Dr. Jefferson Murua: “Getting My Feet Wet”
In our “Getting My Feet Wet” series, we interviewed Dr. Jefferson Murua to learn why he became a marine/fisheries scientist — and what keeps him inspired to make new discoveries.
Author: svanouse
Forums to Build Support for Indonesia’s Tuna Fisheries
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation will hold Tuna Processor Forums in Bitung, Indonesia (23 October) and Jakarta, Indonesia (24 October) with support from the Walton Family Foundation. The goals of the events are to build management support for Indonesia’s tuna fisheries and equip local companies with the knowledge and opportunities to engage in tuna sustainability efforts through market influence.
“With its location between the Pacific and Indian oceans, Indonesia plays an important role in the global seafood marketplace,” said Holly Koehler, Vice President of Policy and Outreach, ISSF. “Collaborating with the Government of Indonesia, local fleets and the processing industry, in partnership with other NGOs, is essential to addressing tuna sustainability challenges that will, in turn, directly impact the work of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) like the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).”
ISSF is teaming up with @WaltonFamilyFdn to support sustainable #tuna #fishing in #Indonesia. Click To Tweet“Indonesia’s tuna fishery is one of the country’s most economically important fisheries, and its fishers land more tuna than any other fishing nation in the world,” said Heather D’Agnes, Environment Program Officer, Walton Family Foundation. “Working with seafood companies is an important step in building a sustainable future for fishermen and fish alike.”
ISSF works with a variety of partners in the region, including the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, to strengthen the management of fisheries by collecting and compiling vessel data, helping vessels meet RFMO rules and improving traceability through the supply chain. ISSF and the Walton Family Foundation hope the forums will build on the significant progress the Ministry is making.
The aims of the Indonesia forums are multi-pronged, and both days include the following agenda:
- Overview and update on Indonesia’s tuna fishing program including the rollout of the national tuna management plan from the Indonesian Government
- Introduction to opportunities to engage with IOTC and WCPFC, as well as updates on regional tuna management activities
- Overview of ISSF’s activities in support of sustainable tuna fisheries
- Information on tuna sourcing commitments from markets in Europe, North America and Australia and how these commitments intersect with ISSF Conservation Measures, ISSF Participating Companies and the ISSF ProActive Vessel Register (PVR)
- Information on the options and benefits of tuna company participation in ISSF
ISSF has been involved with ongoing projects in the region since 2015, including:
- The implementation of pilots that trial the PVR for small-scale vessels, particularly on handline and pole and line boats, as well as small longliners and very small purse seiners
- The development of a Pole and Line Skippers Guidebook to add to the suite of existing ISSF Purse Seine and Longline Skippers’ Guides
- Engagement on critical tuna fisheries issues pertaining to the two relevant RFMOs — IOTC and WCPFC
About the Walton Family Foundation
The Walton Family Foundation believes that conservation solutions that make economic sense stand the test of time. They work to achieve lasting change by creating new and unexpected partnerships among conservation, business and community interests to build durable solutions to important problems. Through its environment initiatives, the foundation is investing in two of the most important conservation issues of our time: restoring the health of the oceans through sustainable fisheries and preserving functioning rivers and the quality and availability of fresh water they provide. This work spans four initiatives: Oceans, Colorado River, Mississippi River and Coastal Gulf of Mexico. Learn more at: www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow @WaltonFamilyFdn.
Dr. Josu Santiago: “Reel Insights”
We sat down with Dr. Josu Santiago to find out what he finds most fascinating about his field, including his specialty areas and research projects.
Dr. Mark Maunder: “Reel Insights”
We sat down with Dr. Mark Maunder to find out what he finds most fascinating about his field, including his specialty areas and research projects.
Ana Justel Rubio: “Reel Insights”
We sat down with Ana Justel-Rubio to find out what she finds most fascinating about her field, including her specialty areas and research projects.
Dr. John Hampton: “Reel Insights”
We sat down with Dr. John Hampton to find out what he finds most fascinating about his field, including his specialty areas and research projects.
ISSF Releases Videos of Marine Scientists Talking Tuna, How they Entered the Conservation Field
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation has released a series of new videos featuring on-staff scientists and members of its volunteer Scientific Advisory Committee, who work for and advise organizations like the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, the Pacific Community (SPC), AZTI, and the Marine Stewardship Council.
The videos, which are available on YouTube, cover two themes. “Reel Insights” videos feature scientists discussing their areas of expertise and sharing candid thoughts on tuna conservation and tuna science issues. In “Getting My Feet Wet,” they discuss their love for the sea and how they turned passions for conservation into careers.
Get to know the people behind the science: New #videos profile ISSF #scientists & advisors. Click To TweetCollectively, these ISSF scientific advisors have:
- More than 200 years’ experience at universities or research institutes
- More than 300 years’ experience in regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) or government fisheries management agencies
- Authored more than 2,000 scientific publications
The featured scientists are:
John Hampton, Ph.D., Oceanic Fisheries Program (SPC) and ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee
Explains the complexity of tuna as a species and its importance for small island countries, both economically and for food security.
Mark Maunder, Ph.D., Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee
Discusses the role that data and information play in achieving healthy and sustainable tuna populations.
Gala Moreno, Ph.D., ISSF Consultant
Shares her work with scientists and fishers to mitigate the impact of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) on the ecosystem and non-tuna species, including the implementation of non-entangling biodegradable FADs.
Keith Sainsbury, Ph.D., Marine Stewardship Council Technical Advisory Board and ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee
Stresses the importance of improving fisheries around the world, and the value of tuna for the ecosystem and for humans.
Josu Santiago, Ph.D., AZTI and ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee
Reflects on the collaboration of scientists and vessel skippers at ISSF skippers workshops to work on mutually beneficial bycatch-mitigation techniques.
Dale Squires, Ph.D., National Marine Fisheries Service and ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee
Explains how the “tragedy of the commons” has created a need for greater global cooperation in the management and conservation of tuna.
Meryl Williams, Ph.D., Chair, Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries Section and Honorary Life Member, Asian Fisheries Society and ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee
Discusses the increase in women involved in fisheries research and in conservation.
Other scientists profiled include head of the ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee and VP of Science Victor Restrepo, Ph.D.; ISSF marine scientist Ana Justel-Rubio; and AZTI’s Jefferson Murua, Ph.D., current coordinator and presenter for the ISSF Skippers Workshop program.
Visit the ISSF YouTube channel for the “Reel Insights” and “Getting My Feet Wet” videos. The “Scientist Interviews” playlist contains both sets of videos.
Dr. John Hampton: “Getting My Feet Wet”
In our “Getting My Feet Wet” series, we interviewed Dr. John Hampton to learn why he became a marine/fisheries scientist — and what keeps him inspired to make new discoveries.
Ana Justel-Rubio: “Getting My Feet Wet”
In our “Getting My Feet Wet” series, we interviewed Ana Justel-Rubio to learn why she became a marine/fisheries scientist — and what keeps her inspired to make new discoveries.
Dr. Mark Maunder: “Getting My Feet Wet”
In our “Getting My Feet Wet” series, we interviewed Dr. Mark Maunder to learn why he became a marine/fisheries scientist — and what keeps him inspired to make new discoveries.