the adoption of conservation measures for silky sharks. In addition, IATTC should adopt measures to require the use of non-entangling FADs, which should reduce silky shark mortality.

Click here for an infographic on shark bycatch in purse seine fisheries

Click here to watch a video about our efforts to protect sharks

Does your tuna brand prohibit shark finning? Click here to find out.

ISSF urges the Commission to take further steps to enforce the existing conservation and management measure addressing shark finning, and move to the total prohibition of the at-sea removal of shark fins and mandate that fins remain naturally attached for all sharks landed. ISSF is also asking all RFMOs, including the IATTC, to adopt a prohibition on deliberate purse seine setting around whale sharks. ISSF was pleased to see the WCPFC adopt such a prohibition late last year, and looks forward to similar action by the IATTC.

Substantial Progress at the IOTC

ISSF’s primary objectives going into the May IOTC meeting were harvest control rules and reference points; improved FAD data reporting requirements and use of non-entangling FADs; making IMO numbers mandatory for large scale purse-seine vessels; and greater protections for sharks. ISSF also advocated for the IOTC to make its full tuna catch retention measure a binding requirement for purse-seine vessels.

The IOTC meeting adopted:

• An Interim Target and Reference Points and a Decision Framework for harvest control rules;

• A requirement for purse-seine vessels to retain all bigeye, skipjack and yellowfin tuna, except those unfit for human consumption;

• The reporting of specific data on FADs and the use of non-entangling FADs gradually from 2014;

• A requirement that by 2015 vessels larger than 24 m must have an IMO number;

• A prohibition against intentional setting on whale sharks and cetaceans; and the retention of oceanic white-tip sharks.

These actions were the result of proposals submitted by delegates from the Maldives, Seychelles, European Union, Mauritius, Mozambique, Australia and Japan.

Congratulations to the delegates of these countries on submitting and realizing success on these keys sustainability measures.

Click here to read a blog about the IOTC meeting. 

Skippers Workshop in Ghana

Last week ISSF conducted a Skippers Workshop with the Ghanaian fleet. More than 40 captains, fleet managers, ship-owners, cannery directors, fishery managers and scientist participated in the Workshop that featured an exchange of best bycatch practices. During the Workshop, ISSF was able to gather valuable input from the skippers who are testing ISSF’s guidelines for non-entangling FAD construction.

Click here to read more about the Skippers Workshop.

New Member of ISSF’s Scientific Advisory Committee

Alejandro Anganuzzi, former Executive Secretary of the IOTC, has joined ISSF’s SAC. As Executive Secretary of the IOTC, Anganuzzi had overall responsibility for planning, coordination and administration of the Secretariat activities in accordance with the agreements and decisions of the members of the Commission, including scientific and compliance activities.

Chaired by Victor Restrepo, the ISSF SAC reviews scientific information and provides analysis and reference material for the ISSF Board of Directors to consider prior to taking action.

Click here to read more about Anganuzzi’s new role.

Dr. Wetjens Dimmlich is the Indian Ocean Tuna Coordinator for the WWF Smart Fishing Initiative, and is based in the Seychelles. Holly Koehler is a senior policy advisor for the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, and Dr. Gerry Scott serves on ISSF’s Scientific Advisory Committee. They all recently returned from the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) meeting in Mauritius.

When the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission gaveled in its 17th Annual Meeting in Mauritius last week, members had before them some twenty-four proposals to consider from the EU, Australia, Mozambique, Mauritius, Maldives, France (Overseas Territories) and the Seychelles. Many of these proposals addressed issues ISSF, WWF and other like-minded groups have recommended IOTC take action upon, including: Development of harvest control rules and reference points; improved FAD management and strengthened data reporting requirements, along with mandatory use of non-entangling FADs; mandatory IMO numbers, at least for large-scale (24m and greater) tuna fishing purse-seine vessels; and greater protections for sharks. ISSF also advocated for the IOTC to make full tuna catch retention for purse-seine vessels a binding requirement.

It was a very busy week for delegations, and through much hard work in the margins and willingness to compromise and work together, by the end of the week the IOTC made a good amount of progress.

A school of tuna in a fishing net.

We all worked with many of the delegations in the margins of the meeting, offering advice to nations like Mauritius and the Maldives, members that came to the IOTC determined to see improvements in the IOTC’s management regime for skipjack tuna. In fact, the IOTC ultimately adopted a proposal from the Maldives on interim target and limit reference points and a decision framework for harvest control rules. This is a great outcome as it also directs the IOTC Science Committee to undertake accelerated work on these issues in 2013. The definition of reference points and establishing harvest control rules are not only sound fisheries management, but for the Maldives it is necessary for their tuna fishery MSC certification. We hope that other coastal States in other tuna RFMOs will follow the Maldives’ example and leadership. It is noteworthy that now both the IOTC and ICCAT have formalized decision frameworks along the lines of what was considered at Kobe III and recommended by that group to be taken up by the tuna RFMOs

One of the priority management improvements that ISSF called for in advance of the IOTC meeting was a comprehensive, and clear, standard for reporting data specific to FADs. Mauritius and the European Union tabled a combined proposal requiring just that, along with requiring the use of non-entangling FADs to be phased in beginning in 2014. This proposal was adopted without change. ISSF and WWF see this as another solid and progressive action taken by the IOTC.

While ISSF already requires its industry participants to refrain from transactions with vessels that do not have a unique vessel identifier (UVI), having one is not currently required for vessels to be listed on the IOTC Vessel Record. However, as we noted at the start of the week, it should be. Through leadership from another coastal State, a proposal from Mozambique was adopted requiring vessels to provide an IMO number to the IOTC vessel register if they have one, and requires that all vessels larger than 24 m must have one by 2015. Accessible IMO numbers are an important step toward controlling overcapacity.

Visit the ISSF IMO Database here or learn how to obtain an IMO number for your vessel

Sharks weren’t forgotten either. Oceanic white-tip and whale sharks will now benefit from improved protection and conservation measures in the Indian Ocean. Proposals from the Maldives, Australia, EU and Japan will ban both the intentional setting on whale sharks and cetaceans and the retention of oceanic white-tip sharks.

And, the Seychelles’ proposal was also adopted, which requires purse-seine vessels to retain and land all bigeye, skipjack and yellowfin tuna except those unfit for human consumption.

Without a doubt the IOTC made some great progress but it was not, by any means, a perfectly successful meeting. Nations left several issues on that table that need to be addressed, including improved compliance with RFMO obligations, requiring sharks be landed with fins-naturally attached, and the need for all nations to supply timely and accurate statistical data on catch and effort and bycatch. IOTC already has one of the most transparent compliance processes and the recent meeting of the Compliance Committee was marked with openness regarding discussing identified areas of non-compliance. However, it is time for IOTC members to take the next step and set clear milestones for improvement, and begin discussing how the Commission will respond to repeated and significant instances of non-compliance.

The IOTC was also not able to agree to a 20% reduction in fishing effort on albacore, which was the minimum reduction recommended by the IOTC Scientific Committee to ensure that the stock does not move into an overfished state in the near future. It is unfortunate that this needed action has been delayed by one more year. However, the expected intercessional work on Harvest Control Rules should contribute to generating consensus support for taking needed management actions for albacore in the near future.

Ultimately, the leadership of many coastal nations, working collaboratively with others, allowed the IOTC meeting to make substantial progress. Now ISSF and WWF staff will roll up their shirtsleeves and get to work supporting the follow through, and advocating for similar measures at the upcoming meeting of IATTC, WCPFC and ICCAT. Why? Because Fish Matter.

Fishers also display their non-entangling FADs, adopting a best practice

A big part of ISSF’s work in bycatch is getting out to the skippers, captains and vessel owners in order to share best practices. There are a laundry list of improvements we’re asking industry to make, so we have to offer industry and governments some assistance in meeting those objectives.Last week, Jefferson Murua and Gala Moreno, both with AZTI-Tecnalia revisited the Ghanaian fleet and hosted another Skippers Workshop, collaborating with captains and and other fishery stakeholders.

More than 40 participated this time, including purse seine and pole and line skippers, fleet managers, ship-owners, cannery directors, fishery managers and scientists.

“The workshop also showcased the current best bycatch minimizing practices available tested during ISSF’s scientific research cruises, so that fleets can have a reference and guidelines to follow,” Jefferson wrote me following his trip to Ghana’s capital.

An example of a non-entangling FAD.

“This was the third consecutive year we have conducted the Skippers Workshop in Accra and we are seeing first hand their improvements towards sustainability. For example we learned that some Ghanaian purse seine companies have started implementing an improved observer program with higher training and skill standards and 100 per cent coverage for all their vessels. We were also pleased to see that some companies are testing non-entangling FAD designs with the input from their skippers. These are steps that are slowly happening but nonetheless are steering the Ghanaian fleet in the right direction.”

Jefferson also wrote that, “The day after the workshop we were able to visit the fishing port in Tema and go onboard some of the purse seiners. We also had a chance (thanks to TTV’s hospitality) for a second meeting during lunch with many of the fleet’s skippers to further discuss issues about their fishing background, evolution and practices. Understanding this can help us to develop custom-made bycatch solutions that are appropriate to their vessels, equipment and strategy in the Atlantic Ocean. We very much hope that the fleet of Ghana continues in the future on the right path to improve bycatch issues and that ISSF’s scientists can cooperate with them along the way.”

To make it even easier for skippers to keep up with best practices, we’ve produced an on-the-go guidebook. It’s available on an iPad, if a vessel registers for our PVR, or anyone can download a PDF version in our library.

This is the type of work goes directly toward ISSF’s focus on fishery performance improvement. Supporting initiatives, like workshops with skippers, is a direct way to actively address the core issues that will lead to improvements in tuna fisheries. When fishers demonstrate the ability to follow through on best practices – like they did producing non-entangling FADs in Ghana – it has a direct impact on creating a sustainable resource. It also makes it that much harder for governments not to agree that the best practice should be universal and required.

Expert brings nearly three decades of experience

Washington, DC – 15 May 2013 -The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) announced today that Alejandro Anganuzzi has joined the organization’s Scientific Advisory Committee currently chaired by Dr. Victor Restrepo. Anganuzzi has experience working on staff with two regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) in both scientific and organizational capacities. Mr. Anganuzzi will replace Dr. Iago Mosqueira on the committee.

“ISSF’s Scientific Advisory Committee is eager and honored to add Alejandro Anganuzzi to the team,” said Dr. Victor Restrepo, Chair of the ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee. “Alejandro’s knowledge of RFMO operational structures and inner workings combined with his scientific expertise will be invaluable to the Committee. It will help us truly understand the challenges we face and to better find and also implement sustainable solutions.”

Dr. Restrepo added, “Dr. Iago Mosqueira’s expertise in simulation analyses and stock assessment has been extremely influential for the work of the science committee, particularly for several of the technical workshops that we have held.”

For the past nine years, until earlier this year, Alejandro Anganuzzi served as the Executive Secretary of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) based in Victoria, Seychelles. In his role as Executive Secretary of the Commission, Anganuzzi had overall responsibility for planning, coordination and administration of the Secretariat activities in accordance with the agreements and decisions of the members of the Commission, including scientific and compliance activities.

From 1998 until 2003, Mr. Anganuzzi served as the Deputy Secretary and Science Manager for the IOTC. While in this role, he supervised the technical activities of the Secretariat, including capacity building in data collection, database development, data analysis, production of publications in various formats, and development of software. He coordinated the support to meetings of the IOTC Working Parties and Scientific Committee, including scientific advice as requested and assisted in the organization of the Commission and the Scientific Committee meetings.

Prior to his work at the IOTC, Mr. Anganuzzi also worked for the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), from 1984 to 1997, where, among other subjects, he worked on the estimation of abundance of dolphin populations, and on modeling of the dynamics of tuna fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

ISSF IATTC Position Statement

Effective management of tuna is complicated by the fact that tuna are a free-swimming, highly migratory species that pass through the waters of many different nations as well as the high seas. Regional Fishing Management Organizations (RFMO) provide the framework needed to develop, implement and enforce conservation strategies.

The IATTC, which is the RFMO that manages the tuna stocks in the eastern Pacific, is holding their meeting beginning on June 10th. The just released ISSF position statement for IATTC addresses three of the most important issues facing global tuna sustainability: reference points and harvest control rules, fleet capacity, and the management of FADs. Plus the position statement calls for attention to challenges faced by IATTC, specifically overfishing of bigeye and yellowfin, compliance transparency among member nations and the enforcement of shark finning bans.

Click here to access the ISSF IATTC Position Statement.

About the IATTC

The IATTC is the oldest of the six regional tuna management bodies, created in 1949 by a Convention between Costa Rica and the United States. In 1966, the IATTC initiated the first tuna fishery management program anywhere in the world, limiting the annual catch of yellowfin. The commission’s records on catch collections date back to 1934.

21 Member nations of the IATTC:

Belize, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, European Union, France, Guatemala, Japan, Kiribati, Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, United States, Vanuatu, Venezuela

2 Cooperating Non Members:

Bolivia and Cook Islands

Click here to learn more about the IATTC.

RFMO Database 

RFMOs are responsible for sustainably managing tuna stocks and in that role pass measures to limit fishing effort, reduce bycatch and many more initiatives designed to protect the tuna stock and ocean’s ecosystem.

ISSF’s searchable RFMO database includes the over 200 resolutions adopted by RFMOs since 1993. Categorized by tuna species, bycatch mitigation and monitoring, the database is searchable by the RFMO enacting the measure, the year of enactment, the scope of the measure and whether the measure is voluntary or binding.

Conservation measures for stock health are segmented by tuna species: albacore, bigeye, skipjack and yellowfin. Bycatch measures are sorted by the species impacted by the measure, such as sea turtles, seabirds and sharks. There are also management measures that target monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS).

Spanning 20 years the database tells an interesting story of the development of conservation measures and awareness of the impact of fisheries. And we believe this searchable, easy to use tool is a valuable resource for those wanting to track the measures directly.

Click here to access ISSF’s RFMO Resolution Database