Skip to main content

Author: svanouse

ISSF Position Statement Outlines Top Asks for Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, Including More Robust Rebuilding Plan for Yellowfin Tuna

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) published its position statement in advance of the 24th Session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), which will take place virtually November 2-6.  

The impacts of COVID-19 have challenged regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) in conducting their meetings in 2020. IOTC cancelled its in-person annual Commission and Working Party meetings, which are now taking place online.

ISSF's position statement details the #sustainable #tuna #fishing issues we are urging #IOTC to discuss at its virtual annual meeting in November. Click To Tweet

Even under these historically unique, pandemic-caused circumstances, ISSF believes IOTC must press forward on collaborative discussions and take decisions to ensure the uninterrupted, sustainable management of tuna stocks and marine ecosystems under its purview. Several critical measures and issues that require immediate attention and action by IOTC this year into 2021 are detailed in ISSF’s statement.

As in 2019, given the serious risk of further declines in the status of the stock, ISSF’s highest priority for IOTC is that it adopt this year an effective rebuilding plan for yellowfin tuna aligned with recommendations from IOTC’s own Scientific Committee. If implemented effectively, this would imply a 15%-20% reduction from the 2017 yellowfin catch levels. The interim-rebuilding plan adopted last year in Resolution 19/01 did not fully incorporate the Committee’s yellowfin advice, and it allowed for growth in some fishery sectors. In addition, reported over-catches in contravention of the Resolution is further eroding its effectiveness. 

“Yellowfin stock status in Indian Ocean fisheries remains a clear concern,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “To rebuild the stock, IOTC must adopt a measure in 2020 that fully incorporates the recommendations of its own Scientific Committee, ensures all gears and fleets harvesting yellowfin are included, and addresses non-compliance with the interim rebuilding plan. For fisheries management, COVID-19 presents many obstacles, but the Commission is responsible for this critical resource and should take immediate action to conserve it.” 

ISSF’s other top “asks” of IOTC for its upcoming meeting agenda are:  

  • Urgently monitor and manage catches of skipjack to ensure catches in 2020/2021 do not exceed the limit set by the adopted Harvest Control Rule in Resolution 16/02
  • Conduct management strategy evaluation (MSE) for albacore, bigeye, skipjack and yellowfin tuna stocks, and adopt species-specific management procedures, particularly for yellowfin
  • Request the Scientific Committee provide science-based limits on FAD deployments and/or FAD sets; develop recommendations in 2021 and adopt, by 2022, FAD marking guidelines, including the requirement to mark both the buoy and the FAD structure
  • Develop and adopt minimum standards for electronic monitoring systems (EMS) and an e-reporting information system both for logbooks and observers for all gears in 2021 so that large-scale purse seine vessels — and all vessels engaged in at-sea transshipment, regardless of gear type — are required to have 100% observer coverage within five years

Read the full IOTC Position Statement on the ISSF website.

ISSF Global Priorities for Tuna RFMOs

ISSF is committed to advocating for science-based approaches, policies and conservation measures to advance tuna fisheries sustainability. Here are ISSF’s Global Priorities for four Tuna RFMOs — the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC):

  • Implementation of rigorous management procedures, including harvest control rules and reference points
  • Effective management of fleet capacity, including developing mechanisms that support developing coastal state engagement in the fishery
  • Science-based FAD management & non-entangling and biodegradable FAD designs
  • Increased member compliance with all adopted measures, and greater transparency of processes reviewing member compliance with measures
  • Strengthened monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) measures and increased observer coverage, including through modern technologies such as electronic monitoring and e-reporting
  • Adoption of best-practice bycatch mitigation and shark conservation and management measures

3 Ways Fisheries Managers Can Pivot on Monitoring, Control and Surveillance

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

With the global pandemic impacting the work of human fisheries observers, electronic monitoring (EM) in global tuna fisheries is in the spotlight more than ever.

Here are three ways fisheries managers can act to fully embrace EM today, while enabling a long and successful future for this important monitoring, control and surveillance tool.

  1. Pivot and accelerate to best practices where possible

This is a challenging time for fisheries managers, but it is also an opportunity to begin to advance existing technologies with the aim of dramatically increasing current monitoring, and ultimately to improve data collection from vessels at-sea. RFMOs should immediately implement the minimum best practice standards for electronic monitoring systems if they are in a position to do so.

This means that for fisheries that are adequately prepared to apply EM in the place of human observers, corresponding RFMOs should implement standards. These policies should ensure that all systems are tested and certified before a fishing trip begins, and that the number of cameras and camera type are sufficient and well placed to cover areas and actions necessary to capture the required data. EM systems must also be robust in rough at-sea conditions and operate largely independently from the crew. For example, sensors can trigger recording of fishing-related activities. 

Standards should also ensure that the systems are tamper-proof and have adequate data security. Rules should be immediately adopted to make sure that the system’s data analysis and reporting is done by a qualified third party, that data reviewers are trained properly, and that all storage devices should also allow for at least six months of storage to prevent degradation. 

  1. Raise the bar — Put resources towards vessel monitoring systems, too

Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) for highly migratory species have established either centralized RFMO satellite vessel monitoring systems (VMS) or prescribed requirements for national VMS systems to apply to vessels that operate in the RFMO areas. Best-practice VMS programs monitor the implementation of conservation measures, combat IUU fishing, and provide data for scientific analyses or research programs.

All RFMOs should take steps to follow best practices for VMS: practices that promote transparency, ensure the availability and utility of VMS data, and minimize the risk of false reports, gaps in position reporting, or tampering with VMS units. 

  1. Plan for the future

Fisheries management leaders should recognize the gaps in data that will inevitably follow suspensions of human observer requirements and adjust policies and strategies to start filling in those gaps. Every RFMO and government should be investing in and continuing to advance the development of electronic reporting and monitoring technologies in order to make up for the scarcity of data brought about by these human observer suspensions, which have the potential to last for an extended period.

Without adequate monitoring, whether human, electronic, or a combination of both, at-sea transshipment can occur in an opaque box. The further development of electronic monitoring would help prevent the risks of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as the misreporting of data, overfishing quotas and catch limits, noncompliance with bycatch measures and more in such at-sea practices.

Electronic monitoring is a critical aspect of fisheries monitoring: It verifies that fishing activities take place in accordance with the rules; has the potential to provide managers with better data to make informed, science-based management decisions; promotes safety for vessel crew and human observers alike; and drastically improves traceability of catch.

The onset of this pandemic has presented great challenges, but it can also be a catalyst for incredible progress. By taking the steps above, fisheries managers can begin to improve and expand the application of EM during this emergency period and well beyond it. 

ISSF Adds WWF’s Dr. Vishwanie Maharaj, Noted Fisheries and Seafood Economist, to Environmental Stakeholder Committee

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) announced today that Dr. Vishwanie Maharaj, the lead for tunas and other multilateral fisheries at World Wildlife Fund (WWF-US), is appointed to its Environmental Stakeholder Committee (ESC).

“Dr. Maharaj is a strong addition to our already deep bench of conservation and scientific experts on the ESC,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “She comes to the committee with more than 20 years of experience navigating the fishery policy issues we deal with every day. Her experience and understanding of Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs) and projects like the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Program (ABNJ) will be indispensable as we continue to push for policies that promote the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks.” 

Our new Environmental Stakeholder Committee member Dr. Vishwanie Maharaj has more than 20 years of experience in #fishery and #environmental #policy issues. Click To Tweet

Dr. Vishwanie Maharaj is an economist with more than 20 years of experience working on fishery and environmental policy issues through research and engagement of the seafood industry, regional management bodies and non-governmental organizations. Dr. Maharaj is currently the lead for tunas and other multilateral fisheries at WWF-US. In this capacity, she works in close coordination with global and regional leads on overall tuna policy and with markets teams on engaging major retailers to drive sustainable sourcing of tuna products. Her more recent work focused on engagement in the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Bank ABNJ projects, using market incentives to reform Indonesian tuna fisheries and work to address overcapacity and improve business performance in the Eastern Pacific tropical tuna fisheries. Prior to her work at WWF, Dr. Maharaj held senior positions at the Environmental Defense Fund, South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council and a trade association. She holds a doctoral degree in marine resource economics from the University of Rhode Island and an undergraduate degree in oceanography from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.

About the ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee

The ESC comprises expert representatives from various conservation bodies who volunteer to share their expertise. The ESC, as does ISSF’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), provides advice to the ISSF Board of Directors on issues to consider before taking action on specific sustainability efforts, including regarding ISSF conservation measures.

The ESC Board members are: 

  • Sonja Fordham, Shark Advocates International
  • Dr. Eric Gilman, The Nature Conservancy
  • Bill Holden, Chair, ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee | Senior Tuna Fisheries Outreach Manager, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
  • Jennifer Dianto Kemmerly, Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch
  • Sara Lewis, FishWise
  • Dr. Vishwanie Maharaj, World Wildlife Fund-US
  • Dr. Alexia Morgan, Science Lead for Tuna and Large Pelagic Species, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP)
  • Dr. Tom Pickerell, Global Tuna Alliance

ISSF Report Estimates at Least 1,721 Purse Seine Vessels Authorized to Fish for Tuna Worldwide Today, a Slight Decrease Since 2019 Analysis

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has updated its Large-Scale Tuna Purse Seine Fishing Fleets report as of June 2020. The total number of purse seine vessels, calculated based on data from the five tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), has decreased from 1,843 in 2019 to 1,721 today. 

#Purse #seine vessels account for approximately 66% of the 4.9-million-tonne annual global #tuna catch. Click To Tweet

Having an accurate estimate of active vessels is critical for managing tuna fishing capacity regionally as well as globally. Although purse seine vessels account for approximately 66 percent of the 4.9-million-tonne global tuna catch, multiple databases must be searched to compile a count of all authorized purse seine vessels. To provide an annual best estimate — and to track capacity changes from year to year — ISSF analyzes and aggregates information from the five tuna RFMOs and other sources. As the report explains, these figures still may underestimate the total fleet, because many small-scale purse seiners or purse seiners operating in only one exclusive economic zone (EEZ) do not have to be listed on RFMOs’ records of authorized fishing vessels. 

The ISSF report shows approximately 696 vessels (up 1.5 percent from last year) defined as large-scale purse seine (LSPS) vessels targeting tropical tuna species (skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye), with a combined fish hold capacity of over 874,000 m3 (cubic meters). 

Other report findings about the large-scale purse seine vessels targeting tropical tuna include:

  • About 17 percent of these 696 large-scale vessels are authorized to fish in more than one RFMO, which should be taken into account in any efforts to manage fishing capacity at a regional level.
  • Among the RFMOs, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) still has the highest number of LSPS registrations (349), which represents around half of the global fleet. 
  • The majority of large-scale vessels (517) are registered on the ISSF ProActive Vessel Register (PVR); PVR-registered LSPS represent 74 percent in number and 83 percent in fish hold volume (FHV).

The report also covers purse-seine vessel construction, distribution, and FHV by national flag. It offers recommendations for vessel owners on the use of IMO numbers as unique vessel identifiers and for RFMOs on vessel-data collection and management. View the updated report here. View a related infographic here.

ISSF Welcomes SAPMER as New Participating Company

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

SAPMER is the latest seafood company to join in the conservation efforts of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). ISSF participating companies work with the Foundation to advocate for sustainable tuna fishery management and encourage the adoption of responsible fishing practices.​

SAPMER, a #fishing operator in the French Southern and Antarctic seas, joins ISSF as a participating #seafood company. Click To Tweet

“SAPMER‘s decision to become an ISSF participating company is an important commitment to science-based fishery stewardship,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “We welcome SAPMER’s engagement with our conservation measures to make progress on sustainable tuna fishing practices.” 

All ISSF participating companies are independently audited annually to assess their compliance with ISSF’s conservation measures, the results of which are published in the ISSF compliance report and the ISSF annual report. ISSF also publishes individual compliance reports for each ISSF participating company. View Sapmer’s compliance report here. 

ISSF launched in 2009 with eight participating companies and today has 26 industry partners, including well-known brands produced and sold in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Pacific Islands and Asia.

PT Avila Prima, formerly an associate ISSF participating company, was recently terminated by the Foundation. 

About SAPMER

Founded in 1947 in Reunion Island, SAPMER is a pioneering fishing operator in the French Southern and Antarctic seas (TAAF). SAPMER operates a fleet of four longliners fishing for Patagonian toothfish, a pot vessel for rock lobster, and nine purse seiners for tropical tunas. Both the toothfish and rock lobster fisheries are Marine Stewardship Council certified.

Charting the Course for Sustainable Fisheries

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a waking nightmare, unravelling normal life as we have known it — a unifying traumatic event that has been compared to the world wars of the last century, although of course there is no precedent in our lifetimes for the global public-health and economic crisis we are experiencing today. The future seems more uncertain and complicated than ever.

From Wuhan to Washington, DC — where the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), which I have led since its founding in 2009, is headquartered — and all points in between, the pandemic has been a grim reminder of how intertwined we are. To survive the pandemic, we’re dependent on the (pre)caution, sacrifices, intellect, and caring of others, including strangers we will never meet. And despite our 21st-century technological prowess, we are still dependent on natural resources and vulnerable to environmental threats — including ones we cannot see, hear, or touch.

The lesson? Human networks and other ecosystems are resilient but fragile. Cultivating and preserving that awareness, I believe, will serve us well post-Covid as we shift our mindsets and rebuild aspects of life that have been waiting for attention and transformation. The health of our oceans and marine resources is one of those aspects.

I am grateful that the small but devoted team at ISSF has remained healthy — working remotely in quarantine, perhaps just as you are, at home offices around the world. ISSF is fortunate to continue focusing on our work — sustainable fishing and ocean conservation is a mission predicated on optimism and international cooperation — which is a luxury that millions of people do not have right now. Being grounded these past months has been a jarring change from the intense travel schedule ISSF traditionally has kept — participating in meetings, giving presentations, and hosting workshops. But our forced solitude and slower pace have only deepened our appreciation of meaningful partnership — and heightened our sense of urgency about ISSF’s environmental commitments.

ISSF is an 11-year-old scientific research and advocacy organization ultimately aiming, in a variety of ways, to help tuna fisheries avoid overfishing, protect marine animals and ecosystems, and meet stringent Marine Stewardship Council fishery sustainability criteria.

Human Health, Economic Security, and Food Security

Along with our focus on the sustainability of tuna stocks and their ecosystems, we are especially concerned about the pandemic’s near- and long-term ramifications for the health of people onboard fishing vessels, monitoring catches at sea or in ports, and working in canning factories. We also are attuned to its impacts on economic security and food security: Tuna brings considerable value, from catches in national waters and sales of the finished product to families’ tables.

Covid lockdowns are preventing fisheries, governments, management agencies, marine scientists, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like ISSF from convening to discuss and deliberate on vital fisheries management and conservation issues. Those discussions, at their heart, are about safeguarding seafood resources and ocean ecosystems for our children, grandchildren, and future generations.

Sustainability stakeholders like ISSF have relied on those lively, real-time exchanges to enrich our knowledge and perspectives — and make us more informed and effective influencers of the fishery  managers who participate in tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), which establish fishing policies in their respective regions that governments then implement and enforce for their flagged vessels.

Even before the pandemic, based on science alone, we have known that time and action are of the essence in any and all environmental work. The four major tuna RFMOs, however, have had to postpone meetings to 2021 or convert them to online meetings, which is reasonable given the circumstance, and better than no discussion at all — but not optimal. Meeting agendas will inevitably be shortened as priorities are narrowed, and open debates will be more difficult and awkward to conduct. At a minimum, RFMO conservation measures that are due to expire should be extended so that they continue to apply next year. It would be short-sighted and self-destructive to weaken current requirements. 

Maintaining Observer Coverage During Covid

ISSF is in good company in urging RFMO policymakers to stay the course as much as possible during Covid. In an April 7 joint letter to the tuna RFMOs, we and 18 other NGOs implored them to uphold their Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) programs. “Requiring the increased use of alternative methods for collecting, sharing and auditing of data,” we wrote, “would … provide some reassurance to the market of the traceability and verifiability of the global seafood supply, in this unsettling time, without jeopardizing food security more broadly.”

Due to Covid-based health requirements and travel limitations, placing human observers onboard fishing and transshipment vessels has proven to be difficult or impossible. As a result, some management bodies have suspended their observer requirements. Yet human observers on tuna vessels play a vital role in collecting data that is needed for scientific assessments and advice — and, in many instances, for monitoring vessels’ compliance with the management measures in place.  

When human  observers cannot currently be placed, RFMOs should expand their use of the MCS tools and technology that are available and could be effective now — and then restore their full suite of measures once Covid risks recede. In the letter, for example, we list steps RFMOs can and should take today to advance and expand the use of electronic technologies that will have a long-lasting positive impact on effective MCS programs post-pandemic. Vessels could be taking better advantage of electronic monitoring and reporting (EM/ER) systems, which are viable alternatives when human observers cannot be onboard to be objective “eyes and ears” to collect data, monitor operations, and assess social and labor conditions.

From my 23 years of professional experience in the seafood industry and seafood sustainability movement, I have seen that RFMOs are realistic about and motivated to overcome challenges, which admittedly are daunting in the time of Covid. I trust RFMOs and their member countries to be resourceful in finding workarounds to preserve their conservation measures — and not compromise the sustainability strides that have been made.

ISSF Adds New Board Member; Two Fisheries Experts Appointed to ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) announced today recent appointments to its Board of Directors and Environmental Stakeholder Committee.

ISSF’s Environmental Stakeholder Committee (ESC) elected Bill Holden of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) its Chair. In that role, he also joins the ISSF Board of Directors, replacing long-time Board member Dr. Bill Fox, formerly of WWF-US, who recently retired.  

We're honored to welcome Bill Holden of @MSCecolabel to our Board — and Sara Lewis of @FishWiseOrg & Tom Pickerell of @GlobalTuna to our Environmental Stakeholder Committee. Click To Tweet

“The leadership and expertise displayed by Dr. Bill Fox, both as a member of the ISSF Board and the Environmental Stakeholder Committee, as well as a partner at WWF, has been invaluable,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “We are thankful for Bill’s guidance and commitment to ISSF and our collaborative work toward sustainable tuna fisheries and ocean health.” 

In addition, Sara Lewis of FishWise and Dr. Tom Pickerell of the Global Tuna Alliance have joined the ESC.

“It’s always a pleasure to have new experts and advocates join our committees. These additions are serious assets to our conservation initiatives,” Jackson said. “Bill Holden joining the ISSF Board of Directors as Chair of our ESC is notable. It is the result of an enhancement in ISSF governance: the ESC elects its chair and that chairperson is then elevated to an additional leadership role as a member of the ISSF Board. Bill is well suited for this newly expanded role.” 

Jackson added, “Sara Lewis’ devotion to transparency and traceability at FishWise makes her an ideal candidate for the ESC. And we welcome Dr. Tom Pickerell’s scientific guidance and collaboration once again as he returns to the ESC in his new role leading the Global Tuna Alliance.” 

Dr. Bruce Collette, from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), retired from the ESC in January. He had been with the committee since its inception.

“Dr. Collette worked with ISSF on the ESC since the beginning,” Jackson added. “His fisheries expertise made him an invaluable asset to the committee, where his passion for tuna conservation is dearly missed.”

About the New Members of the ISSF Board and ESC

Bill Holden is the Senior Tuna Fisheries Outreach Manager for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a global fisheries certification and ecolabel program. He began working with the MSC in February 2009 and is based in Sydney, Australia. His work involves outreach in the Pacific and Indian Oceans with a focus on tuna fisheries. Holden has a wealth of experience in fisheries management thanks to more than 20 years as an owner, operator and skipper of snapper and tuna longliners in the Kingdom of Tonga. During that time, he was the President of the Fishing Industry Association of Tonga (FIAT) and a director of the Pacific Islands Tuna Industry Association (PITIA). Mr. Holden graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a B.A. in Political Science and Communications.

Sara Lewis directs the Traceability Division at FishWise, overseeing a team implementing traceability and counter-IUU fishing projects with NGO and seafood industry collaborators from all parts of the supply chain. She also leads FishWise’s work relating to government policies such as the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) and has published peer-reviewed papers on traceability and social responsibility in seafood. Previously, Lewis studied how third-party eco-certification impacts the environmental performance of multinational seafood firms. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and two master’s degrees in environmental studies from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and the University of California, Santa Cruz. 

Dr. Tom Pickerell is a marine biologist with nearly 20 years’ experience in seafood sustainability. Pickerell is Executive Director of the Global Tuna Alliance, an independent group of retailers and supply-chain companies, working to ensure that tuna ultimately meets the highest standards of environmental performance and social responsibility. Previously, he was the Global Tuna Director for the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), leading SFP’s fresh & frozen and canned tuna programs. He has also worked for Seafish, the UK Seafood Industry Authority; at the Seafood Watch program at Monterey Bay Aquarium; and at the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB), among other organizations. Pickerell has a degree in Marine Biology, a master’s degree in Analytical Biology, and a Ph.D. in shellfish aquaculture.

About the ISSF Board of Directors & Environmental Stakeholder Committee

The ISSF Board of Directors is a global and diverse group of leaders from non-governmental organizations, marine science, government agencies, and the seafood industry. In addition to fiduciary and governance responsibilities, ISSF Board members advance the mission of the Foundation, including through the adoption of ISSF conservation measures, to which ISSF participating companies commit to conform. 

The ISSF Board members are: 

  • Dr. Transform Aqorau, Pacific Fisheries Expert and former CEO, Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA)
  • John Connelly, President, National Fisheries Institute
  • Dr. Rohan Currey, Chief Science and Standards Officer, Marine Stewardship Council
  • Dr. Giuseppe Di Carlo, Lead Conservationist, WWF-International
  • Javier Garat, Secretary General, Cepesca
  • Bill Holden, Chair, ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee and Senior Tuna Fisheries Outreach Manager, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
  • Susan Jackson, President, ISSF
  • Ichiro Nomura, Fisheries Policy Advisor to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Republic of Indonesia
  • Luciano Pirovano, ISSF Board Chair and Bolton Food Sustainable Development Director
  • Dr. Victor Restrepo, Vice President, Science, ISSF 
  • Dr. Martin Tsamenyi, Professor of Law & Former Director of the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Australia

The Board receives information from formal and informal partners — environmental stakeholders, marine scientists, fishers, and vessel owners — who share insights from the field. The ESC comprises expert representatives from various conservation and scientific bodies who volunteer to share their expertise. The ESC, as does ISSF’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), provides advice to the ISSF Board of Directors on issues to consider before taking action on specific sustainability efforts, including regarding ISSF conservation measures.

The ESC Board members are: 

  • Sonja Fordham, Shark Advocates International
  • Eric Gilman, The Nature Conservancy
  • Bill Holden, Chair, ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee | Senior Tuna Fisheries Outreach Manager, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
  • Jennifer Dianto Kemmerly, Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch
  • Sara Lewis, FishWise
  • Alexia Morgan, Science Lead for Tuna and Large Pelagic Species, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP)
  • Tom Pickerell, Global Tuna Alliance

ISSF Annual Report Shows 99.1% Participating Company Conformance Rate with Science-based Conservation Measures, Highlights 2019 Efforts for Sustainable Tuna Fisheries

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) released its 2019 annual report today, titled Commitment and Collaboration, which presents tuna-fishery sustainability achievements in the organization’s 10th anniversary year.

“From the beginning, ISSF’s tuna conservation work has required a one-world, one-planet perspective — and a consensus-building approach, as challenging as that is for any complex issue,” explains ISSF President Susan Jackson in the report. “The ISSF team has long appreciated that solving environmental problems means reaching across continents in the spirit of goodwill to share scientific information and resources, learn from each other’s insights and experiences, and make steady progress for the common good.”

ISSF's 2019 annual report includes video content, month-by-month highlights, and features on bio-#FAD research, #FIP outreach, and more. Click To Tweet

Commitment and Collaboration focuses on ISSF’s collaborations to identify and promote “best practices” in tuna and ocean conservation with fishers, tuna companies, retailers, and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). The report also covers ISSF’s activities with environmental nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), scientific agencies and more.

Report Highlights

The interactive annual report, which includes video content and downloadable graphics, offers special features on:

  • Biodegradable Fish Aggregating Device (bio-FAD) research
  • Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) outreach
  • Tuna stock status based on catch and abundance
  • RFMO proposals and policy changes aligned with ISSF advocacy priorities

A “Highlights” section shows ISSF’s 2019 milestones month by month, including:

  • The International Workshop on Mitigating Environmental Impacts of Tuna Purse Seine Fisheries, co-sponsored by ISSF and the Common Oceans ABNJ Tuna Project 
  • Collaborating on and promoting the NGO Tuna Forum’s first collaboratively authored “best practices” guides — on FAD management and transshipment — for RFMOs, FIPs, fisheries, and other stakeholders
  • New members on the Board of Directors
  • An updated Guide to Non-Entangling and Biodegradable FADs, addressing bio-FAD designs and materials for the first time
  • The first ISSF Seafood Sustainability Contest, whose winners were announced in March 2020

The report also includes messages from ISSF Board Chair Luciano Pirovano and retired ISSF Board Vice Chair Dr. Bill Fox; Board, committee, and staff lists; and a financial overview.

Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Report

The annual report also links to the organization’s latest ISSF Annual Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Report. The compliance report shows a conformance rate of 99.1 percent by 25 ISSF participating companies as of March 31, 2020. 

The compliance report tracks ISSF participating companies’ progress in conforming with measures like these:

As part of its commitment to transparency and accountability, ISSF engages third-party auditor MRAG Americas to audit ISSF participating companies to assess their compliance with ISSF’s conservation measures. MRAG Americas conducts independent auditing based on a rigorous audit protocol.

In addition to a summary report, MRAG Americas issues individual company reports that document in detail each organization’s compliance with ISSF’s conservation measures. ISSF publishes these individual company compliance reports on its website.

Becoming Certified: How Tropical Tuna Purse-Seine and Longline Fisheries Can Achieve MSC Standards

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has updated two comprehensive reports that share recommendations for both purse seine and longline fisheries pursuing Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.

ISSF 2020-11: Recommended Best Practices for Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fisheries in Transition to MSC Certification, with an Emphasis on FADs and ISSF 2020-10: Recommended Best Practices for Tuna Longline Fisheries in Transition to MSC Certification are based on Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) fishery-certification standards and organized by MSC principles and performance indicators. They are intended to be used as practical resources for purse-seine and longline fisheries in Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) to address problems, close gaps, and earn MSC certification. They can also be used by already-certified fisheries that have Conditions that need to be remedied.

Download our reports summarizing best practices that #purse #seine and #longline #fisheries should follow to pursue @MSCecolabel certification. Click To Tweet

“Helping all tuna fisheries to be sustainable and meet MSC certification standards without conditions is ISSF’s ultimate objective,” said ISSF Vice President of Science Victor Restrepo. “Because FIPs are so instrumental in that process, ISSF emphasizes tools and resources, along with scientific expertise and RFMO advocacy, to support those improvement projects. We believe these reports can be useful both for the 45-plus tuna FIPs currently active worldwide, as well as aspiring FIPs that are beginning to take the necessary steps to commence.” 

The purse seine report summarizes science-based best practices for tropical tuna purse-seine fisheries that make both fish aggregating device (FAD) sets and free-swimming school sets. The longline report summarizes recommended best practices for tuna longline fisheries that aim to participate in Fishery Improvement Programs (FIPs) with the objective of achieving MSC certification. 

In both reports, the recommended practices are linked to MSC Fishery Certification Requirements including suggested examples for concrete actions that the fleets can implement. 

Best Practices in Purse Seine Fishing

ISSF Technical Report 2020-11 references requirements from Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) and presents best practices gleaned from ISSF at-sea research, skippers workshops, and other resources.

Regarding FAD use, the complementary ISSF Technical Report 2019-11: Recommended Best Practices for FAD Management in Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fisheries sets out specific actions with regard to FAD use, in purse seine fisheries in transition to MSC certification. ISSF Technical Report 2020-11 builds upon that paper to include those FAD-specific actions as well as necessary actions in other areas of purse seine fishing activity. The high level best practices included in ISSF Technical Report 2020-11 include:

  • Complying with flag state and RFMO reporting requirements for fisheries statistics by set type
  • Voluntarily reporting additional FAD buoy data for use by RFMO science bodies
  • Supporting science-based limits on the overall number of FADs used per vessel and/or FAD sets made
  • Using only non-entangling FADs to reduce ghost fishing
  • Mitigating other environmental impacts due to FAD loss including through the use of biodegradable FADs and FAD recovery policies
  • For silky sharks (the main bycatch issue in FAD sets), implementing further mitigation efforts
  • Adopting a detailed Bycatch Policy and Code of Good Practice including:
    • Best practices for handling and safe-release of other bycatch species
    • Retention and utilization of catch unless prohibited
    • Ensuring that shark finning is not taking place
  • Complying thoroughly with existing RFMO measures and recommendations on target and non-target species, demonstrating compliance with existing national or RFMO measures

Best Practices in Longline Fishing

ISSF Technical Report 2020-10 for longline tuna fisheries identifies high-level best practice elements and potential actions to become MSC certified:

  • Comply with flag state and RFMO reporting requirements for fisheries statistics on target and non-target species
  • Voluntarily provide historical and current operational data and information beyond minimum requirements for improved stock assessment and ecosystem impacts characterization
  • Support science-based fishing effort and/or catch limitation measures for LL and other fleets to ensure stocks are maintained around MSY levels
  • Address ecosystem impact and bycatch issues, particularly interactions with ETP species, by adopting a detailed Bycatch Policy and Code of Good Practice, including: 100% of observer coverage; Best practices for handling and safe-release of bycatch species; and Implementation of proven mitigation measures and/or gear modification
  • Ensure that shark finning is not taking place
  • Implement transshipment monitoring best practices
  • Comply thoroughly with existing RFMO measures and recommendations on target and non-target species, demonstrating compliance with existing national or RFMO measures

84% of Global Tuna Catch Comes from Stocks at Healthy Levels, While 15% Require Stronger Management

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

Of the total commercial tuna catch worldwide, 84% came from stocks at “healthy” levels of abundance, according to the March 2020 International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Status of the Stocks report. In addition, 15% of the total tuna catch was from overfished stocks, and 1% was from stocks at an intermediate level of abundance. The previous version of this report was released by ISSF in October 2019.

In 2018, the catch of major commercial #tuna stocks was 5.1 million tonnes, more than half of which was #skipjack tuna. Click To Tweet

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

  • The Atlantic Ocean bigeye, Eastern Pacific yellowfin, Indian Ocean yellowfin and Pacific bluefin tuna stocks are currently overfished and subject to overfishing.
  • Overfishing is occurring as well on three other stocks: Eastern Pacific bigeye, Indian Ocean bigeye and Indian Ocean albacore.
  • All skipjack and most albacore stocks are healthy.

Ratings for the following species have changed since last reported in October:

  • The Spawning Biomass (SSB) ratio for Atlantic Ocean yellowfin has improved from yellow to green.
  • The fishing mortality rate ratio for Indian Ocean bigeye has downgraded from green to orange.
  • The fishing mortality ratio for Indian Ocean albacore has downgraded from green to orange.

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

Key Statistics in the Report

  • Abundance or “spawning biomass” levels: Globally, 65% of the 23 stocks are at healthy levels of abundance, 17.5% are overfished and 17.5% are at an intermediate level.
  • Fishing mortality levels: 70% of the 23 stocks are experiencing a well-managed fishing mortality rate, and 30% are experiencing overfishing.
  • Total catch: In 2018, the catch of major commercial tuna stocks was 5.1 million tonnes. 58% was skipjack tuna, followed by yellowfin (29%), bigeye (8%) and albacore (4%). Bluefin tunas accounted for 1% of the global catch.
  • 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.
  • Tuna production by fishing gear: 66% of the catch is made by purse seining, followed by longline (10%), pole-and-line (8%), gillnets (4%) and miscellaneous gears (12%). These percentages changed minimally since the previous report.

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.

About the 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. Updated several times per year, 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 two reports annually that seek 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 provides 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. The MSC-certified fisheries list (Appendix 2) in Status of the Stocks complements the Evaluation report. 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