Author: Lynne Mandel

Field Notes: ISSF Scientists Working toward Sustainable Tuna Fisheries

Written by Lynne Mandel on January 30, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

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ISSF Scientists Share Knowledge for More Sustainable Tuna Fisheries

ISSF scientists are traveling the world to share their research findings and insights — from meeting with fishers and fisheries managers to uncover new sustainability approaches to testing improved tuna fishing equipment in real world conditions. Read on for recent highlights from ISSF scientists in the field.

In Rome, ISSF Senior Scientist Dr. Hilario Murua participated in a recent meeting of 30 tuna fisheries managers and scientists, as well as industry and civil society representatives, to discuss how best to advance implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in tuna fisheries. The three-day FAO workshop was hosted by the Commons Oceans Tuna Project with support from its partner ISSF. Workshop participants aimed to develop a blueprint for the implementation of an ecosystem approach by the regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) with a mandate of promoting responsible tuna fisheries.

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Learn more about how ISSF investigates and promotes science-based approaches for ensuring the long-term sustainability of global tuna stocks and the marine ecosystem.

The ISSF team works collaboratively with peer scientists, academics, environmental experts, governing bodies, and other stakeholders on issues where we can advance our understanding about sustainable fishing — and make a positive impact.

We publish reports, develop resources, and host events that support fishery health in key areas: tuna conservation, fish aggregating device (FAD) management, marine ecosystem health, bycatch reduction, capacity management, and illegal fishing prevention.

Our experts document activities and insights from ISSF at-sea research projects, international workshops and meetings, and fisheries data analysis.

Browse ISSF Reports

In addition to sharing research findings and analysis in ISSF reports, our scientists and advocacy experts co-author peer-reviewed articles in leading journals. See a list of peer-reviewed articles co-authored by our Staff, Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) members, or other scientists whose projects were partially or fully funded by ISSF.

Access Articles

ISSF scientists, collaborating researchers, and members of the ISSF SAC also submit papers to tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) on a variety of topics.

Peruse Tuna RFMO Papers

“Electronic monitoring revival shows we can still do hard things” | NEW Op-ed & Updated Resources

Written by Lynne Mandel on January 23, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

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Op-Ed: Electronic monitoring revival shows we can still do hard things

“This time last year, we were stuck. It seemed our once-energetic, innovative, tuna-centric community was still trying to shake off the gumption-deadening malaise of the 2020–2023 Covid-19 pandemic. After witnessing many years of progress toward global sustainability goals, I was so struck by this apparent loss of drive that I wrote a warning essay about what I saw: A widespread and alarming loss of urgency,” writes Susan Jackson, ISSF President.

“To drive my point home, I focused on one issue I consider the “poster child” of sustainability-enhancing technologies, onboard electronic monitoring systems (EMS). Quite bluntly, I called out a persistent failure to position electronic monitoring (EM) as the norm for ensuring independent observer coverage in the world’s tuna fisheries, despite technical advances in comparable fields and a drumbeat of science-based advocacy. Today, I’m happy to eat my words.”

Keep reading in World Fishing & Aquaculture (subscription required)

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What is Electronic Monitoring?

An electronic monitoring system (EMS) is an advanced fishing-monitoring system installed in fishing vessels that integrates a set of components for continuously recording information during fishing trips. EMS largely consist of cameras integrated with GPS that register exact positions, and sensors that start recording when they detect specific actions on the vessels — such as setting or hauling fishing gear.

EMS, if properly installed and designed, can be considered a reliable and accurate method to estimate catches and monitor fishing activities onboard vessels. EMS can be valuable for science and compliance purposes.

Learn more by accessing relevant reports, op-eds, and infographics on our EM landing page on the ISSF website including a new fact sheet explaining how EMS help to support more sustainable tuna fishing.

Dive in

ICYMI

BLOG ROUND UP: Reviewing Recent Outcomes for Tuna Fisheries

As we look forward to another year of collaborative work at ISSF, we’re looking back at last year’s notable results. From electronic monitoring to FAD management, how did tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) progress priority areas of sustainable fisheries management?

Review Tuna RFMO Outcomes

Featured Graphic

An updated infographic shows how all tuna RFMOs have made progress in using electronic monitoring (EM) systems to provide on-board vessel monitoring.

RFMOs begin using data received from EM systems for scientific and/or compliance purposes approximately two years after the adoption of EM minimum standards: one year for program implementation, and an additional year for data review and submission. However, for those CPCs currently implementing an EM program, this timeline could be shortened to one year.

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Reviewing 2024 Outcomes for Tuna Fisheries

Written by Lynne Mandel on January 9, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Happy New Year! As we look forward to another year of collaborative work at ISSF, we’re looking back at notable results in 2024.

From electronic monitoring to FAD management, how did tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) progress priority areas of sustainable fisheries management?

Read on for a recap of 2024 outcomes, as reviewed by ISSF’s fisheries science and policy experts.

ISSF Welcomes Strong Outcomes for Western and Central Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries at Management Meeting, including the Adoption of Minimum Standards for Electronic Monitoring

Strong Results at ICCAT Annual Session: New Tropical Tuna Measure and Management Procedure for Skipjack Tuna

Minimum Standards for Electronic Monitoring Is Top “Win” for Improved Tuna Fisheries Management at IATTC Annual Meeting

Indian Ocean Fisheries Managers Adopt Strongest FAD Management Measure Among Tuna RFMOs

Most Popular Stories of 2024 | Don’t Miss Our Top 5

Written by Lynne Mandel on December 19, 2024. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

From reporting on company sustainability commitments to the health of global tuna stocks, here are ISSF’s most popular stories of 2024.

REPORT
Tuna Fisheries’ Impacts on Non-Tuna Species and Other Environmental Aspects: 2024 Summary

BLOG
Indian Ocean Fisheries Managers Adopt Strongest FAD Management Measure Among Tuna RFMOs

PUBLICATION
ISSF Annual Conservation Measures & ProActive Vessel Register Compliance Report

INFOGRAPHIC
Minimum Standards for Vessel Electronic Monitoring Systems

IN THE NEWS
ISSF Report Finds More Tuna Stocks Are Sustainable (Seafood Source)

88% of Global Tuna Catch Comes from Stocks at Healthy Levels | ISSF Updates Status of the Stocks Report

Written by Lynne Mandel on December 5, 2024. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

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88% of Global Tuna Catch Comes from Stocks at Healthy Levels; 10% Requires Stronger Management

Of the total commercial tuna catch worldwide, 88% comes from stocks at “healthy” levels of abundance, according to the November 2024 ISSF Status of the Stocks report, marking an improvement of two percentage points compared to previous March 2024 report findings. Overfished stocks account for 10% of the total catch—unchanged from the last report. The percentage of the catch that came from stocks at an intermediate level of abundance decreased from 4%—as reported in March 2024—to 2%.

Changes in stock status ratings since the March 2024 report include:

Abundance or “spawning biomass” (SSB) and exploitation rate or fishing mortality (F) ratings for Eastern Pacific Ocean bigeye improved from yellow to green.
Pacific Ocean bluefin’s F rating also improved from yellow to green.
SSB and F ratings for Atlantic Ocean Mediterranean albacore changed from orange to yellow. However, there is high uncertainty about the stock status due to poor monitoring and basic fishery statistics.

According to the November 2024 report, the below tuna stocks are considered overfished and/or subject to overfishing:

Indian Ocean bigeye and Indian Ocean yellowfin stocks are overfished and subject to overfishing, unchanged since the March 2024 report.
Pacific Ocean bluefin is overfished, also unchanged since the March 2024 report.

In terms of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMO) stock management, key updates since March 2024 include:

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) adopted a new management procedure for skipjack tuna that will help reverse overcatch and ensure the long-term sustainability of the species.
The IOTC and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) released updated fish aggregating device (FAD) measures, helping to improve how FADs are used and managed, reducing the impacts of FADs on the ecosystem, and increasing monitoring of these devices at sea.

ISSF publishes its signature Status of the Stocks report several times yearly using the most current scientific data on 23 major commercial tuna stocks. This Status of the Stocks report summarizes the results of recent scientific assessments of these stocks and the current management measures adopted by the RFMOs, as of September 30, 2024.

Featured Tool

Interactive Stock Status Tool

Our interactive tool allows you to visualize current and historical data from ISSF’s Status of the Stocks report. The tool has three tabs — one for visualizing tuna stock health since 2011, another for visualizing the current tuna catch by fishing method, and a third with catch trends by fishing method since 1950.

Explore HERE

ICYMI

ISSF Welcomes Strong Outcomes for Western and Central Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries at Management Meeting, including the Adoption of Minimum Standards for Electronic Monitoring

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) recently wrapped its annual meeting in Fiji. With the majority of the world’s tuna catch sourced from the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO), the WCPFC gathering is highly anticipated and closely watched.

This year’s meeting concluded with several positive results for Pacific Ocean tuna fisheries, including for electronic monitoring (EM) and management procedures. ISSF urged action on these priority topics, among others. Here is a review of the outcomes of the WCPFC meeting against our organization’s most critical asks.

Keep Reading

ISSF in the News

ISSF’s New Compliance Report Shows 99.1% Participating Company Conformance

Fish Focus

ISSF: Strong progress for Atlantic Ocean tuna fisheries

World Fishing & Aquaculture

Strong Outcomes for Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries at WCPFC Meeting | ISSF Welcomes the Adoption of Minimum Standards for Electronic Monitoring

Written by Lynne Mandel on December 4, 2024. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

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ISSF Welcomes Strong Outcomes for Western and Central Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries at Management Meeting, including the Adoption of Minimum Standards for Electronic Monitoring

ISSF Welcomes Progress for Atlantic Ocean Tuna Fisheries | PLUS! UPDATED Report: 17 of 23 ISSF Companies Fully Compliant with 33 Sustainable Fishing Measures Audited

Written by Lynne Mandel on November 21, 2024. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

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Strong Results at ICCAT Annual Session: New Tropical Tuna Measure and Management Procedure for Skipjack Tuna

ISSF is welcoming strong progress for Atlantic Ocean tuna fisheries as the annual meeting of International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) concludes. We are especially pleased that the Commission adopted an updated tropical tuna management measure, as well as a management procedure for western Atlantic skipjack tuna.

Here is a review of the outcomes of the ICCAT meeting against some of our organization’s priorities as outlined in our 2024 position statement.

Read the Blog

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Latest Update to ISSF Participating Company Compliance Report Shows 99.1% Conformance with ISSF Conservation Measures

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has released its Update to ISSF Annual Conservation Measures & ProActive Vessel Register Compliance Report, which shows a conformance rate of 99.1% by 23 ISSF participating companies with all 33 ISSF conservation measures in effect.

This report updates the ISSF Annual Conservation Measures & ProActive Vessel Register Compliance Report published in June 2024 and reflects efforts by ISSF participating companies to improve on those instances where less than full compliance was achieved. Remedial audits, if any, take place between June and October each year against measures for companies with minor nonconformance or major nonconformance.

Following the remediation period since the annual compliance report in June 2024, 17 of 23 companies fully complied with 33 audited measures, five companies had one minor non-conformance, and one had two minor non-conformances. The 99.1% conformance rate is a slight increase from 98.95% in June.

Learn more

Featured Video

Building on Our Successes – Transparent Accountability

ISSF President Susan Jackson discusses how ISSF is making transparent accountability in the global tuna industry possible.
Watch

BLOG: Priorities for Pacific Tuna Fisheries | Managers Must Boost Monitoring and Stock Sustainability

Written by Lynne Mandel on November 14, 2024. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

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At Annual WCPFC Meeting, Pacific Fisheries Managers Must Boost Monitoring and Stock Sustainability

The tuna fisheries in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) are the largest and most valuable in the world. The region produces 51 percent of the global tuna catch, and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is the regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) responsible for managing these expansive ocean waters.

WCPFC is charged with ensuring the sustainability of highly migratory fish stocks, including tunas and sharks, across a vast area of ocean — a challenging task given the large number and types of vessels engaging in tuna fishing and the prevalence of at-sea transshipment activities in the region.

At WCPFC’s November 28–December 3 annual meeting in Fiji, members must improve their control over these fisheries by strengthening vessel oversight and improving tuna conservation measures for long-term sustainability. ISSF urges members to take the following priority actions…

Featured Resources

ISSF investigates and promotes science-based approaches for ensuring the long-term sustainability of global tuna stocks and the marine ecosystem. The ISSF team works collaboratively with peer scientists, academics, environmental experts, governing bodies, and other stakeholders on issues where we can advance our understanding about sustainable fishing — and make a positive impact.

Learn more

In addition to sharing research findings and analysis in ISSF reports, our scientists and advocacy experts co-author peer-reviewed articles in leading journals.

See a list of peer-reviewed articles co-authored by our Staff, Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) members, or other scientists whose projects were partially or fully funded by ISSF.

Access articles

Additionally, ISSF scientists, collaborating researchers, and members of the ISSF SAC submit papers to tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) on a variety of topics.

Dive in

ICYMI

A Global View of Influence for Sustainable Fishing Policies

Beginning with a network of 23 leading seafood companies and extending to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified tuna fisheries and tuna fishery improvement projects (FIPs) — including stakeholders that ISSF technical experts engage with — ISSF’s advocacy partnerships have a broad global reach and impact. A new Web feature visualizes that “influence network” in four major tuna fishing regions.

View Story

INTERACTIVE MAP: Influencing for Sustainable Fishing Policies | NEW Web Feature

Written by Lynne Mandel on October 31, 2024. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

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A Global View of Influence for Sustainable Fishing Policies

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See All Immersive Web Features

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ICCAT Must Rebuild Atlantic Ocean Tuna Stocks and Expand Management Procedures

ISSF Outlines Priorities for Atlantic Ocean Tuna Fisheries

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is responsible for the conservation and management of tunas, sharks, and other highly migratory species in the Atlantic Ocean. At their annual meeting in November, ICCAT members must focus on fulfilling the Commission’s mandate and ensuring the sustainability of its fisheries.

ISSF urges members and cooperating non-members at the annual meeting of ICCAT to take the following priority actions…

ICYMI

More Harvest Strategies for More Stocks Can Help Fisheries Managers Mitigate Political Pressure and Climate Change Impacts on Global Tuna Fisheries

With 4.8 million tonnes caught annually, tuna are one of the world’s most popular and nutritious seafood species, fundamental to global food security and serving as an economic engine for many coastal communities. It is essential that the regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), charged with overseeing the world’s tuna fisheries, identify and implement tools for the long-term, sustainable management of global tuna resources.

Harvest strategies, also known as management procedures, are one such proven tool available to RFMOs. Yet these management frameworks are in place for only a handful of the 23 commercial tuna stocks. ISSF continues to advocate that tuna RFMOs establish harvest strategies for more tuna stocks—because closing this gap will help fisheries managers mitigate both the political pressures and climate change impacts on global fisheries.

Read the complete guest blog by ISSF Senior Scientist Hilario Murua for harveststrategies.org.

Read More Harvest Strategies…

How Fisheries Managers Can Protect Atlantic Ocean Tuna Fisheries | Our ICCAT Position Statement

Written by Lynne Mandel on October 24, 2024. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) will convene its annual meeting in Cyprus beginning November 11. Here are five ways in which fisheries managers can work toward more sustainable Atlantic Ocean (AO) tuna fisheries at these meetings.

1. Adopt a workplan for the ICCAT Compliance Committee to develop audit points for management measures, and adopt procedures to address non-compliance with total allowable catch (TAC) allocations.

A strong and transparent compliance process improves fisheries management by holding regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) members accountable. Although ICCAT has one of the most well designed, transparent compliance assessment processes amongst tuna RFMOs, these processes can continue to be strengthened.

2. Adopt a new recommendation for tropical tuna management that ensures bigeye and yellowfin tuna stocks are maintained at sustainable levels—which will require stronger measures to reduce yellowfin catch. The measure should fully allocate the TAC between ICCAT members, especially for yellowfin. ICCAT must also maintain the current TAC for Mediterranean albacore.

Since it came into effect in 2012, the AO yellowfin tuna TAC has been exceeded every year but one. In addition, the TAC is not allocated by member or gear, making it impossible to identify non-compliance. A 2024 assessment estimated the stock to be very close to the biomass and fishing mortality levels that support maximum sustainable yield (MSY), and projections at the current level of catch indicate that it will become overfished. Therefore, stronger management measures are needed to reduce the catch.

A 2024 stock assessment of Mediterranean albacore resulted in different stock status outcomes, based on two differing data inputs. Projections made under either outcome indicate that the current TAC of 2,500 tonnes will allow the stock to continue to rebuild.

3. Strengthen fish aggregating device (FAD) management as part of a revised tropical tuna conservation measure, specifically:

Clarify that FADs must be fully non-entangling
Adopt a definition of “biodegradable” consistent with peer RFMOs, and establish a timeline for transition to biodegradable FADs also consistent with what has already been adopted by other RFMOs
Establish a timeline to develop a FAD register

If the Commission extends the current recommendation for tropical tuna conservation and management for another year, adopt a stand-alone FAD measure that includes all of the above asks.

Recent difficult discussions on allocation surrounding ICCAT’s tropical tuna measure have put aside important actions for improved FAD management—like FAD design, recovery, activation/deactivation rules, data use for science, and more. ICCAT must bring its FAD measures in line with best practices.

4. Increase observer coverage for large-scale longline vessels to 20%—allowing for the use of electronic monitoring (EM) to reach this level.Comprehensive observer coverage is critical to effective fisheries management, compliance monitoring, and independent verification of catch, effort, species composition and bycatch. 100% observer coverage (human and/or electronic) for major fisheries is feasible and necessary.

ICCAT’s minimum 10% observer coverage requirement for longline vessels fishing for tropical tunas remains too low for bycatch estimates to be reliable. EM can help increase coverage, and last year ICCAT adopted minimum EM standards and program requirements for purse seine and longline fisheries. ICCAT members with longline fisheries must now embrace this opportunity to improve monitoring.

5. Strengthen the regulation of at-sea transshipment in line with best practice standards, including requiring: near real-time electronic reporting for all transshipment activity; that carrier vessels only to be flagged to members; and that automatic identification system (AIS) data are reported in addition to required vessel monitoring systems (VMS) data.

If not well-managed, transshipment at-sea can be a conduit for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fish to enter the supply chain. ICCAT strengthened its transshipment regulations in 2021, but they should be further improved.

For the full list of our asks of AO fisheries managers, read our position statement, available in English, French, and Spanish, on the ISSF website.