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Fishers for Sustainable Tuna | Partners on the Front Lines

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Peer Reviewed Article

Improving sustainable practices in tuna purse-seine fish aggregating device (FAD) fisheries worldwide through continued collaboration with fishers

More than a decade of bottom-up collaborative workshops and research with fishers from the principal tropical tuna purse seine fleets to reduce ecological impacts associated with the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs) has yielded improved sustainable fishing practices in all oceans. This integrative effort is founded on participatory knowledge-exchange workshops organized by ISSF, where scientists, fishers, and key stakeholders examine and develop together ways and tools to minimize fishery impacts.

Read the paper

More articles from ISSF and partners

 

Featured Graphic

Since 2009, ISSF-sponsored scientists and presenters have been traveling the world in an effort to share best practices with fishers in every port. Take a look at where we’ve been to date.

Infographic

 

Featured Fact

The 2023 ISSF Annual Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Report shows that ISSF Participating Companies achieved 100% conformance with ISSF Conservation Measure 3.4  – Skipper Best Practices. The measure requires companies to conduct transactions only with those purse seine and longline vessels whose skippers have:

  • Attended an in-person and/or online ISSF Skippers Workshop; or
  • Attended an in-person Skippers Workshop provided by a tuna FIP and conducted by a trainer that has been accredited by ISSF to conduct these workshops; or
  • Viewed an ISSF Skippers Workshop video online; or
  • Reviewed the online Skippers Guidebook

 

Featured Videos

Improving FAD Design through Fisher Collaboration

We’re working with fishers, scientists, and industry to find the best non-entangling designs and natural materials for fish aggregating devices (FADs) that can biodegrade. A new video from the Pacific Community (SPC) explores trials of jelly-FADs in the Western Central Pacific Ocean, which are part of a three-year project of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), done in collaboration with ISSF. The project aims to construct and test, in real fishing conditions, a new type of non-entangling and biodegradable FAD called the jelly-FAD. The jelly-FAD mirrors jelly fish, drifting naturally in the water column.

Watch

 

Featured Resource

Verified Public Vessel Lists

To promote transparency in tuna fishing, ISSF works with regional organizations and data sources to provide information about fishing vessels and their practices. We maintain searchable public tuna vessel lists for sustainable fishing stakeholders.

The ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) is one of four ISSF public vessel lists. Vessels that join the PVR commit to provide regular information about specific activities, including best practices linked to ISSF conservation measures. This information is displayed on the PVR, showing facts about each vessel, and — based on independent audit results — whether the vessel is following these best practices for more sustainable fishing.

Search PVR

 

Like the PVR, ISSF’s Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI) list is a transparency tool for stakeholders that want to understand which tuna vessels have made public commitments to more sustainable fishing beyond those commitments tracked on the PVR.

Search VOSI

 

 

ISSF Welcomes Robust Progress for Eastern Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries, Including Adoption of Harvest Strategy for North Pacific Albacore and Requirements for Non-entangling FADs

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

At the conclusion of the annual meeting of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is reflecting on the many positive outcomes for Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) tuna fisheries. We are pleased that managers made headway on important topics like harvest strategies and improved fish aggregating device (FAD) designs, in addition to other critical elements of sustainable fisheries management.

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

Compliance Processes

Strong, transparent compliance policies and practices improve fisheries management because they hold member countries accountable. Last year, the IATTC adopted improvements in this area, including best practices promoted by ISSF and partners, like greater detail in compliance reports and mechanisms to identify infraction patterns.

This year, we urged the IATTC to implement these improvements, specifically through establishing a work plan with timelines for its Committee for the Review of Implementation of Measures. While the Commission did not take this particular action, we can still applaud progress for compliance processes because managers conducted a successful review of IATTC member compliance under the previously strengthened resolution. The result was a more detailed assessment of potential member non-compliance and clear recommendations for addressing instances of non-compliances.

Effective Management Procedures (Harvest Strategies)

The new Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard requires a higher level of performance for RFMO-managed fisheries, including regarding harvest strategies for tuna fisheries. To achieve this heightened standard, the IATTC must adopt and implement harvest strategies in time for their outcomes to meet the MSC Standard deadlines. ISSF is therefore pleased that the Commission adopted a harvest strategy for North Pacific albacore, including a harvest control rule, as well as interim reference points for skipjack tuna. In addition, managers made progress for South Pacific albacore tuna by endorsing the IATTC Scientific Advisory Committee recommendations for the stock, which includes working with the Pacific Community (SPC) and WCPFC to explore management strategies and continuing joint stock assessment work.

FAD Design and Management

ISSF also welcomes advances by EPO decision makers for improved FAD design and management. To reduce the impact of FAD structures on the marine ecosystem and reduce plastic pollution, FADs should be designed to avoid the use of netting and be constructed primarily with biodegradable materials. Fortunately, the Commission agreed to require fully non-entangling FAD designs without netting or meshed materials as of January 1, 2025 — a move that aligns IATTC requirements to WCPFC in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, although on a longer timeline.

As a leader in biodegradable FAD research, ISSF’s appeals to IATTC also included the adoption of the definition of “biodegradable” proposed by its FAD Working Group, as well as a transition timeline for the use of 100% biodegradable FADs. We are pleased that EPO fisheries managers adopted proposals that include both of these items, and that they also agreed to encourage recovery programs of drifting FADs in the IATTC convention area.

These collective actions make the IATTC the first tuna RFMO to have in force robust conservation measures for the use of biodegradable FADs — a move we urge all tuna RFMOs to follow.

Bycatch Mitigation & Shark Protections

Some shark and seabird species are declining in abundance or are threatened, yet IATTC conservation measures for these animals remain outdated, excluding many best-practice mitigation techniques. That’s why ISSF requested that all retained sharks be landed with fins naturally attached. The Commission did agree to this ask, but, unfortunately, the revised measure includes exceptions that dilute its impact. ISSF and its partners will continue to advocate strongly for all RFMOs to adopt fins-naturally attached measures for sharks without any exceptions.

ISSF also sought better protection for seabirds in EPO fisheries to harmonize the region with  RFMO requirements in the Indian and Western and Central Pacific Oceans. We are disappointed that this call went unanswered. IATTC must improve its seabird protection measures.

Electronic Monitoring and Reporting & Observer Coverage

Comprehensive observer coverage is critical to effective fisheries management. 100% observer coverage — human and/or electronic — is feasible and necessary. IATTC’s minimum 5% observer coverage requirement for longline vessels in not being fully met, and there is no requirement for observer coverage on class 1-5 purse seine vessels.

Despite appeals by ISSF and others, the Commission, like last year, failed to increase its longline vessel observer coverage requirements or establish an observer program for class 1-5 purse seine vessels. The IATTC Electronic Monitoring Working Group that was agreed to last year, however, was established and co-chairs identified. We are hopeful that their planned meeting in 2023 will set a clear agenda for 2024 and accelerate progress in establishing minimum electronic monitoring standards in the EPO.

Overall, ISSF is pleased with the number of proposals addressed and adopted at last week’s IATTC meeting. The pace of change and action is a welcome development versus previous years, and we applaud the many positive steps taken toward more sustainable tuna fisheries management. We remain watchful and engaged to ensure that more progress can be made for the long-term protection of EPO tuna fisheries.

ISSF Outlines Priorities for Eastern Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has published its position statement in advance of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) annual meeting, to be held August 7-11, 2023 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. ISSF opens its appeal to Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) tuna fisheries managers with a request to further strengthen regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) member compliance processes.

“Strong, transparent compliance policies and practices improve fisheries management because they hold RFMO members accountable. Last year, we applauded the Commission for its adoption of improvements in this area, including best practices promoted by ISSF and partners, like greater detail in compliance reports and mechanisms to identify infraction patterns,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “This year, the IATTC must implement these improvements to strengthen its compliance processes and ensure robust and responsible outcomes.”

The ISSF statement also urges the adoption of a harvest strategy for North Pacific albacore, including a harvest control rule. The new Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard requires a higher level of performance for RFMO-managed fisheries, including regarding harvest strategies for tuna fisheries. To achieve this heightened standard, the IATTC must agree on harvest strategies or risk missing the required deadlines to implement harvest strategy outcomes.

“Improved fish aggregating device (FAD) management is another top priority for EPO fisheries managers this year,” continued Ms. Jackson. “The IATTC must join its peer tuna RFMOs in the Indian and Western and Central Pacific Oceans in requiring fully non-entangling FAD designs without netting of meshed materials.“

FADs should be designed to avoid the use of netting and be constructed primarily with biodegradable materials to reduce the impact of FAD structures on the marine ecosystem. ISSF’s work with EPO fishing vessels and IATTC scientists to trial a new biodegradable and fully non-entangling FAD design — known as the jelly-FAD — is showing promise. ISSF therefore urges the Commission to adopt the definition of “biodegradable” proposed by its FAD Working Group and establish a timeline for transition to 100% biodegradable FADs.

Additional “top asks” for the IATTC annual meeting in the ISSF position statement include:

Compliance Processes

  • Establish a work plan with timelines to further strengthen the Committee for the Review of Implementation of Measures’ procedures and outcomes, including developing by 2024 a hierarchy of infractions and a scheme of responses to improve compliance. 

Effective Management Procedures (Harvest Strategies)

  • For South Pacific albacore, collaborate with the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to develop a harvest strategy and implement the 2023 recommendations of the IATTC Scientific Advisory Committee.
  • Adopt interim reference points for skipjack tuna.
  • Establish and convene a scientist-manager dialogue group to advance management procedures for other tuna stocks.

FAD Management

  • Require fully non-entangling fish aggregating device (FAD) designs without netting or meshed materials.
  • Adopt the definition of “biodegradable” proposed by the FAD Working Group and establish a timeline for transition to 100% biodegradable FADs.

Tuna Stock Conservation

  • Ensure all members implement Resolution C-21-04 fully so that the fishing mortality for bigeye and yellowfin does not exceed the average fishing mortality during 2017-2019.

Bycatch Mitigation & Shark Protections

  • Amend Resolution C-05-03 to require that all retained sharks be landed with fins naturally attached without exceptions.
  • Amend Resolution C-11-02 to include updated seabird mitigation options (e.g., hook shielding devices), including harmonization with IOTC and WCPFC.

Electronic Monitoring and Reporting & Observer Coverage

  • Endorse the recommendations of the IATTC Staff on Electronic Monitoring.
  • Establish a fleet-wide observer program (human or electronic or a combination) for class 1-5 purse seine vessels.

Download the complete 2023 IATTC position statement here. The Statement is also available in Spanish.

 

Priorities for Eastern Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries | PLUS: How Do RFMOs Perform Against Best Practices?

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured Content

IATTC Position Statement

ISSF has released its position statement for the 101st session of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), which takes place August 7-11, 2023, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The statement covers topics in the categories of compliance, harvest strategies, FAD management, tuna stock conservation, and more.

A Spanish version is also available.

Download the Position Statement

 

Featured Report

RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2023: Compliance Processes

Effective regional fishery management organization(s) (RFMOs) compliance processes promote system legitimacy and contribute to public and market confidence in the sustainable management of global tuna fisheries. An updated “snapshot” report identifies best practices in compliance processes and then shows each RFMO’s progress in implementing those practices.

Download the Snapshot

 

Featured Blog

Helping Fisheries Managers Better Monitor and Enforce Requirements for Member States

What good are regulations if they’re not followed? Why adopt policies without a strong plan to monitor adherence to them?  

In an era of greater expectations regarding transparency and accountability, these are the questions stakeholders are increasingly asking of RFMOs — the governing bodies that oversee many global fisheries resources. And for tuna fisheries, a vital, global food source and economic engine, those expectations are especially heightened. A group of policy experts is stepping up to help tuna RFMOs continue strengthening their compliance processes. 

Read more from ISSF’s Holly Koehler

 

Featured Graphic

An updated table shows which RFMOs are leaders — that is, following best practices in fishery management — in several categories: IUU Vessel List, Authorized Vessel Record, Compliance Assessment Process, Observer Requirements, Supply & Tender Vessels, VMS, Transshipment, and FAD Management.

Download the graphic

Shark Awareness Day | Understanding & Protecting Sharks in Tuna Fisheries

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

July 14 is Shark Awareness Day. ISSF supports multiple initiatives for the protection of sharks in global tuna fisheries.

Sharks are caught in purse-seine, longline, gillnet, and other tuna fisheries, usually as bycatch.

Because of their low reproductive rates and other life-history characteristics, many species of sharks are vulnerable to fishing. There are three major areas of concern when it comes to sharks: observed bycatch, unobserved mortality due to entanglement in fishing gear, and difficulties in monitoring the practice of shark finning — and enforcing anti-finning measures.

Today’s E News reviews ISSF’s work with scientists, fishers, seafood companies, conservationists, and others in helping to reduce the impact of tuna fishing on sharks.

OUR RESEARCH & ADVOCACY

Bycatch Handling & Release Techniques

In ISSF guidebooks, infographics, posters, and scientific reports, we publish best practices that purse-seine fishers can follow onboard to safely release live sharks from the deck. We also have compiled shark identification resources by ocean.

FAD Design & Management

Our Non-Entangling & Biodegradable FADs Guide for fishers illustrates how to build FADs without netting, which can entangle sharks.

To inform Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) requirements for fleets, ISSF shares science-based shark-conservation best-practices information through position statements and other outreach efforts. We also evaluate RFMO FAD management measures intended to help protect sharks.

Bycatch Prevention Strategies

Fishers can take steps before and after the tuna catch to reduce unintentional catches of silky sharks by up to 62%. We outline shark bycatch-mitigation techniques in scientific reports and skippers guidebooks. 

For shark bycatch rates by ocean, see our “Tropical Purse Seine Fisheries Bycatch” infographic series.

Anti-Shark-Finning Measures

Some vessels intentionally catch sharks to harvest their fins, which are valuable in certain markets. Shark finning threatens shark populations and violates the U.N. FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and IPOA-Sharks.

Our conservation measures 3.1(a), 3.1(b), and 3.1(c) ask ISSF participating companies to take certain steps to help prevent shark finning in the seafood industry.

 

Improving Vessel Transparency to Combat IUU Fishing

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

A recent initiative of the European Union is raising the bar for increased transparency in global fisheries and strengthening the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

The European Commission recently launched a new website on EU Fishing Authorizations. In addition to important details like vessel name, IMO number, and fishing type, users can search for data on fishing authorizations that have been granted during the last 10 years — for EU vessels fishing outside EU waters and for non-EU vessels fishing in EU waters.

Flag States and Fishing Vessel Oversight

There is no more fundamental tenet of international fisheries governance than a flag state’s responsibility for its vessels when they are operating on the high seas or in another nation’s waters.

When a vessel is registered or licensed in a country, that nation becomes its “flag state”; the vessel is now under the jurisdiction of that state and must comply with its rules and regulations. A flag state must have control over its vessels and ensure fishing activities are lawful. And fisheries management rules — whether set by the flag state, a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO), or a coastal state — must be enforced by the flag state for its vessels, regardless of where a violation occurs.

Flag state control is carried out in several ways: issuing a fishing license to vessels; creating a national list of authorized vessels; and adopting regulations to govern them. These mechanisms are established by the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA) and Law of the Sea Convention, and they set the standard for how flag states must operate if they are to allow their vessels to fish outside of national waters — helping to ensure vessel activities are lawful and well-regulated across the globe.

Lack of Transparency Makes Room for IUU Fishing

Given today’s expectations regarding openness and transparency, it may seem that public availability of vessel data and fisheries agreement information — like what the new EU website offers — would be commonplace. You may be surprised to learn that the public or interested stakeholders, even including RFMOs, cannot always access up-to-date information regarding where vessels are authorized to fish, what rules govern those authorizations, and for how long these authorizations last.

Coastal states grant access to foreign-flagged vessels to fish in their waters through bilateral access or chartering agreements, for example. But there is often little clarity regarding what vessels are licensed or granted the ability to operate in such coastal states’ waters and under what rules.

Confidentiality concerns and a lack of legislative rules or infrastructure have perpetuated this lack of transparency. Not all flag states make their records of authorized vessels public, nor do they reveal important details of the fishing authorizations and agreements under which vessels operate. Similarly, not all coastal states make public their records of vessels to which they have granted fishing access.

Transparency in vessel data at the RFMO level is lacking, too. RFMO authorized vessel lists, for example, are typically mere recitations of what flag state RFMO members provide for their vessels, with little or no verification. These lists also fail to disclose whether a vessel is additionally authorized to operate in the waters of a coastal state RFMO member. And the lists can even include vessels with lapsed fishing authorizations since there is no mechanism to delist such vessels.

It’s true that tools like Global Fishing Watch are now providing public information of vessel tracks on a fishing trip — revealing what waters the vessel moved through and where fishing and transshipment activity likely took place. But without public, verified data on where the vessel is legally authorized to fish in the first place, such data has limited applications for the fight against IUU fishing activity.

Follow the Transparency Lead

ISSF applauds initiatives like the new EU website because it is a resource that can help in the collective fight against IUU fishing activities. Tools like the EU site help close the information gap for a major fishing fleet — publishing where those many vessels are authorized to fish across the world’s fisheries. We urge RFMOs and flag and coastal states to follow the EU’s lead by creating similar public databases for the benefit of all fisheries stakeholders.

We invite you to learn more about RFMO authorized vessel lists by reviewing the ISSF technical report Tuna RFMO Authorised Vessel Lists: A Comparative Analysis to Identify Best Practices, which includes recommendations for flag and coastal states on the important matters reviewed above.

International Fisherman’s Day

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

This year on International Fisherman’s Day, ISSF recognizes the vital role fishers play in our collective efforts for more sustainable tuna fisheries.   

Today’s e-newsletter highlights ISSF’s work with fishers and vessels, as well as scientists, seafood companies, and conservationists, in helping to reduce the impact of tuna fishing on the marine ecosystem.

Peer Reviewed Article 

Improving sustainable practices in tuna purse seine fish aggregating device (FAD) fisheries worldwide through continued collaboration with fishers

More than a decade of bottom-up collaborative workshops and research with fishers from the principal tropical tuna purse seine fleets to reduce ecological impacts associated with the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs) has yielded improved sustainable fishing practices in all oceans. This integrative effort is founded on participatory knowledge-exchange workshops organized by ISSF, where scientists, fishers, and key stakeholders examine and together develop methods and tools to minimize fishery impacts.

Read the article

More articles from ISSF and partners

Featured ISSF Conservation Measure

ISSF Conservation Measure 3.4 — Skipper Best Practices

According to the 2023 ISSF Annual Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Report, ISSF Participating Companies achieved 100% conformance with ISSF Conservation Measure 3.4  – Skipper Best Practices.

The measure requires companies to conduct transactions only with those purse seine and longline vessels whose skippers have:

  • Attended an in-person and/or online ISSF Skippers Workshop; or
  • Attended an in-person Skippers Workshop provided by a tuna FIP and conducted by a trainer that has been accredited by ISSF to conduct these workshops; or
  • Viewed an ISSF Skippers Workshop video online; or
  • Reviewed the online Skippers Guidebook

Featured Resource

Verified Public Vessel Lists

To promote transparency in tuna fishing, ISSF works with regional organizations and data sources to provide information about fishing vessels and their practices. We maintain searchable public tuna vessel lists for sustainable fishing stakeholders.

The ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) is one of four ISSF public vessel lists. Vessels that join the PVR commit to provide regular information about specific activities, including best practices linked to ISSF conservation measures. This information is displayed on the PVR, showing facts about each vessel, and — based on independent audit results — whether the vessel is following these best practices for more sustainable fishing. For example, having a shark-finning prohibition policy and using non-entangling fish aggregating devices (FADs) is a best practice.

Search PVR

 

Like the PVR, ISSF’s Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI) list is a transparency tool for stakeholders that want to understand which tuna vessels have made public commitments to more sustainable fishing beyond those commitments tracked on the PVR.

Search VOSI

Featured Video

Working with Fishers to Improve Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) Design

We’re working with fishers, scientists, and industry to find the best non-entangling designs and natural materials for fish aggregating devices (FADs) that can biodegrade. A video featuring ISSF fisheries scientist Dr. Gala Moreno offers a behind-the-scenes look at the workshops that are part of this ongoing effort.

Watch

 

 

UPDATED Snapshot of Tuna Purse Seine Fishing Fleets | BLOG: Better Designed, Better Managed FADs

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured News

Updated Snapshot of the Large-Scale Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fishing Fleets

ISSF has updated its Snapshot of Large-Scale Tuna Purse Seine Fishing Fleets report for June 2023. The report shows that approximately 652 vessels defined as large-scale purse-seine (LSPS) vessels are fishing for tropical tuna species, up 2% from last year, with a combined fishing capacity of over 841,000 m3 (cubic meters), a 1% increase from last year.

Purse seine fishing vessels catch about 66% of the 5.1 million tonnes of tunas caught annually worldwide. ISSF analyzes and aggregates information from the five tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and other sources to create this annual report, which focuses on large-scale purse seiners (LSPS) that target tropical tuna species: skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye.

Report key findings

 

Featured Graphic

An infographic shows the size and fishing capacity of the large-scale purse-seine fleet fishing for tropical tunas worldwide, based on ISSF research. It also indicates how the PVR helps to provide transparency of the fleet’s fishing activities, including changes in fish hold volume.

Download

 

Featured Content

Better Designed, Better Managed FADs

No Fishing Method Is Without Impact; Collaborative Efforts Are Making Fishing with FADs More Sustainable

Fishing on fish aggregating devices or FADs is efficient and widely used. But the use of FADs also comes with downsides that are of concern and must be addressed. Here I share some of the work that we at ISSF have been doing together with our research, NGO, and industry partners to ensure that these fisheries are sustainable for the long term.

Read the blog by Dr. Victor Restrepo

 

Is Catching Immature Fish Truly Unsustainable?

There is a widespread perception that catching immature, smaller fish is a very bad thing. Several consumer and retailer guides assign a negative score to those fisheries that catch a non-trivial amount of these fish — five percent, for example. The expectation that protecting immature fish will automatically result in increased sustainability is well entrenched in fisheries science and management as well. But this perception may not always be well founded.

Protecting immature fish is one of the many tools available in fisheries management. Like closed areas, fishing effort limits, and TACs (total allowable catch), size limits are one of many tools. The concept is anthropocentrically appealing and very easy to communicate. Let every fish spawn at least once, the thinking goes, and the population’s continuity will be guaranteed forever, no matter what.

But in fisheries management, warn co-authors Dr. Christopher Zimmermann, Dr. Kristina Barz, and Dr. Victor Restrepo, like so many things in life, there is not one silver-bullet solution to all issues.

Read the blog

ISSF Updates “Snapshot of the Large-Scale Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fishing Fleets”

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has updated its Snapshot of Large-Scale Tuna Purse Seine Fishing Fleets report for June 2023. The report shows that approximately 652 vessels defined as large-scale purse-seine (LSPS) vessels are fishing for tropical tuna species, up 2% from last year, with a combined fishing capacity of over 841,000 m3 (cubic meters), a 1% increase from last year.

Purse seine fishing vessels catch about 66% of the 5.1 million tonnes of tunas caught annually worldwide. ISSF analyzes and aggregates information from the five tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and other sources to create this annual report, which focuses on large-scale purse seiners (LSPS) that target tropical tuna species: skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye.

Report Key Findings

The number of LSPS vessels — defined as having 335 m3 fish hold volume or greater — targeting tropical tuna fluctuates from year to year due to several factors, such as some vessels that are no longer active due to being sunk or scrapped or new vessels being constructed. In addition, the report aims to estimate active capacity, omitting vessels that were not listed on the RFMO Vessel Records when the “snapshot” was taken.

This year’s report shows that 10 LSPS vessels built after 2012, five of which were built in 2022, were added to the tropical tuna RFMO authorized vessel lists since July 2022. Ten other large-scale purse seiners were constructed prior to 2012 and not listed in the RFMO records in 2022. These changes are likely attributed to the vessels being inactive for some time while ownership changed, RFMO authorization was renewed, or repairs were made. Other changes, like vessel flag changes, can have an impact on whether the vessels continue to meet the “targeting topical tuna” (rather than other species like bluefin) criteria followed by the ISSF report authors, Ana Justel and Dr. Lorena Recio.

These additional vessels did not significantly increase LSPS capacity, however, which grew from 834,000 m3 in 2022 to 841,000 m3 in 2023. Importantly, the majority of LSPS vessels (492) are registered on the ISSF ProActive Vessel Register (PVR), and PVR-registered LSPS vessels represent 75% in number and 82% in fish hold volume (FHV), a measure of vessel capacity, of the global LSPS fleet. The PVR, which is independently audited, is one of four ISSF public vessel lists that foster transparency in tuna fisheries. Fishing vessels can be registered on the PVR to show how they are following best practices that support sustainable tuna fisheries.

The “snapshot” report summarizes all changes that have taken place annually since 2014 and shares additional findings and observations, including:

  • The total number of all purse-seine vessels worldwide increased from 1,808 in 2022’s report to 1,837 today.
  • About 14% of large-scale vessels are authorized to fish in more than one tuna RFMO, which should be considered in efforts to manage fishing capacity at a global level.
  • Among the tuna RFMOs, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) still has the highest number of LSPS registrations (326).

Report Recommendations

Having an accurate estimate of active vessels is critical for managing tuna fishing capacity regionally as well as globally. The figures shared in the ISSF report may underestimate the total fleet, because many small-scale purse seiners or purse seiners operating in only one exclusive economic zone (EEZ) are not required to be listed on RFMOs’ records of authorized fishing vessels. The report recommends that RFMOs consider extending their authorized vessel records to include information about the RFMO area in which each individual vessel is active each year — a best practice that better facilitates the monitoring of active fishing capacity by region.

A comparison with last year’s LSPS fleet estimates shows that there were again numerous changes in RFMO authorized vessel records. Several vessels that appeared on the records in 2022 can no longer be found. Other vessels that were not on the records are now listed, and some vessels are now considered to target tropical tuna.

The quality of data in RFMO records has improved in recent years, but substantial gaps remain. “We recommend that RFMO members exercise greater quality control of the data they submit to the [tuna] RFMOs for the vessel records and that [tuna} RFMOs adopt vessel registry requirements that include quality control mechanisms,” states the report.

View the updated report here. View a related infographic here.