Dr. Jerry Scott: “Reel Insights”
We sat down with Dr. Jerry Scott to find out what he finds most fascinating about his field, including his specialty areas and research projects.
Author: svanouse
Bycatch Mitigation for Silky Sharks: Testing Methods to Keep Silky Sharks Out of Tuna Fishing Nets
At ISSF, we are working with scientists and fishers to reduce the impact of commercial fishing on the marine environment. Get a behind-the-scenes look as we test one method to save sharks incidentally caught in a tuna purse-seine net — potentially saving at least 20% of sharks encircled.
Eight Students Win ISSF Travel Awards to Attend 68th Tuna Conference
Established in 1950, The Tuna Conference is a forum for representatives of organizations concerned with tunas, billfishes, and sharks to exchange information and ideas. Scientists, students and others meet every year at the Lake Arrowhead Conference Center in the California mountains.
Eight college students won ISSF Travel Awards to attend the 68th Tuna Conference, whose theme was “Challenges Concerning the Conservation and Management of Pelagics and their supporting Ecosystems,” on May 15-18, 2017.
The award winners presented research papers (listed below) in moderated sessions. ISSF has sponsored students for the conference since 2011.
Photo courtesy of Pamela Maudsley-Merrill and the Tuna Conference. Pictured, from left to right: Leanne Duffy, 68th Tuna Conference Co-chair; Samantha Huff; Arif Malik; Maëlle Cornic; Lisa Ailloud; Nadya Mamoozadeh; Maite Pons; Gala Moreno, ISSF; Zahirah Dhurmeea; and Shane Griffiths, 68th Tuna Conference Co-chair. Not pictured: Ashley Stoehr.
2017 Tuna Conference ISSF Travel Award Winners
Tuna Conference Scholarship
Zahirah Dhurmeea, University of Mauritius
“Reproductive biology and lipid dynamics of albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) in the western Indian Ocean”
Manuel Caboz Memorial Scholarship
Nadya Mamoozadeh, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary
“An assessment of genetic population structure for striped marlin (Kajikia audax) in the Pacific and Indian Oceans using genome-wide SNPs”
Wildlife Computers Scholarship
Ashley Stoehr, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
“Morphological and physiological specializations for sustained swimming in swordfish: through the thermocline and back again”
Desert Star Systems LLC Scholarship
Arif Malik, Flinders University
“The transition to regional endothermy in Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis”
Margarita Tomlinson Scholarship
Samantha Huff, Duke University
“Age of maturity of Pacific bluefin tuna”
ADMB Scholarship
Lisa Ailloud, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary
“Estimating catch-at-age of western Atlantic bluefin tuna: can we do better than cohort slicing?”
Monterey Bay Aquarium Scholarship
Maite Pons, University of Washington
“Management differences among stocks and tuna regional fisheries management organizations”
Big Data Scholarship
Maëlle Cornic, Texas A & M University at Galveston
“Spatiotemporal distribution of yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna larvae across oceanographic features in the Gulf of Mexico”
ISSF: Deeper Than You Imagine
The long-term conservation and sustainable use of global tuna fisheries is our goal. It’s not easy. But through science-based practices, collaboration and advocacy, we believe it’s achievable.
World Tuna Day 2017
World Tuna Day is upon us again, on May 2. Every year, the observance gives stakeholders on the march toward sustainable management of the world’s tuna resources a chance to reflect on recent progress, both material advances as well as symbolic ones.
First celebrated globally in 2012, World Tuna Day was established in 2011 by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA). It has increased in importance year after year, as increased concern, resources and conservation measures have been directed to promoting more sustainable practices in tuna fisheries.
Last December, the United Nations General Assembly voted without objection to acknowledge World Tuna Day as an internationally recognized event — reinforcing the importance of tuna to the world. We now have a global unified front of NGOs — including ISSF — as well as scientists, industry participants and others sharing best practices, teaming up on advocacy efforts and dedicating scientific and technological resources to improve tuna conservation. (In fact, our upcoming 2016 annual report will focus on “best practices, better solutions.”)
When World Tuna Day began, this level of collaboration and the unified will to effect change didn’t exist the way it does today.
There is still a great deal of work ahead, but the movement has gone global, it has scientific integrity, and it has the support of much of the tuna industry. It is so much more than just a day.
Reflections on Seven Years of Skippers Workshops Around the World
ISSF sponsored Skippers Workshops for the seventh consecutive year in 2016, convening purse seine fishers from around the world with marine scientists to listen and learn from each other about sustainable fishing.
From 2009 through 2015, we presented workshops on 4 continents and in 17 countries, and to vessels flying more than 25 flags. The workshops have been attended by skippers and crew from most of the important tuna fleets in Asia (Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Philippines), Africa (Ghana, Seychelles), Europe (Spain, France), Western Pacific (Micronesia, Marshall Islands), and North and South America (U.S.A., Ecuador, Panama, Mexico, Peru).
Welcoming new fleets to the workshop program
We continued to broaden our horizons in 2016, welcoming new fleets to the initiative. Half of the workshops we offered last year were conducted with tuna fishing fleets and ports never visited before, including China, Vietnam and Portugal. We received great feedback from all sides and are planning more workshops with skippers in these regions. So far we have reached over 2,400 participants — including fishers, ship owners, fleet managers, fisheries managers and scientists, among other stakeholders. Over 60 percent of the participants were captains, many with decades of experience fishing for tuna.
In these last several years, thanks to the insights from the captains and crew from many countries, we have learned a great deal about how each tuna fishery and fleet works. We have also heard firsthand from fishers willing to share their valuable knowledge — and appreciate the scientists and fishery managers who have taken time to hear their opinions.
Despite being the principal actors in the fishery, fishers can sometimes be left out when it comes to looking for solutions to the “sustainability equation.” Having revisited many ports on an annual basis, I have observed fishers increasing their efforts toward sustainable practices — they know it is in their best interest to maintain healthy tuna stocks and mitigate environmental impacts.
Fishers are adopting many recommended sustainable practices voluntarily, even when it brings additional work to an already demanding job. In fact, many of these ideas — such as the design of non-entangling FADs, and methods for releasing bycatch from the deck safely and with easy-to-use equipment — emerged through direct cooperation between skippers and scientists. Some captains and ship owners have taken ISSF scientists on board their vessels during commercial fishing trips to let them conduct important bycatch mitigation research.
Thinking “small” to reach more skippers
ISSF’s Skippers Workshops examine technical bycatch-reduction approaches not only for the tuna fisheries of large commercial purse seiners, but also for small-scale tuna vessels. Last year, we made a point to interact with skippers from small vessel fleets like those of Indonesia and Vietnam.
Scientists and fishery managers often poorly understand the specific fishing methods used by small tuna vessels. To change that, scientists working with ISSF have been collecting information on these fishing gears and practices to develop customized bycatch-mitigation solutions.
For instance, unlike large purse seiners, these smaller vessels do not have high-tech fish finders and satellite buoys; our research on echo-sounder buoy selectivity is not applicable to them. Instead, other methods of fish pre-estimation — such as visual cues and the use of specific guidebooks to distinguish between tuna species like yellowfin and bigeye tuna — are provided.
Training trainers to spread the message
Reaching these small vessel fleets can be challenging due to geographic dispersion, and small purse seine vessels number in the thousands. For this reason, ISSF has piloted a train-the-trainer program in Indonesia.
A team of local fisheries scientists from the Indonesian Research Center for Fisheries Management and Conservation (RCFMC) has been trained by their colleagues with ISSF to host additional skippers workshops at multiple ports around the islands of this archipelago. While ISSF provides multiple online tools like translated videos and guidebooks to facilitate training globally, reliable access to the internet by fishers is often difficult. For this reason, having in-person discussions in their native language and with qualified trainers greatly increases the training’s value and results.
Step by step, positive patterns are emerging in the tuna fishing fleets of the world. For example, non-entangling FADs — key to reducing bycatch — are now the norm in three out of four tuna fishing regions (e.g., Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific). That’s notable progress when you consider that this kind of FAD did not even exist five years ago.
Making progress on best practices
The next step is to move towards biodegradable FADs in order to reduce marine debris, and we have been talking with captains about how best to accomplish this.
Recently, ISSF organized in San Sebastian, Spain, a small-scale workshop with experienced skippers and scientists to find the best ways to move this issue forward. Again, captains offered their insight to help design non-entangling biodegradable FADs, customized to best suit the conditions in each oceanic region. Trials are on the way that will test FADs built with these natural materials.
Increasingly, more and more vessels are routinely using best practices — developed through scientific research at sea, in conjunction with vessel crew — to release accidentally caught sharks, turtles and manta rays. We’re gratified that in 2016 we reached a record number of captains to share these best practices — over 340 skippers.
To date, more than 1,200 skippers and 1,000 industry stakeholders (crew, ship owners, fleet managers, cannery managers, etc.) have been part of the ISSF Skippers Workshop program. To our knowledge, ISSF’s program is one of the most successful fisher-industry-scientist collaborations in the world. Fishers are uniquely capable of facilitating the discovery of better, practical solutions to bycatch mitigation in today’s fisheries.
Dr. Jefferson Murua works in the Marine Research Division of AZTI, a non-profit foundation committed to the social and economic development of the marine environment and food sector. Dr. Murua also conducts educational workshops and research on behalf of ISSF.
Introduction to ISSF
An introduction to the mission and work of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation
Tuna Species & Fishing Methods
An overview of the major commercial tuna species and fishing methods used to catch them.
ISSF Bycatch Research
A definition of “bycatch” and an overview of ISSF’s bycatch-mitigation research and educational programs
2016 Year in Review – What Difference Did a Year Make?
Every December, the ISSF team takes stock of the year’s achievements in the tuna RFMOs. We also set our sights on new goals and identify areas where stronger collaboration can ensure progress on priorities that need extra attention.
Harvest Strategies
Harvest strategies, which include harvest control rules (HCRs) and reference points, are an essential component of modern, science-based fisheries management. All four tropical tuna RFMOs made some progress developing elements for harvest strategies.
First up in the 2016 RFMO cycle, IOTC adopted an initial harvest control rule (HCR) for skipjack tuna that is consistent with scientific advice. The adoption of this skipjack HCR was the culmination of significant work, investment and advocacy by many parties over several years—nations, industry, NGOs, scientists and retailers—and it allows for refinement as management strategy work continues.
Then, the IATTC adopted a more complete interim HCR for yellowfin, skipjack and bigeye tuna in accordance with two years of scientific advice. This action paves the way for implementing a comprehensive harvest strategy that fisheries can follow to ensure stocks are maintained at an optimal level.
In November in Portugal, ICCAT advanced its Harvest Strategy processes, which now have a timetable. ICCAT’s Standing Working Group to Enhance Dialogue Between Fisheries Scientists and Managers will meet again next year, and HCR elements for Northern Atlantic albacore tuna will be tested via management strategy evaluations (MSEs).
Finally, we ended the year on a high note in Fiji, where the WCPFC adopted an interim 10-year rebuilding target for bigeye tuna (which is currently overfished to a level below the Commission’s Limit Reference Point, with overfishing still occurring). WCPFC also adopted interim acceptable levels of risk for breaching the limit reference points for yellowfin, skipjack and albacore, which will be used in evaluating candidate HCRs, as well as interim management objectives for the tropical tuna purse seine fishery.
FAD Management
Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) are used in nearly 40% of global tuna catches, including 50% of global skipjack catches. For optimal FAD monitoring and management, it’s essential that nations report specific FAD data to RFMOs. It’s good news that there was some progress in this area—and it’s important to celebrate.
IATTC, for example, agreed to amendments to the Commission’s FAD measure to: (i) pull the reporting and management recommendation dates forward to 2018; (ii) make the FAD management working group permanent, and allow it to report directly to the Commission; and (iii) require that FAD data are submitted in a standardized format.
ICCAT’s revised tropical tuna measure now requires better data reporting from and monitoring on supply vessels, which ISSF has been advocating to tuna RFMOs. Supply vessels conduct activities related to drifting FADs that increase a purse seiner’s efficiency, reducing the time it needs to search for and maintain FADs. Right now, tuna RFMOs are not adequately assessing or monitoring these supply vessel activities.
Strengthening Monitoring, Control and Surveillance
Achieving sustainable tuna fisheries doesn’t begin and end with adopting measures for harvest strategies, reducing the catch of tuna stocks to sustainable levels, and managing FADs. Implementing robust monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) measures—transparently, by all parties—is equally critical to be certain that the adopted measures are being carried out.
In the Indian Ocean, the IOTC took significant steps that will support HCRs and other measures. For example, parties agreed to explore options for strengthening the IOTC satellite vessel monitoring system, start a work program to implement electronic reporting for the IOTC’s Port State Measures Resolution, and begin a pilot project to strengthen the IOTC Regional Observer Scheme. In addition, IOTC’s adoption of a Resolution on Vessels without Nationality aligns the IOTC with other tuna RFMOs and strengthens global actions against IUU fishing.
In the Atlantic Ocean, ICCAT progressed the development of e-monitoring and e-reporting standards. In particular, the new ICCAT observer measure accepted the proposed guidelines for purse seiners and tasked ICCAT’s science body with developing additional guidelines for other gears, as needed.
To ensure RFMOs receive quality data from observer programs, it is essential that these observers can do their jobs in a safe and professional environment. That is why we are pleased the WCPFC adopted a binding measure for the protection of WCPFC regional program observers—a first of its kind.
Priorities for 2017
While we are pleased with the positive results this year, much more is needed to achieve sustainable global tuna fisheries.
For 2017, in addition to continuing to work to progress harvest strategies, MCS reform, and FAD management, four other areas stand out as priorities—across all tuna RFMOs—where ISSF will be working collaboratively with scientists, other NGOs, industry, vessels, the market and the tuna RFMOs to accelerate action:
- Adoption of science-based conservation and management measures for tropical tunas
- Strengthening the management and monitoring of longline fisheries, in particular by increasing the levels of observer coverage from 5%
- Developing and adopting standards for electronic reporting and electronic monitoring
- Taking precautionary steps to manage and collect better data on sharks and rays, in particular through the use of non-entangling FADs, best practices for safe handling and release, and requiring sharks be landed with fins naturally attached
We will also be paying particular attention to the WCPFC, which produces more than half of the global tuna catch. WCPFC is falling behind other tuna RFMOs in several key areas:
- It is the only tuna RFMO that has a closed and non-transparent compliance monitoring process. Progress to adopt procedures to allow accredited observers access to these deliberations, under strict conditions, as is the practice in all other tuna RFMOs, was stalled by a single member. ISSF will continue to advocate for such transparency in 2017 with our partners, as it is essential to good governance and ensuring all players are fully implementing their obligations, and addressing any non-compliance as a matter of priority.
- It also the only tuna RFMO that has not adopted provisions for the use of non-entangling FAD designs.
Since 2005, scientists and fishers have been collaborating to design drifting FADs that minimize entanglement risk for sharks and other non-target species. The resulting FAD designs—like those developed by scientists working with ISSF—are less likely to entangle non-target species. A recent study shows that the industry acceptance level of such designs by fishers and ship-owners has progressed rapidly since 2010. Without decreasing their tuna catches, fleets have replaced traditional FADs with lower-entanglement-risk and non-entangling FADs.
Given the clear science, growing adoption by global purse seine fleets, and the action in three of the four tuna RFMOs, ISSF adopted a new ISSF Conservation Measure -3.5 Transactions with Vessels that Use Only Non-entangling FADs to support a global transition to non-entangling FADs. The measure requires that ISSF participating companies conduct transactions only with purse seine vessels whose owners have a public policy to use only non-entangling FADs, and that the policy should refer to the ISSF Guide for Non-Entangling FADs.
Thanks to all ISSF partners and supporters for the great work in 2016. We look forward to working with you again in 2017—it will be a big year. The ISSF team will continue to work to support strengthened conservation and management of the world’s tuna fisheries on which so many communities and nations depend. Why? Because fish matter.