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ISSF Publishes 2023 Annual Report Highlighting Collaborative Progress Toward More Sustainable Tuna Fisheries

Written by svanouse on . Posted in News, Press Releases.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) released its 2023 annual report today, titled Navigating Toward Sustainable Tuna Fisheries, which presents the organization’s accomplishments on the path to more sustainable tuna fisheries — especially through collaboration with tuna vessels, fishers and other partners in the seafood industry.

“Skilled, conscientious fishers in all oceans take proactive steps every day to protect marine life — avoiding overfishing, reducing bycatch and providing data for scientific and compliance reporting — while harvesting their catch. As one indicator of the strides they have made, more than 65 tuna fisheries are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council as meeting its criteria,” Susan Jackson, ISSF President, remarks in the report. “We are grateful to ISSF’s many vessel partners in sustainable fishing — and we celebrate our multi-faceted collaborations with fishers at sea and on shore.”

Navigating Toward Sustainable Tuna Fisheries reviews ISSF’s continued marine research and advocacy efforts to identify and promote best practices in tuna and ocean conservation with fishers, vessels, tuna companies and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). The report also covers ISSF’s activities with peer environmental nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and scientific agencies and highlights work to promote verified accountability in sustainability commitments made throughout the tuna supply chain.

Jackson continued, “Since our founding, ISSF has prioritized — and prized — working closely with fishers, vessel owners and the organizations that represent them to better understand their sustainable-fishing challenges, successes and techniques. Nearly two decades later, we are still enthusiastically listening, learning and contributing resources and support.”

Navigating Toward Sustainable Tuna Fisheries Highlights

ISSF’s 2023 annual report includes a feature article on the importance of ISSF’s Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI) list and other efforts to make electronic monitoring (EM) adoption in all tuna fisheries — regardless of vessel type or ocean region — a reality. Ben Gilmer, Chair of ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee and Director of Large-Scale Fisheries, The Nature Conservancy, authors “Tools for Transparency.”

The report also outlines ISSF’s critical science-focused and verification-related efforts with industry partners, including seafood companies and tuna fishing vessels. ISSF accomplishments in 2023 include:

  • 35 coordinated research projects on ecosystem impacts, tuna stock health and combatting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities — demonstrating ISSF’s scope of research and impact
  • Information exchange and problem-solving between fishers and scientists through 25 in-person purse seine skippers’ workshops with 480+ participants. Also, 1,575 fishers completed ISSF’s Skippers’ Guidebooks to Sustainable Fishing Practices.
  • Reaching 1,500+ registrations on the ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) — one of four public vessel lists ISSF provides to foster transparency in tuna fishing. Also, ISSF has more than doubled registrations on its VOSI public vessel list for seafood sourcing to nearly 500 since the list’s October 2020 inception.
  • Engagement with 100% of active tuna purse seine fisheries improvement projects (FIPs) and 75% of longline FIPs.

Downloadable infographics and links to related reports and interactive content on the ISSF website are also available throughout the Navigating Toward Sustainable Tuna Fisheries PDF.

ISSF Annual Conservation Measures & ProActive Vessel Register Compliance Report

Navigating Toward Sustainable Tuna Fisheries are findings from the complementary ISSF Annual Conservation Measures & ProActive Vessel Register Compliance Report, which ISSF publishes to coincide with the annual report. In addition to reporting ISSF participating companies’ performance on ISSF conservation measures, the report now also shows PVR vessels’ aggregate compliance on relevant ISSF conservation measures.

For 23 ISSF participating companies as of December 2023, the ISSF Annual Conservation Measures & ProActive Vessel Register Compliance Report shows a conformance rate of 98.95%. It tracks companies’ progress in conforming with ISSF’s 33 conservation measures, such as:

  • Submitting quarterly purchase data by vessel, trip dates, species, size and other data to RFMO scientific bodies
  • Conducting transactions only with purse seine vessels whose skippers have received science-based information from ISSF on best practices such as reducing bycatch
  • Avoiding transactions with vessels that are on an RFMO IUU fishing list

For PVR-listed vessels, the report shows an aggregate compliance rate of 75.78% with the 12 ISSF conservation measures that directly address vessel activity, including RFMO Participation; Transactions with Vessels that Use Only Non-entangling FADs; Vessel-based FAD Management Policy; and Observer Coverage, for example. Vessel participation in these measures is shown in columns on the PVR.

As part of its commitment to transparency and accountability, ISSF engages third-party auditor MRAG Americas to audit participating companies to assess their compliance with ISSF’s conservation measures. MRAG Americas conducts independent auditing based on a rigorous audit protocol. MRAG Americas also audits the vessels on the PVR for compliance against the ISSF conservation measures that are tracked on the vessel list.

In addition to the summary compliance report, MRAG Americas issues individual reports that detail each participating company’s compliance with ISSF’s conservation measures. ISSF publishes these individual company compliance reports on its website. Individual PVR vessel compliance information can also be found on the PVR list on the ISSF website.

Fisheries Managers Must Act to Improve the Management of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) in Indian Ocean Tuna Fisheries

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

At last year’s annual meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), ISSF welcomed the collaborative spirit among members of the regional fisheries management organization (RFMO). Cooperation and consultation between members is essential for the effective functioning of tuna RFMOs. This approach must continue at IOTC this year as fisheries managers tackle an ongoing challenge they have yet to sufficiently address — more robust management of fish aggregating devices (FADs) in Indian Ocean tuna fisheries.

Purse seine sets on floating objects (mostly FADs) account for around 38% of the world’s tropical tuna catch, nearly 1.9 million tonnes. And in the Indian Ocean specifically, FAD sets account for nearly 35% of tropical tuna catches (37% of skipjack, 22% of yellowfin, and 43% of bigeye). More comprehensive FAD management and monitoring by IOTC will lead to more sustainable management of the three Indian Ocean tropical tuna stocks — two of which are overfished and subject to overfishing — as well as mitigate other ecosystem impacts. (You can learn more about these fisheries-and-ecosystem effects, and the science-based work to address them, in a new interactive web feature on the ISSF website: www.iss-foundation.org/fresh-thinking-about-fads/)

The IOTC has been grappling with FAD management for several years and considering how best to strengthen its existing resolution on FADs. Unfortunately, a number of important FAD management improvements have not been adopted or have not been able to be implemented. These items therefore persist as part of our priority appeals to Indian Ocean fisheries managers, outlined in our 2024 position statement.

This year, the IOTC has several FAD management proposals from various members to consider, and the good news is that there are common elements across these proposals. If adopted, such elements would measurably improve how FADs are used and managed in the Indian Ocean, reducing the impacts of FADs on the ecosystem and increasing monitoring of these devices at sea. These common, best-practice items include:

  • Adopting a timeline to transition to the use of biodegradable FADs
  • Establishing an IOTC-wide FAD register for FAD monitoring
  • Establishing science-based limits on the number of operational FADs consistent with management objectives for tropical tunas
  • Establishing a FAD marking scheme
  • Reporting of lost or abandoned FADs

All of these points are among the established FAD management enhancements ISSF and its stakeholders have been advocating for across all tuna RFMOs.

We acknowledge that there are aspects of the FAD management discussion that are especially complex. In certain instances, positions among IOTC members may diverge. But we urge IOTC members to recognize the need to make progress now. It is well past time for united action for more effective management of FADs in Indian Ocean tuna fisheries. It is our hope that progress on these areas of common interest will provide a solid foundation for future cooperation and agreement among all IOTC parties on other important conservation and management challenges.

 

 

 

ISSF Publishes First-Ever Jelly-FAD Construction Guide to Help Fishers Build Netting-free, Biodegradable FADs for More Sustainable Tuna Fishing

Written by svanouse on . Posted in News, Press Releases.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has published a comprehensive step-by-step guide that shows commercial tuna fishers how to build “jelly-FADs” — an innovative, nearly 100% biodegradable and non-entangling design for fish aggregating devices (FADs).

For many years, FADs have been a widely used fishing strategy due to their high efficiency for catching tuna. About 38% of the global tuna catch, which totaled 5.2 million tonnes in 2022, is made with FADs. But conventional FADs can have negative impacts, such as contributing to overfishing, bycatch, and marine pollution.

To reduce FAD fishing’s effects on non-target marine animals and ocean ecosystems, ISSF scientists developed the jelly-FAD in collaboration with physical oceanographers from the Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC) and tuna fleets — testing and refining the design through workshops, lab research, and at-sea trials in real fishing conditions.

Inspired by the neutral buoyancy of jellyfish, the jelly-FAD design not only is made without netting but also is almost completely biodegradable, and it offers additional sustainability and durability advantages over previous non-entangling FAD (NEFAD) and biodegradable FAD (bio-FAD) designs.

Practical Guide for Tuna Fishers

To help facilitate broad fleet adoption of jelly-FADs, ISSF’s Jelly-FAD Construction Guide provides detailed instructions and visuals for each step in the construction process. These steps include:

  1. Prepare the Canvas – canvas sheets are part of the jelly- FAD “drogue” or cube
  2. Build the Drogue (Cube) – a three-dimensional “drogue” or cube keeps the FAD in the fishing grounds
  3. Add a Submerged Buoy – a submerged buoy works for flotation
  4. Build the Raft – the structure must resist wind and ocean wave drag forces
  5. Make the Flotation Component – a water-line flotation piece

The guide also recommends how to deploy and fully transition to jelly-FADs.

“The Jelly-FAD Construction Guide shows tuna fishers how to build what we believe is the most sustainable non-entangling FAD to date,” said Dr. Gala Moreno, ISSF senior scientist. “The jelly-FAD represents a new concept in drifting FADs (DFADs), whose structure and materials have been relatively static for decades. To make jelly-FADs, you do not need to have unusual materials, special equipment, or advanced carpentry skills. We intend the jelly-FAD to be as simple and affordable as possible for fishers around the world to build.”

Our research team designed jelly-FADs to greatly reduce the need for plastic in FAD construction. Fishers have options in what kinds of biodegradable materials they choose: they can build jelly-FADs with bamboo, canvas, cork, clay, and cotton rope, for example. In contrast, conventional FADs for decades have been made with netting materials, plastic, and metal.

“The jelly-FAD we present in the Guide is more of a model for tuna fishers than a fixed design. We expect fishers to help evolve the concept,” explains Moreno. “The current drogue or cube could potentially be replaced by a cylinder or another type of three-dimensional structure, for example. But the concept of neutral buoyancy should be maintained so that the FAD, which is made of organic materials, can last as long as fishers need, which varies from four months to one year depending on the fleet. Recent trials with the jelly-FAD in the Eastern Pacific Ocean showed fishers were still fishing on them after one year at sea. Periodic repairs on jelly-FADs may allow them to last longer.”

Jelly-FAD Training Workshops, Research Partners, and Funders

Moreno and colleagues have been introducing the jelly-FAD model to fishers at workshops worldwide. Tuna fleets interested in learning more about the jelly-FAD or requesting training can contact ISSF at [email protected].

ISSF partnered with Ugavi, Caroline Fisheries Corporation, and Pevasa fleets on the initial stages of the jelly-FAD  design and testing process, with contributions from Dr. Lauriane Escalle and James Wichman at the Pacific Community (SPC), Joaquín Salvador at the Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), and Iker Zudaire at AZTI.

ISSF’s jelly-FAD research was supported by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through the Common Oceans Tuna Project, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which is a unique and innovative partnership working towards transformational change in tuna fisheries management and biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Additional funders are ISSF, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) fisheries, and the Basque Government.

ISSF Web Feature Explores Challenges and Solutions in FAD Fishing

Complementing the Jelly-FAD Construction Guide is “Fresh Thinking About FADs” — a new, immersive ISSF Web feature that illustrates ISSF’s efforts to foster sustainable fishing approaches, including the jelly-FAD.

“Fresh Thinking” tells the visual story of improving FAD design and management as readers scroll through interactive content that includes animated infographics and under-water photography. It describes how FADs have changed over time; the environmental drawbacks of conventional FAD designs; the jelly-FAD characteristics that help to reduce bycatch and ocean pollution; and science-based solutions for more sustainable FAD design and management, which ultimately support healthier tuna fisheries and oceans.

“No fishing method is without impact, but collaborative efforts are making fishing with FADs more sustainable,” noted Dr. Victor Restrepo, Vice President, Science, ISSF. “We still have work to do toward improving the use of FADs while ensuring that there are plenty of fish in the sea. But we’ve made substantial progress to date. ISSF and likeminded organizations will continue to work toward achievable, science-based solutions for reducing the impact of FAD fishing on global tuna fisheries and the broader marine ecosystem.”

Download or view the Jelly-FAD Construction Guide PDF: https://www.iss-foundation.org/about-issf/what-we-publish/issf-documents/jelly-fad-construction-guide/

View the “Fresh Thinking About FADs” interactive web feature: https://www.iss-foundation.org/fresh-thinking-about-fads/

Learn more about FADs and ISSF’s research program on the ISSF website.

ISSF REPORT: 86% of Global Tuna Catch Comes from Stocks at Healthy Levels; 10% Requires Stronger Management

Written by svanouse on . Posted in News, Press Releases.

Of the total commercial tuna catch worldwide, 86% comes from stocks at “healthy” levels of abundance, according to the newest International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Status of the Stocks report released in March 2024 — a 1% improvement over 2023 report findings. Additionally, overfished stocks now account for 10% of the total catch — down from 11% in the previous report. The percentage of the catch that came from stocks at an intermediate level of abundance remained unchanged, at 4%.

Several tuna stocks are considered overfished and/or subject to overfishing:

  • Mediterranean albacore, Indian Ocean bigeye, and Indian Ocean yellowfin stocks are overfished and subject to overfishing.
  • Pacific Ocean bluefin is overfished.

In terms of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMO) stock management, key updates since November 2023 include:

  • A Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) management change: Specifically, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) updated the tropical tuna conservation measure, which now encourages member countries to initiate retrieval programs for lost, abandoned or stranded FADs, while shortening the FAD closure from 3 to 1.5 months.
  • A Pacific-wide management change: Specifically, the WCPFC updated its harvest strategy by adopting a Harvest Control Rule for North Pacific albacore like the one adopted by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in 2023.
  • The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) released updated catch data as well as a new Indian Ocean skipjack stock assessment that found no change in ratings. Based on the results of the assessment, a new total allowable catch (TAC) was adopted following the application of the Harvest Control Rule.

ISSF publishes its signature Status of the Stocks report several times each year using the most current scientific data on 23 major commercial tuna stocks.

Key Statistics in the New Status of the Stocks Report

  • Abundance or “spawning biomass” levels: Globally, 61% of the stocks are at a healthy level of abundance, 22% are at an intermediate level, and 17% are overfished (unchanged from the November 2023 report).
  • Fishing mortality levels: 78% of the 23 stocks are not experiencing overfishing, 13% are experiencing overfishing, and 9% are at an intermediate level (unchanged from the November 2023 report).
  • Tuna production by fishing gear: 66% of the catch is made by purse seining, followed by longline (9%), pole-and-line (7%), gillnets (4%) and miscellaneous gears (14%).
  • Largest tuna catches by stock: The five largest catches in tonnes, unchanged since the previous report, are Western Pacific Ocean skipjack, Western Pacific Ocean yellowfin, Indian Ocean skipjack, Indian Ocean yellowfin, and Eastern Pacific Ocean yellowfin.
  • Total catch: The catch of major commercial tunas was 5.2 million tonnes in 2022, a 2% increase from 2021. Fifty-seven percent of it was skipjack tuna, followed by yellowfin (30%), bigeye (7%) and albacore (5%). Bluefin tunas accounted for 1% of the global catch.

The Status of the Stocks report is reviewed by the ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), which provides advice on its content. The report does not advocate any particular seafood purchase decisions.

New Report Available: Tuna Fisheries’ Impacts on Non-Tuna Species and Other Environmental Aspects: 2024 Summary

Until 2023, the Status of the Stocks report included relative ratings for bycatch impacts by the different fishing methods. The information on stock status and management comes from the five tuna RFMOs that assess and regulate tuna fisheries internationally. However, the information on bycatch impacts was from multiple sources and was not stock- or fishery-specific. Because of this, the ISSF SAC recommended that the Status of the Stocks report be limited to stock status and management and a separate report be created to address the environmental impacts.

Subsequently, the separate ISSF report entitled Tuna Fisheries’ Impacts on Non-Tuna Species and Other Environmental Aspects: 2024 Summary was published in March 2024 to summarize bycatch and other ecosystem impacts for major types of tuna fisheries. Going forward, ISSF will publish this report annually as a standalone publication.

Key elements in the March 2024 report include:

  • A summary of the main impacts that different methods used to catch tunas have on non-target species and other ecosystem components
  • An analysis of scores obtained by different fishery types in Principle 2 (environmental impacts) certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
  • A summary of the relevant measures to address ecosystem impacts adapted by the tuna RFMOs
  • A summary of complementary conservation measures adopted by ISSF

About the Status of the Stocks Report

There are 23 stocks of major commercial tuna species worldwide — 6 albacore, 4 bigeye, 4 bluefin, 5 skipjack, and 4 yellowfin stocks. The Status of the Stocks summarizes the results of the most recent scientific assessments of these stocks, as well as the current management measures adopted by the RFMOs. Status of the Stocks assigns color ratings (green, yellow or orange) using a consistent methodology based on two factors: Abundance and Exploitation/Management (fishing mortality).

ISSF produces several Status of the Stocks reports each year to provide clarity about where we stand — and how much more needs to be done — to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks. The Status of the Stocks presents a comprehensive analysis of tuna stocks by species, and the Evaluation of the Sustainability of Global Tuna Stocks Relative to MSC Criteria provides scores for the stocks and RFMOs based on MSC assessment criteria. Together, these tools help to define the continuous improvement achieved as well as the areas and issues that require more attention.

In addition, ISSF maintains a data-visualization tool based on its Status of the Stocks report. The “Interactive Stock Status Tool” is located on the ISSF website and accessible through the Status of the Stocks overview page. Users can easily toggle through tuna abundance and exploitation health indicators by catch or stock, filter by location and species, and see the share of total catch by species/stocks and gear types.

Dr. Ana Parma Joins as New Member on the ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee; Daniel Suddaby Joins as New Member on the ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee

Written by svanouse on . Posted in News, Press Releases.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is pleased to announce new members Dr. Ana Parma to the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and Daniel Suddaby to the Environmental Stakeholder Committee (ESC).

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ana Parma to the SAC and are confident that her broad experience in fisheries, including tuna, will be vitally important in continuing our efforts to identify and advocate for sustainable fishing practices,” said Susan Jackson, ISSF President.

The ISSF SAC is a diverse group of leading experts in fisheries science and tuna populations who offer guidance on organizational research priorities and support the development of ISSF’s technical reports.

ISSF also welcomes Daniel Suddaby, Executive Director for the Global Tuna Alliance, as a new member to the ESC.

“Mr. Suddaby has two decades of experience that will prove greatly important to our collaborative work. We are thankful to have him be a part of our Environmental Stakeholder Committee and look forward to benefitting from his expertise in fisheries and marine conservation,” said Ms. Jackson.

The ESC comprises representatives from various conservation organizations who volunteer to share their expertise. The ESC, similar to ISSF’s SAC, provides advice to the ISSF Board of Directors on issues to consider before taking action on specific sustainability efforts, including the adoption of ISSF conservation measures.

New ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee (ESC) Vice Chair

ISSF is also pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Keith Sainsbury to Vice Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee.

“Dr. Sainsbury has extensive knowledge and experience in fisheries research and management as well as the Marine Stewardship Council and that lends itself well to our efforts, ” said Ms. Jackson. “He has been a valued member of the ISSF SAC for eight years and is well-deserving of this new appointment. ”

About Dr. Ana Parma

Dr. Parma is an expert in fisheries modeling, assessment, and management. She earned a Ph.D. in fisheries at the School of Fisheries of the University of Washington. She worked for more than 10 years as an assessment scientist at the International Pacific Halibut Commission.

Currently, Dr. Parma is a research scientist with CONICET (the Argentine Council for Science and Technology), working at a coastal research center in Patagonia. She has worked on different aspects of fisheries modeling, assessment, and management of a diverse range of fisheries, from artisanal coastal fisheries targeting benthic shellfish to large-scale international fisheries targeting tunas. The main focus of her research has been on the evaluation and design of management strategies, attending to ecological and institutional dimensions, both in data-rich and in data- and capacity-limited contexts. She chairs the modelling group of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), is a member of the Steering Committee of the bluefin tuna program at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), and until recently was a member of the Science Council and Global Board of The Nature Conservancy.

About Daniel Suddaby

Mr. Suddaby currently serves as the Executive Director for the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA). With 20 years of experience in fisheries and marine conservation, he is an expert in tuna, advocacy, and sustainable market tools that drive change in fisheries and seafood supply chains.

Prior to joining the GTA, Mr. Suddaby founded and led the Tuna and Distant Water Fisheries Program at Ocean Outcomes, building effective relationships with longline tuna and supply chain companies to incentivize transformation through tools such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Fishery Improvement Projects. Previously, Mr. Suddaby spent six years as the Deputy Leader of the World Wild Fund for Nature’s (WWF) global fisheries initiative, leading global engagement in tuna fisheries and advocacy in all Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) and providing strategic direction to WWF International on seafood engagement. He also has experience as a Senior Fisheries Certification Manager for the MSC.

About Dr. Keith Sainsbury

Dr. Sainsbury has a background in marine and fisheries research and modeling, including working as a senior principal research scientist and leading major research groups for over 20 years in the Australian federal research organization (CSIRO). Sainsbury also serves as a member of MSC’s Technical Advisory Board and is considered one of the foremost experts on the precautionary approach to fisheries management. In 2004, Dr. Sainsbury was awarded the Japan Prize for his contribution to the understanding and management of shelf ecosystems.

Dr. Sainsbury has been a member of ISSF’s Scientific Advisory Committee since 2015.

Learn more on the ISSF website: https://www.iss-foundation.org/about-issf/

Uneven Outcomes for Western and Central Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries at Management Meeting

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

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

This year’s meeting brought some positive outcomes for Pacific Ocean tuna fisheries, including a harvest control rule for North Pacific albacore, the adoption of an updated tropical tuna conservation measure, and moderate progress on electronic monitoring and observer coverage.

But the Commission’s work fell far short in other areas, especially regarding increasing transparency in WCPFC compliance assessment processes and improving fish aggregating device (FAD) management.

ISSF urged action on these priority topics, among others, this year. Here is a review of the outcomes of the WCPFC meeting against our organization’s most critical asks.

Some Progress for Tuna Stock Conservation and Management Procedures (Harvest Strategies)

No WCPO tuna stocks are overfished or experiencing overfishing. Yet managers must continue to adopt precautionary and scientifically rigorous management measures to keep these stocks at healthy levels.

To achieve that this year, WCPFC needed to respond to the outcomes of its management procedures (MP) — or harvest strategies — for skipjack tuna and North Pacific albacore. Specifically, WCPFC needed to (1) translate the outputs of the skipjack management procedure into fishing catch-and-effort controls contained in the tropical tuna measure, and (2) adopt a harvest control rule for North Pacific albacore tuna.

We are pleased that the Commission made progress on both fronts. But we are hesitant to label the updated tropical tuna measure a “win” because its full impact on tuna stocks and WCPO ecosystems in general is difficult to predict, especially considering certain existing WCPFC management gaps.

For example, the new measure reduces FAD closures for purse seine vessels, while allowing for increases in bigeye tuna catch for longline vessels. To properly gauge consequences for tuna stock health, such changes to fishing effort and catch limits must be accompanied by robust monitoring, detailed data collection, and strong RFMO member compliance — areas that are weak for some WCPFC fleets.

We cannot be certain how these elements will impact the longer-term stock status of bigeye and yellowfin tuna, not to mention non-target species like oceanic whitetip and silky sharks, both of which are currently subject to overfishing. ISSF will therefore be carefully analyzing these changes going forward.

Electronic Monitoring and Observer Coverage

Comprehensive observer coverage and the implementation of an electronic monitoring (EM) program is critical to effective fisheries management; compliance monitoring; and independent verification of catch, effort, and marine species interactions.

ISSF has been calling for accelerated progress on developing electronic monitoring (EM) standards for WCPO tuna fisheries, as well as a timeline to substantially increase independent monitoring in longline fisheries. We are therefore gratified that the Commission responded by tasking its EM Working Group with the development of interim technical standards for adoption next year.

We are also pleased to see the Commission increase observer coverage to 10% for the longline fleet in its updated tropical tuna measure, as well as make such increases a prerequisite to raising bigeye catch limits.

However, our strong preference is for observer coverage to increase across the longline fleet generally, and not necessarily be linked to fishing possibilities. The decision in the tropical tuna measure is a step in the right direction — but it makes advancing the interim EM Standards though the EM Working Group next year that much more critical. EM will be an essential component of remedying the longstanding subpar observer coverage on longline vessels.

Misses on Compliance Processes and Transshipment Regulation

Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) need strong and transparent compliance processes to meet their objectives, strengthen their performance, and be accountable to their many diverse stakeholders. Yet WCPFC is the only tuna RFMO with a compliance assessment process that is closed to accredited observers.

Accordingly, we led our WCPFC appeal this year with a call to develop guidelines for observer participation in compliance assessment processes. We are disappointed that the Commission did not act on this request. We will continue to push for this important priority and other best practice recommendations to improve RFMO compliance processes.

The Commission also missed an opportunity to improve at-sea transshipment regulations. If not well-managed, at-sea transshipment can be a conduit for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fish to enter the supply chain. We sought strengthened transshipment in line with best practice standards, including elements like the use of automatic identification systems (AIS) and near-real-time electronic reporting for all transshipment activity. It is disappointing that the Commission failed to act.

Falling Short on Strengthened FAD Management

FAD management consistently tops our appeals to tuna fisheries managers because without rigorous management in place, FADs can have substantial negative impacts on the marine environment. We are disappointed the Commission not only made decisions last week that weaken the existing management of FADs but also failed to take any additional needed FAD management measures.

Inconsistent with the precautionary approach, WCPFC deferred its consideration of the transition to biodegradable FADs to 2026. Managers also failed to agree on proposals to require the provision of near-real-time FAD position and acoustic biomass data for scientific use.

The Commission also reduced the length of the existing FAD closures — effectively diminishing the suite of FAD management measures that had been in place and were making solid contributions towards the sustainable utilization of tuna resources.

Overall, the WCPFC meeting provided mixed results. Many difficult issues were pushed to discussions in future years, perpetuating complex challenges that critically require action. WCPFC has been seen as a leader in tuna fisheries management. We are hopeful that 2024 will bring a renewed and stronger spirit of collaboration to face these complex issues. We will continue our engagement throughout the region for the sustainable use of the world’s largest tuna fisheries and protections for the broader marine ecosystem.

ISSF Urges WPCFC to Improve Compliance Processes and to Adopt New Tropical Tuna Conservation Measure and Harvest Control Rule for North Pacific Albacore Tuna

Written by svanouse on . Posted in News, Press Releases.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has issued its position statement for consideration by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) ahead of its 20th regular session from December 4-8, 2023, in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The statement leads with a call for improved compliance processes.

“Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) need strong and transparent compliance processes in order to meet their objectives, strengthen their performance, and be accountable to their many and diverse stakeholders,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “Yet the WCPFC is the only tuna RFMO with a compliance assessment process that is closed to accredited observers. That’s why our position statement leads with a call for the Commission to develop guidelines for the observer participation in compliance assessment processes.”

Other issues addressed in the statement include tuna stock conservation and effective management procedures, FAD management, electronic monitoring, transshipment regulations, bycatch mitigation, and shark protections.

“The WCPFC also has the opportunity to progress tuna stock conservation. The Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) is the world’s largest tuna fishing ground, and due to persistent management, no tuna stocks in the WCPO are currently overfished or experiencing overfishing,” Jackson continued. “For these stocks to remain healthy, managers must continue to implement scientific advice and take a precautionary approach.

“Specifically, the Commission adopted management procedures (MP) for skipjack tuna and North Pacific albacore last year. This year, it must operationalize these MPs by implementing the outputs of the skipjack management procedure in the revised tropical tuna measure and by adopting a harvest control rule for North Pacific albacore. A new and improved conservation measure for tropical tunas that includes strengthened measures for fish aggregating devices (FADs) is also a must.”

Priorities for Western and Central Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries

Compliance Processes

  • Direct the Compliance Monitoring Scheme Intersessional Working Group to develop guidelines for the participation of accredited observers, as well as a scheme of responses to non-compliance, to present to the Commission for adoption in 2024

Tuna Stock Conservation and Effective Management Procedures (Harvest Strategies)

  • Adopt a new conservation measure for tropical tunas that:
    • Implements the outputs of the 2023 skipjack Management Procedure
    • Limits fishing mortality for bigeye and yellowfin to the interim Target Reference Points
    • Removes ambiguities and exemptions
    • Sets catch limits for fisheries that do not have them
  • Adopt a harvest control rule for North Pacific albacore to implement the harvest strategy for North Pacific albacore fishery adopted by the Commission in 2022
  • Adopt Target Reference Points and continue to develop Management Procedures for bigeye and yellowfin tuna
  • Ensure that the skipjack Management Procedure adopted last year is effectively implemented in the revised tropical tuna measure and adopt a monitoring strategy consistent with scientific advice

FAD Management

  • Establish an interim timeline, to be reviewed in 2024, for transitioning to 100% biodegradable FADs consistent with the timeline agreed by the IATTC
  • Adopt a requirement for provision of near-real-time FAD position and acoustic biomass data for scientific use, with appropriate time-lags to protect confidentiality
  • Task the FAD Working Group with developing in 2024:
    • A “FAD logbook” similar to what is used by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement
    • Options for increased FAD detection and recovery
    • Guidelines to minimize the impact of FADs on sea turtles

Electronic Monitoring & Observer Coverage

  • Task the Electronic Reporting and Electronic Monitoring Intersessional Working Group with finalizing Electronic Monitoring (EM) standards, specifications, and procedures for adoption in 2024
  • Adopt a timeline and plan to substantially increase observer coverage in longline fisheries

Transshipment Regulation

  • Strengthen the regulation of at-sea transshipment in line with best practice standards, including requiring:
    • Near-real-time electronic reporting (not longer than 24 hours after the event) for all transshipment activity, using minimum standard data fields
    • Use of automatic identification systems (AIS) and that vessel monitoring system (VMS) data are reported for all transshipments of WCPFC-covered species
    • Provision of observer data to the WCPFC, as well as the national program
    • Establishing criteria for authorization of at-sea transshipment and a review process

Bycatch Mitigation & Shark Protections

  • Task the Scientific Committee (SC) and the Technical and Compliance Committee (TCC) with reviewing the seabird and sea turtle measures in 2024, and providing advice on updated best practice mitigation options
  • Task the SC and TCC to provide recommendations in 2024 on the conservation measure for sharks, including the provisions for retained sharks to be landed with fins naturally attached.

The full ISSF WCPFC position statement can be read here.

Mixed Results at ICCAT Annual Session: Compliance Reforms and Electronic Monitoring Standards Among Positive Meeting Outcomes

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is welcoming some progress for Atlantic Ocean tuna fisheries as the annual meeting of International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) concludes. While we were hoping for more fulsome headway against our priority asks this year, we are pleased that the Commission made some gains, specifically in adopting minimum standards for electronic monitoring and further advancing compliance improvements.

Here is a review of the outcomes of the ICCAT meeting against some of our organization’s priorities as outlined in our 2023 position statement.

Compliance Processes

Though ICCAT has one of the most open compliance assessment processes among the five tuna RFMOs, room for improvement remains. We have been working with partner NGOs to identify compliance reform priorities for tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), and our position statement included several of those recommendations. We are pleased to report that ICCAT agreed to one such recommendation — the use of its table of responses to non-compliance, which was adopted by ICCAT in 2022, for the review of member states’ compliance this year.

Looking ahead, we will be working with our NGO partners and other stakeholders to advocate for further alignment of the ICCAT compliance process with RFMO compliance best practices.

Tuna Stock Conservation and FAD Management

For the third year in a row, ISSF urged ICCAT to adopt a strengthened tropical tuna measure that maintains bigeye and yellowfin stocks at sustainable levels and improves the management of FADs — especially requirements for fully non-entangling and biodegradable FADs. Many of these improvements were included in a draft measure that was discussed towards the end of the meeting, but unfortunately the Commission was unable to reach consensus. While the Commission maintained its current conservation measure for tropical tunas in place for 2024, which will ensure the current management safeguards for these stocks remain in force, it is disappointing that needed improvements to the existing measure escaped agreement once again.

Electronic Monitoring and Reporting and Observer Coverage

Progress on electronic monitoring improvements was a bright spot at this year’s ICCAT meeting. Specifically, the Commission agreed to adopt electronic monitoring (EM) minimum standards for purse seine and longline fisheries. We applaud ICCAT as the second tuna RFMO to adopt EM program and data standards this year.

While we had hoped the Commission would also strengthen its observer coverage requirements, EM standards will help achieve higher levels of monitoring, which is critical to effective fisheries management; compliance monitoring; and independent verification of catch, effort, and non-target species interactions.

Effective Management Procedures (Harvest Strategies)

ISSF and partners have been consistently pressing for the accelerated adoption of harvest strategies for tunas across all RFMOs. We are therefore disappointed that ICCAT also failed to act on new harvest strategies this year. The Commission did not adopt a harvest strategy for western Atlantic skipjack as recommended by its SCRS and we are hopeful that this will be achieved in 2024.

Bycatch Mitigation & Shark Protections

We closed our list of 2023 priority asks for ICCAT with a focus on bycatch species, including sharks and seabirds. The good news is that the Commission did agree to reduce the TACs for blue shark stocks in line with SCRS advice — specifically to levels that will ensure a high probability that the stocks will remain in a healthy state.

But we are deeply disappointed that ICCAT once again failed to agree to require that all sharks be landed with fins naturally attached, without exceptions. This year marks 15 years of inaction on this important issue which is supported by the majority of ICCAT members, and we cannot overemphasize the need for decisive progress to protect sharks in 2024. We were also disappointed by ICCAT’s failure to adopt measures on catch limits for shortfin mako sharks and modernize its seabird bycatch mitigation measure.

This year’s ICCAT meeting concluded with less progress than we had hoped and advocated for. As a result, 2024 brings into clear focus the issues on which ICCAT member countries must prioritize and make decisive progress. These include: a strengthened tropical tuna measure that maintains bigeye and yellowfin stocks at sustainable levels; much improved FAD management measures; transshipment and other MCS measure reforms; a fins-naturally attached requirement; and modernized protections for seabirds. We hope you will join ISSF efforts to continue to seek progress for Atlantic Ocean tuna fisheries into the New Year.

ISSF REPORT: 85% of Global Tuna Catch Comes from Stocks at Healthy Levels; Stock Status Remains Unchanged Since March 2023 Report

Written by svanouse on . Posted in News, Press Releases.

Of the total commercial tuna catch worldwide, 85% comes from stocks at “healthy” levels of abundance, according to the newest International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Status of the Stocks report. Overfished stocks accounted for 11% of the total catch, and 4% of the catch came from stocks at an intermediate level of abundance.

No individual stock statuses have changed since the March 2023 Status of the Stocks report. The updated report incorporates recent stock-assessment results for Western Pacific bigeye, Western Pacific yellowfin, North Pacific albacore, North Atlantic albacore, and Southern bluefin, none of which has changed. The lack of substantial changes in stock status between report periods highlights the value of continuous scientific assessments to inform stock-management decisions.

The report did find that several tuna stocks are considered overfished and/or subject to overfishing:

  • Mediterranean albacore, Indian ocean bigeye and Indian Ocean yellowfin stocks are overfished and subject to overfishing.
  • Pacific Ocean bluefin is overfished.

In terms of RFMO stock management, key updates since March 2023 include:

  • IATTC established new conservation measures for tropical tuna FAD fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, including encouraging member states to initiate drifting-FAD recovery programs and establish deadlines for a stepwise transition to using fully non-entangling (required from 2025 onwards) and biodegradable FADs (gradually, until 2029), respectively.
  • IATTC adopted a full harvest strategy and Harvest Control Rule for North Pacific albacore.
  • IOTC and CCSBT endorsed total allowable catch (TAC) recommendations for Indian Ocean bigeye and Southern bluefin, respectively, based on the outcome of each stock’s management procedure.

The Status of the Stocks report is reviewed by the ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee, which provides advice on its content. The report does not advocate any particular seafood purchase decisions.

Key Statistics in the New Report

  • Abundance or “spawning biomass” levels: Globally, 61% of the stocks are at a healthy level of abundance (unchanged from the March 2023 report), 22% are at an intermediate level, and 17% are overfished.
  • Fishing mortality levels: 78% of the 23 stocks are not experiencing overfishing, 13% are experiencing overfishing, and 9% are at an intermediate level.
  • Tuna production by fishing gear: 66% of the catch is made by purse seining, followed by longline (9%), pole-and-line (8%), gillnets (4%) and miscellaneous gears (13%).
  • Largest tuna catches by stock: The five largest catches in tonnes, unchanged since the previous report, are Western Pacific Ocean skipjack, Western Pacific Ocean yellowfin, Indian Ocean skipjack, Indian Ocean yellowfin, and Eastern Pacific Ocean skipjack.
  • Total catch: The catch of major commercial tunas was 5.1 million tonnes in 2021. Fifty-seven percent of it was skipjack tuna, followed by yellowfin (31%), bigeye (7%) and albacore (4%). Bluefin tunas accounted for 1% of the global catch.

ISSF publishes its signature Status of the Stocks report several times each year using the most current scientific data on 23 major commercial tuna stocks.

About the Status of the Stocks Report

There are 23 stocks of major commercial tuna species worldwide — 6 albacore, 4 bigeye, 4 bluefin, 5 skipjack, and 4 yellowfin stocks. The Status of the Stocks summarizes the results of the most recent scientific assessments of these stocks, as well as the current management measures adopted by the RFMOs. Status of the Stocks assigns color ratings (green, yellow or orange) using a consistent methodology based on three factors: Abundance, Exploitation/Management (fishing mortality), and Environmental Impact (bycatch).

ISSF produces several Status of the Stocks reports each year to provide clarity about where we stand — and how much more needs to be done — to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks. The Status of the Stocks presents a comprehensive analysis of tuna stocks by species, and the Evaluation of the Sustainability of Global Tuna Stocks Relative to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Criteria provides scores for the stocks and RFMOs based on MSC assessment criteria. Together, these tools help to define the continuous improvement achieved, as well as the areas and issues that require more attention.

In addition, ISSF maintains a data-visualization tool based on its Status of the Stocks report. The “Interactive Stock Status Tool” is located on the ISSF website and accessible through the Status of the Stocks overview page. Users can easily toggle through tuna abundance and exploitation health indicators by catch or stock, filter by location and species, and see the share of total catch by species/stocks and gear types.

ISSF Urges ICCAT to Adopt Stronger Tuna Conservation Measures, Bolster Compliance, and Clarify FAD Regulations

Written by svanouse on . Posted in News, Press Releases.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is outlining its priorities for improved Atlantic Ocean tuna fisheries management ahead of the November 13-20, 2023, annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

ISSF’s ICCAT position statement leads with a call for improved compliance processes and continues on to address tuna stock conservation; FAD management; electronic monitoring and reporting & observer coverage; transshipment regulation; effective management procedures (harvest strategies); bycatch mitigation & shark protections; and capacity management.

“It is imperative that ICCAT adopt a strengthened tropical tuna measure that maintains bigeye and yellowfin stocks at sustainable levels and addresses management of FADs, especially requirements for fully non-entangling and biodegradable FADs,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “Adopting these measures without a strong mechanism to ensure compliance with ICCAT rules, however, is only part of the equation.”

“While ICCAT has one of the most open compliance assessment processes among the five tuna RFMOs, with a well-designed framework,” Jackson continued, “there remains room for improvement. We have been working with Pew Charitable Trusts to identify compliance reform priorities for tuna RFMOs, and our position statement includes several of those recommendations. Beyond tropical tuna management and compliance, we’re asking ICCAT to conduct a yellowfin assessment in 2024, adopt minimum standards for electronic monitoring, and ensure greater protections for Atlantic shark stocks, among other needed actions.”

Priorities for Atlantic Ocean Tuna Fisheries

ICCAT’s 24th annual meeting has a hybrid format for participants and will be conducted both virtually and in person in New Cairo, Egypt. ISSF’s position statement, which can be downloaded in English, French, and Spanish, shares these and other recommendations with ICCAT:

Compliance Processes

  • Adopt a workplan for the ICCAT Compliance Committee to develop audit points for management measures
  • Use the schedule of compliance issues and corresponding actions for the review of CPC compliance
  • Adopt procedures to identify and address non-compliance with total allowable catch (TAC) allocations

Tuna Stock Conservation

  • Adopt a new recommendation for tropical tuna conservation and management that ensures bigeye and yellowfin stocks are maintained at sustainable levels in accordance with the ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) advice and fully allocates the total allowable catch (TAC) between member states, especially for yellowfin.
  • Request the SCRS to carry out a yellowfin assessment in 2024.

FAD Management

  • Clarify that fish aggregating devices (FADs) must be fully non-entangling, or without any netting or meshed materials.
  • Adopt the definition of “biodegradable” categories consistent with those of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), and establish a timeline for transition to biodegradable FADs similar to what was agreed in the IATTC.

Electronic Monitoring and Reporting and Observer Coverage

  • Adopt the Electronic Monitoring (EM) Minimum Standards developed by the Electronic Monitoring Systems Working Group
  • Direct the Working Group on Integrated Monitoring Measures to develop an ICCAT Regional Observer Program for recommendation to the Commission.

Transshipment Regulations

  • 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 member states
    • that AIS data are reported in addition to required VMS data

Effective Management Procedures (Harvest Strategies)

  • Adopt the harvest strategy for western Atlantic skipjack recommended by SCRS.

Bycatch Mitigation & Shark Protections

  • Require all sharks be landed with fins naturally attached without exceptions.
  • Reduce the TACs for both blue shark stocks to levels that will ensure a high probability that the stocks will remain in a healthy state in line with SCRS advice, and allocate the TACs by member state.
  • Implement the SCRS advice on catch limits for shortfin mako stocks.
  • Request the SCRS to review science-based mitigation techniques for seabird bycatch to align to best practice in 2024.