Skip to main content

Author: svanouse

Pacific Ocean Fisheries Managers Take Important Steps on FAD Management, But Delay Needed Action on Harvest Strategies to 2022

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) recently wrapped up a longer-than-usual annual meeting — one with important stakes for tuna stocks in the region.

Prior to the gathering, ISSF issued a position statement outlining our organization’s top priorities for the Commission in 2021. Below is a summary of both the hits and the misses at the conclusion of the meeting. 

WCPFC Hits

Tropical Tuna Conservation Measure

Ahead of the WCPFC meeting, ISSF urged all parties to come to an agreement on the adoption of a new and enforceable tropical tuna conservation measure for all fleets that limits fishing mortality for bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack tuna. We advocated for the removal of ambiguities and exemptions present in the previous version of the tuna measure. ISSF also advocated that, at a minimum, the existing measure that was set to expire in February 2022 should not be allowed to lapse.

WCPFC agreed to essentially roll over its existing tuna conservation measure, which includes fish aggregating device (FAD) closures and bigeye tuna catch limits, among other key elements, for two more years. Maintaining important protections for these tuna stocks is a critical step, and ISSF will be pushing for and supporting more work at WCPFC to improve the measure in the coming two years. 

FAD Management

FAD management consistently leads ISSF asks for all tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs). Without rigorous management in place, FADs can have negative impacts on the marine environment. ISSF therefore asked WCPFC to adopt a work plan for FADs with a timeframe to transition to FADs without nets and made primarily with biodegradable materials; develop FAD recovery policies for lost or abandoned FADs; develop a FAD marking scheme and ownership rules; and require FAD position and acoustic data. We also requested that the Scientific Committee provide science-based limits on FAD deployments, active FADs, and/or FAD sets.

WCPFC acted to adopt progressive improvements to their FAD management measures. Most notably, members agreed to prohibit mesh netting in any part of the FAD by 1 January 2024, which will reduce entanglement of sharks and other non-target species. The Commission also set their timeline for action regarding transitioning to the use of biodegradable FAD materials. It was agreed that in 2023, the Commission will consider the adoption of measures for the use of biodegradable materials in FADs, based on recommendations of its Scientific Committee and FAD Working Group. 

The Commission also agreed to encourage vessels to carry equipment for the retrieval of FADs, to make reasonable efforts to retrieve lost FADs, and to report these efforts to relevant authorities. While this outcome is not as robust as ISSF had wanted, we are hopeful that WCPFC will continue to adopt more measures to prevent lost or abandoned FADs, which can cause marine pollution and pose risks to marine life. 

Compliance Monitoring

Strong RFMO compliance processes improve fisheries management by holding members accountable. Robust and transparent compliance promotes public and market confidence in the legitimacy of management organizations like the WCPFC, ensuring the international management and long-term sustainability of shared fisheries resources.  

We are therefore pleased that WCPFC agreed to extend its compliance monitoring scheme (CMS) for two years and will prioritize its efforts to finalize the intersessional work to strengthen the CMS that was agreed upon several years ago. ISSF looks forward to the adoption of these new, stronger tools in 2022 and to a rigorous compliance review in 2023.

WCPFC Misses

Harvest Strategies

WCPFC did not adopt target reference points for bigeye and yellowfin, or a list of candidate management procedures for skipjack and albacore. These are actions that ISSF — and our partners and stakeholders — called for as necessary to meet the 2023 Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) deadline for harvest strategy conditions.

WCPFC did agree to hold a scientist-manager dialogue on a trial basis beginning in 2022. And we will be watching this process closely as a guidepost for accelerated progress on this critical issue.


Electronic Monitoring

Ahead of the WCPFC annual meeting, ISSF called for the adoption of a conservation measure for an electronic monitoring (EM) program and minimum standards for the use of electronic monitoring in WCPFC fisheries. The Commission unfortunately did not take up such a measure this year.

The WCPFC working group on electronic monitoring will continue into 2022, and we hope that the development of an EM program will advance more swiftly — allowing for increases in observer coverage for longline fleets and of at sea-transshipment activities. 

At this year’s annual meeting, the WCPFC took extra time to ensure that its tropical tuna conservation measure was a priority. This session also demonstrated the commitment of WCPFC members to sustainable tuna management and finding consensus, even in a challenging virtual setting. That said, the meeting outcomes include a mix of successes — like updates to FAD management measures — and failures, including the lack of meaningful progress on harvest strategies, electronic monitoring, and at-sea transshipment reforms. We look forward to working with the Commission and WCPFC members into next year to advance those objectives that were not realized in 2021. 

ISSF Disappointed by Lack of Agreement on FAD Management at Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

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

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) recently concluded a special meeting to consider amending its resolution 19/02 on the management of fish aggregating devices (FADs) — a resolution that was not adopted at the IOTC annual meeting in June 2021 due to lack of clarity and irregularities in the voting procedures. 

In a position statement issued before the IOTC annual meeting, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) called for: progress on science-based limits on FAD deployments and/or FAD sets; the development of FAD marking guidelines and FAD tracking and recovery policies; requiring the use of biodegradable materials in the construction of FADs, and establishing a timeline for transitioning to 100% biodegradable FADs.

Despite multiple opportunities to address the matter — first, at their annual meeting in June 2021 and again at a special meeting held November 29, 2021 — the Commission was unable to adopt amendments to strengthen its FAD management resolution.

“We are disappointed that IOTC could not agree on revisions to improve its FAD management resolution this year, delaying progress on this critical issue until the 2022 Commission meeting,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “ISSF recognizes the importance of voting procedures as a tool for the RFMO decision-making process. Still, we strongly encourage all IOTC members to engage in collaborative discussions in the lead up to the 2022 annual meeting.

“Only through such ongoing communication can IOTC reach an agreement to strengthen FAD management that will be supported and effectively implemented by all parties,” Jackson continued. “ISSF will continue to engage in advocacy on these and other Indian Ocean tuna sustainability priorities in the New Year.”

 

ISSF Assesses ICCAT Annual Meeting: Extended Tropical Tuna Measure and Progress on Electronic Monitoring Among Positive Meeting Outcomes

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is welcoming some progress for Atlantic Ocean tuna fisheries as the annual meeting of International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) concludes. We are pleased to see that the Commission retained important management measures and agreed to twenty-four conservation measures in total – notable headway during a virtual format.

Here is a review of the outcomes of the ICCAT meeting against our organization’s top asks as outlined in our 2021 position statement.

Tropical Tuna Conservation Measure

Among the wins at ICCAT is the extension of the Commission’s tropical tuna measure with minor modifications. Continuing the measure in this way will safeguard tuna stock health into 2022.

We are disappointed, however, that certain critical elements of the measure were not tackled. For example, the Commission did not address the matter of total allowable catch (TAC) allocation among Commission members for yellowfin tuna. With the yellowfin catch exceeding TAC again in 2020, and the latest stock assessment showing yellowfin as close to the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) level, the stock may now be in worse shape than bigeye. Compliance with the yellowfin TAC must be addressed by the Commission.

FAD Management

Improved management measures for the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs) in tuna fisheries continually tops our list of RFMO “asks,” and our appeal to ICCAT this year was no different. While the Commission did not make substantial progress on FADs that answered our requests — the use of biodegradable materials, as well as FAD recovery policies, marking schemes, and ownership rules, among others — we are pleased that FAD provisions within the tropical tuna measure were maintained. Overall, there is much more work to do on FAD management at ICCAT in 2022.

Harvest Strategies

ISSF and partners have been consistently urging the accelerated adoption of harvest strategies for tunas across all regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs). This year, ICCAT adopted a harvest strategy for North Atlantic Albacore. This decision is welcome news, but the Commission must do more on this topic for the long-term protection of all Atlantic Ocean tuna stocks.

Electronic Monitoring

ICCAT moved to create a working group on electronic monitoring systems (EMS) at its annual meeting. Although ISSF had called for the adoption of minimum standards for electronic monitoring and 100% observer coverage (human and/or electronic), this decision is still good progress. Now, the ICCAT working group must move quickly for concrete action on EMS. In highlighting the vulnerability of human observer programs, the global pandemic has underscored the value of robust monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) tool for improved fisheries management.

Compliance Committee Action

Another bright spot at the ICCAT meeting came in movement on improving compliance processes for the Commission. Ahead of the meeting, ISSF requested that the ICCAT compliance committee address non-compliance by member nations with FAD data reporting requirements — requirements that are essential to better managing FAD use in Atlantic Ocean tuna fisheries. We are therefore pleased that ICCAT reviewed this matter for the first time this year. Without accurate and complete data on FAD use by Commission members, management measures cannot be fact based or meaningful. Also of note, the Commission developed a “severity of sanctions document” that will be further refined as part of the overall ICCAT compliance program.

Protections for Sharks

Years of overfishing of shortfin mako sharks in the Atlantic Ocean and an associated decline in the species spurred ISSF and others in the NGO community to demand that ICCAT take action to protect these sharks. So we are relieved that ICCAT adopted a management plan for the North Atlantic shortfin mako stock, which includes a two-year ban on retention. Our ask that ICCAT also adopt a fins-naturally-attached provision for sharks was not answered, however, and we will continue our collaborative calls for action there.

There was a good spirit of cooperation among ICCAT parties this year; it was a meeting of partial hits and some misses. We hope you will join ISSF efforts to continue to demand progress for Atlantic Ocean tuna fisheries into the New Year. We will continue to work cooperatively with all ICCAT parties and with our diverse, multi-sector stakeholders to ensure the enduring health of the tunas and ecosystems of the Atlantic Ocean.

ISSF: WCPFC Has an Opportunity to Adopt New Bigeye, Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna Conservation Measures for Western and Central Pacific 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 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s (WCPFC) annual meeting from November 29 to December 7, 2021, which will take place virtually. ISSF is advocating for continued strong protections for bigeye, skipjack and yellowfin tuna stocks; upgraded requirements related to the management and use of fish aggregating devices (FADs); accelerated development of harvest strategies; and more. 

“The current tuna conservation measure that protects tropical tuna stocks in the region expires in February 2022, and we agree with the WCPFC Scientific Committee that these protections must remain in place to ensure that fishing mortality does not increase,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “These protections are necessary until the Commission adopts comprehensive harvest strategies, including appropriate target reference points. The WCPFC’s annual meeting must adopt a new and robust tuna conservation measure to prevent the possibility of overexploitation while harvest strategies are put in place.” 

Read about our top #sustainable #fishing priorities for the #WCPFC annual meeting next week. Share on X

ISSF Top Priorities for WCPFC

  • Adopt an enforceable tropical tuna conservation measure for all fleets that limits fishing mortality for bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack while removing ambiguities and exemptions.
  • Adopt a work plan for FADs with a timeframe to transition to FADs without nets and made primarily with biodegradable materials; develop recovery policies, a marking scheme and ownership rules; and require submission of FAD position and acoustic data.
  • To meet the June 2023 Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) deadline for harvest strategy conditions, adopt target reference points for bigeye and yellowfin; create a list of candidate management procedures for skipjack & albacore; and establish a scientist/manager dialogue group.
  • Adopt a conservation measure for an electronic monitoring program and minimum standards for the use of electronic monitoring in WCPFC fisheries.
  • Accelerate the remaining work to reform the at-sea transshipment conservation measure and the compliance monitoring scheme.

Jackson added, “Additionally, WCPFC must act and adopt a work plan for transitioning to FADs without nets and made primarily with biodegradable materials; make progress on electronic monitoring, as the pandemic has severely impacted observer coverage; and implement stronger rules for at-sea transshipment to guard against illegal fishing among the growing number of high seas transshipment events in the region.” 

Read the full WCPFC Position Statement on the new 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

ISSF Participating Tuna Companies Achieve Full Compliance with 30 Science-Based ISSF Conservation Measures

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has released its sixth annual Update to ISSF Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Report, which shows a conformance rate of 100 percent by 26 ISSF participating companies with all 30 ISSF conservation measures in effect. Following the remediation period, all 26 companies were fully compliant with all 30 measures audited. 

As part of its commitment to foster transparency and accountability in the fishing industry, ISSF engages third-party auditor MRAG Americas to assess ISSF participating seafood companies’ compliance with ISSF conservation measures according to a rigorous audit protocol.

ISSF participating companies — 26 leading #seafood processors, traders, importers, and transporters worldwide — have achieved 100% compliance with our rigorous #conservation measures. Share on X

“Since we began our compliance and audit process for ISSF participating companies in 2015, we’ve seen the conformance rate improve nearly every year, a heartening indication of industry’s growing openness to scrutiny and science-backed conservation efforts,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “We are especially proud to see consistently strong compliance from those seafood companies even as we have continued to expand our conservation measures — from 21 initially to 30 today — and raise the bar for them to reach.” 

Three measures were newly in effect for the 2020 audit period, and all 26 companies were in full conformance with them:

Details of the Updated Report

The November 2021 report is based on updates to the initial annual audit results published in April 2021, which showed one company had four “major” non-conformances with conservation measures in the prior year and one company had one “minor” non-conformance. 

The rate of full conformance for each period since participating-company compliance reporting began is reflected below:

ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORT UPDATE TO ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORT
June 2015: 79.8% No Update report published in 2015
June 2016: 87.2% November 2016: 95.6%
May 2017: 97.5% November 2017: 100%
June 2018: 97% November 2018: 99%
April 2019: 98.5% November 2019: 99%
April 2019: 99.1% November 2020: 99.4%
April 2021: 99.4% November 2021: 100%

The Update to ISSF Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Report is published each November to track ISSF participating companies’ progress in conforming with ISSF conservation measures like these:

In addition to the summary compliance reports published in April and November, MRAG Americas issues individual ISSF participating company reports that detail each company’s compliance with the ISSF conservation measures for the year. If applicable, these will include “update” reports, published throughout the year, that explain how individual companies have remediated any non-conformances on the conservation measures.

More Information on ISSF Conservation Measures & Compliance

For long-term tuna sustainability, tuna companies worldwide choose to participate with ISSF, follow responsible fishing practices, and implement science-based conservation measures. From bycatch mitigation to product traceability, ISSF participating companies have committed to conforming to a set of conservation measures and other commitments designed to drive positive change — and to do so transparently through third-party audits.

View ISSF Conservation Measures

View ISSA Compliance Policy

ICCAT Must Take Action to Ensure Atlantic Ocean Bigeye and Yellowfin Tuna Stocks Maintain Sustainable Levels

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has published its position statement in advance of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) annual meeting from November 15-22, 2021. ISSF is advocating for updated protections for bigeye and yellowfin tuna stocks, upgraded policies related to the use of biodegradable fish aggregating devices (FADs), the adoption of harvest strategies, and more. 

Protections for #bigeye and #yellowfin #tuna, upgraded policies on biodegradable fish aggregating devices (FADs), and more: Find out what ISSF wants #ICCAT to prioritize at its upcoming meeting. Share on X

“There are several issues that require the immediate attention of the Commission when they assemble, and we urge all parties to reach consensus around these pressing matters in order to improve the management and monitoring of Atlantic tunas,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “Atlantic bigeye and yellowfin stocks have recently improved to sustainable levels, but if catches of these species continue to exceed the total allowable catch, that won’t be the case for long.” 

ISSF Top Priorities for ICCAT 

  • Revise Recommendation 19-02 to ensure that the bigeye and yellowfin tuna stocks are maintained at sustainable levels and catches are maintained within the total allowable catch (TAC)
  • Adopt a work plan for FADs with a timeframe to transition to FADs without nets and made primarily with biodegradable materials; develop recovery policies, a marking scheme and ownership rules; and require submission of FAD position and acoustic data
  • Accelerate the adoption of harvest strategies for tropical tunas
  • Adopt minimum standards for electronic monitoring and require 100% observer coverage (human and/or electronic) for all major ICCAT fisheries, and all vessels engaged in at-sea transshipment by 2024
  • Request the Compliance Committee to address noncompliance with FAD data reporting requirements and develop audit points for ICCAT measures

Jackson added, “ICCAT must take action now to maintain sustainable levels for those two important stocks. But it also has other urgent work to do like the adoption of a work plan for biodegradable FADs, accelerating the adoption of electronic monitoring and requiring one hundred-percent observer coverage and speeding up its development of harvest strategies.” 

Read the full ICCAT Position Statement on the new ISSF website; the statement is also available in French and Spanish. ICCAT’s meeting will be conducted virtually. 

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

Progress for Eastern Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries: Protections, Monitoring for Tuna Stocks and Improved FAD Management

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

After repeated calls for action to protect Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) tuna stocks, we are relieved that last week’s Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) meeting yielded positive results in advancing the Commission’s agenda on tuna protections and fish aggregating device (FAD) management, among other top-priority topics this year.

New Tropical Tuna Measure Includes FAD Management

ISSF issued a position statement before the meeting calling for the adoption of a precautionary and science-based new version of the previous IATTC tuna conservation measure, which was ineffective in limiting catches of yellowfin, bigeye and skipjack. Fortunately, IATTC parties came to the meeting ready to work. It was gratifying to see IATTC member states and the Commission President work together in the months preceding the meeting, resulting in agreement on many issues prior to its start.

The Commission took action to safeguard tropical tuna stocks by adopting a new, enhanced tropical tuna measure. The improved measure includes additional fishery closure days for vessels that exceed a certain bigeye tuna annual catch threshold, while continuing the 72-day full closure for purse seine vessels, the “corralito” time/area closure, and bigeye catch limits for longline vessels.

Ahead of the meeting, ISSF urged that a new IATTC tuna measure also include and address FAD management through a range of possible options to prevent an increase in tropical tuna fishing mortality. We saw good progress here, too. Specifically, IATTC decided to (1) progressively reduce the limit on active FADs annually from 2022-2024 and (2) require the submission of operational FAD buoy data (position and biomass information) to the Commission for scientific purposes. And while we are disappointed that no headway was made on FAD marking and fully non-entangling FADs without nets, we are pleased that the IATTC FAD working group has been charged with recommending criteria for biodegradable FADs.

Finally, we are pleased that the new measure also mandates the submission of vessel monitoring data from purse seine and longline vessels to the IATTC for scientific research and assessment work.

Other Notable Action for EPO Tuna Fisheries

It’s worth noting other important wins from the IATTC meeting that answered ISSF position statement “asks.” The Commission adopted:

  • An electronic monitoring systems (EMS) work plan, a critical step in supporting IATTC’s scientific data collection and member compliance work
  • A Port State Measures resolution, essential to combatting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities in EPO tuna fisheries
  • Recommendations to strengthen and more fully implement IATTC’s compliance assessment process — a move toward improving the Commission’s ability to monitor, assess, and improve their members’ implementation of conservation and management measures.

While a robust list of to-dos remains for the Commission — improvements in harvest strategies, at-sea transshipment reforms and other monitoring, control, surveillance (MCS) tools, along with further FAD management work — ISSF applauds the positive steps at last week’s IATTC meeting.

We stand ready to collaborate with stakeholders and to work with all IATTC members to support their efforts in the coming years. We remain watchful and engaged to ensure that more progress can be made for the long-term protection of EPO tuna fisheries.

 

 

From Global Tuna Stock Data to Fisheries Improvement and Best Practices, Refreshed ISSF Website Offers Data-Rich Resources for Every Tuna Sustainability Stakeholder

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) — a global coalition of seafood companies, fisheries experts, scientific and environmental organizations, and the vessel community — today unveiled a refreshed website, designed to meet the diverse needs of the full spectrum of tuna sustainability stakeholders in a more accessible, user-friendly format. The refreshed site (iss-foundation.org) aims to elevate ISSF’s data-rich resources and tools for specialist and non-specialist users alike.

“As a knowledge-based influencer organization, ISSF offers a depth and breadth of expert content, which is one of our greatest assets. Our new website puts that content at users’ fingertips,” said Mary Sestric, Vice President, Communications, ISSF. “We continue to evolve our content online to better serve stakeholders in our space — from seafood buyers and fisheries managers to marine scientists and tuna processors.​ We are now better positioned to provide our growing stakeholder community with the on-demand data and information required to make progress toward a more sustainable future.”

Attracting 50,000+ visitors annually, ISSF's site offers information on industry efforts, fisheries research, and fishing policy to advance sustainable #tuna #fisheries and protect marine #ecosystems. Share on X

ISSF has produced a short video highlighting the refreshed site’s content and design, which includes “Related News” and “Related Resources” sections on pages for easier discovery of relevant information and publications.

In addition to “Our Story” and “Our Priorities” content, the ISSF site features 100+ pages covering:

Up-to-date info and data on global tuna stock status and management, including user-friendly, interactive tools  

  • Status of the Stocks report and interactive tool  
  • Tuna species overview
  • RFMOs overview
  • Lists of Tuna Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) and MSC-Certified Tuna Fisheries

Verified reporting on sustainability commitments made across the global tuna supply chain 

  • Participating seafood companies list
  • Four public vessel lists that track fishing practices, including the ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) and Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI)
  • ISSF Conservation Measures and seafood company compliance audit reports

Fact-based content authored by tuna science and policy experts and presented in downloadable formats

  • Scientific reports & best practices reports and snapshots
  • Infographics
  • FIP Resources Finder

Informed perspectives on breaking news and developments in cross-sector work toward sustainable tuna fisheries

  • ISSF blog
  • Press releases
  • RFMO position statements

Profiles of the dedicated people behind ISSF, from the staff and Board of Directors to advisory committees in science and policy

  • Board of Directors
  • ISSF team
  • Scientific Advisory Committee
  • Environmental Stakeholder Committee

With more than 50,000 visitors annually, the ISSF site is a go-to destination for users interested in industry efforts, fisheries research, and fishing policy to advance sustainable tuna fisheries and protect marine ecosystems. The revised ISSF website — illustrated with exclusive ISSF photography, including from international research expeditions — was designed in collaboration with ISSF’s IT partner OpenArc, with additional project assistance provided by infodesign consultancy Background Stories. 

87.7% of Global Tuna Catch Continues to Come from Stocks at Healthy Levels; 9.6% Require Stronger Management

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

Of the total commercial tuna catch worldwide, 87.7% of the global catch continues to be sourced from stocks at “healthy” levels of abundance, according to the newest International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Status of the Stocks report. In addition, 9.6% of the total tuna catch came from overfished stocks, and 2.7% came from stocks at an intermediate level of abundance. This is the third update to this report since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic started to impact the work of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). 

Our latest Status of the Stocks analysis shows that several #tuna stocks remain overfished and/or subject to #overfishing. Get the details: Share on X

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

  • The Indian Ocean yellowfin and Pacific bluefin tuna stocks continue to be overfished and subject to overfishing.
  • Atlantic Ocean bigeye status remains overfished and subject to overfishing, although the results of the most recent RFMO Science Committee meeting were not available at the time of writing and will be reflected in the next report update. 
  • Indian Ocean albacore and bigeye continue to be subject to overfishing.
  • All skipjack and most albacore stocks remain healthy.

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, 22% are at an intermediate level, and 13% are overfished.
  • Fishing mortality levels: 74% of the 23 stocks are experiencing a well-managed fishing mortality rate, and 22% are experiencing overfishing.
  • Total catch: The catch of major commercial tuna stocks was 5.3 million tonnes in 2019, a 1% increase from 2018. 60% was skipjack tuna, followed by yellowfin (28%), bigeye (7%), and albacore (4%). Bluefin tuna 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: 65.7% of the catch is made by purse seining, followed by longline (10.0%), pole-and-line (7.8%), gillnets (3.7%), and miscellaneous gears (12.9%). 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.

The Pandemic’s Impact on the Status of the Stocks  

This is the third update to this report since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact the work of the RFMOs. RFMOs have issued exemptions to certain monitoring requirements such as observer coverage. As such, the summaries of management measures provided for the stocks, particularly in relation to observer coverage, may not be completely accurate in reflecting the monitoring that is ongoing during this exceptional period.

The report includes updated catch data and the latest changes to stock status and management as of the end of September 2021. In the time since our March 2020 report, a new stock assessment of South Pacific albacore was completed.

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 twice 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 Status of the Stocks reports annually to provide clarity about where we stand — and how much more needs to be done — to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks. The Status of the Stocks presents a comprehensive analysis of tuna stocks by species, and the Evaluation of the Sustainability of Global Tuna Stocks Relative to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Criteria provides scores for the stocks and RFMOs based on MSC assessment criteria. 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; users can easily toggle through tuna abundance and exploitation health indicators by catch or stock and filter by location and species as well as be informed about the share of total catch by species/stocks and gear types.