Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability — ISSF’s Strategic Plan for 2023–2027
In a 2-minute video, ISSF President Susan Jackson highlights ISSF’s Strategic Plan for 2023-2027, which launched February 28, 2023.
Author: svanouse
ISSF 2023-2027 Strategic Plan: Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) released its Strategic Plan for 2023-2027, Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability, which lays out the research and advocacy organization’s mission and approach to achieving its tuna fisheries sustainability objective across the next five years.
“Through a robust, multi-stakeholder exploration process, we developed Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability as an evolution of our prior strategic plan,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “ISSF’s science-based and collaborative work has driven progressive outcomes in the last five years — from our Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI) list enabling more transparent vessel operations to the design of jelly-FADs that lessen the environmental impact of fish aggregating devices.
Learn about ISSF's new five-year goal for sustainable fishing in our just-published 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. Share on X
“Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability allows us to build on such accomplishments, while responding to the current sustainability landscape,” Jackson continued. “Articulating our theory of change and a five-year goal, which emphasize a commitment to continuous improvement, helps us recognize the dynamic nature of the world’s tuna fisheries and the stakeholders who rely on them.”
In the new plan, ISSF’s work continues to be grounded in the core pillars of Science, Verification, and Influence, all of which come together to drive more sustainable fisheries management. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard also remains central to ISSF’s objective. Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability includes new and evolved elements, as highlighted below, in support of the ISSF mission.
The ISSF Objective & the MSC Fisheries Standard
ISSF’s objective is to continuously improve the sustainability of global tuna fisheries and the ecosystems that support them to result in those fisheries meeting and maintaining the MSC certification standard. As Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability explains, ISSF achieves this through the development and implementation of verifiable, science-based practices; measurable commitments; and conservation management measures by participating companies and through advocacy to tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs).
“Like our previous Strategic Plan, the objective of Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability includes the MSC Fisheries Standard. But consistent with the theme of continuous improvement, our new plan now pledges ISSF efforts to help fisheries not only meet but also maintain that standard,” said Jackson.
“The recent release of the new MSC Fisheries Standard 3.0 to meet changing expectations and reflect the latest in sustainability science reminds us that the bar is always rising — so too must our level of responsibility and commitment.”
Sustainable Management Requires Continuous Improvement
The 2023-2027 ISSF Strategic Plan outlines the organization’s Theory of Change for the first time. ISSF is a science-driven organization focused on the continuous improvement of global tuna fishery sustainability and seeks to achieve this by:
- Advancing tuna fisheries science
- Implementing direct industry improvements
- Providing scientific guidance and tools
- Working with, and advocating to, RFMOs
- Partnering with supportive organizations and experts
The Theory further states:
- ISSF advocacy to RFMOs is grounded in what the best current science requires.
- Simultaneously, ISSF continuously works to improve the science.
- The intended result of our efforts is the adoption and implementation of science-based management measures by industry and RFMOs.
- We recognize that comprehensive and sustainable management requires continuous improvement.
ISSF Five-Year Goal
The plan also newly establishes a five-year goal for the organization: By the end of 2027, all tuna fisheries from which ISSF participating companies source can meet and maintain the MSC certification standard, or there is a clear roadmap and timeline in place to meet this standard that is underpinned by the best-available science.
Evolving Other Strategic Elements
Additional updates to plan elements build on the organization’s work to date in key areas. ISSF will continue to support and enable tuna fishery improvement projects (FIPs), for example, in seeking to “expedite the achievement of MSC certification standards across global tuna fisheries.”
And the organization’s strategic pillars have new or refined functional targets that align to the latest developments in tuna sustainability:
- Under Science, a focus on Ecosystem Impacts to advance science-based approaches that address fishing’s broader ecosystem effects
- Under Verification, an increased emphasis on the VOSI to track public sustainable fishing commitments made by vessels beyond measures on the ProActive Vessel Register (PVR)
- Under Influence, a directive to help markets transparently verify implementation of policy and purchasing decisions for enhanced credibility
Introducing the Advisory Committee on Working Conditions for Fishing Vessels
Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability also continues ISSF’s charge to monitor third-party efforts to (1) develop and implement labor and social standards for tuna fishing activities on a global scale and (2) explore appropriate ways for ISSF and/or participating companies to support and implement these standards.
ISSF is announcing a new Advisory Committee on Working Conditions for Fishing Vessels that will guide the development of an ISSF approach to this effort. The Committee comprises experts in tuna fisheries operations and international labor and social issues, including Mike Kraft, Executive Director, FISH Standard for Crew; Tracy Murai, Assistant Global Director Marine & Fisheries, Thai Union; Yemi Oloruntuyi, Ph.D., Head, Social Policy, Marine Stewardship Council; and Jessica Sparks, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, Division of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University
Download Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability.
ISSF on IOTC Special Session
The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) recently concluded a Special Session to adopt a conservation and management measure on fish aggregating devices (FADs) in Indian Ocean tuna fisheries. The Special Session was called last year due to inaction on this topic.
In a position statement issued before the IOTC session, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) urged enhanced, science-based FAD management provisions. ISSF acknowledges the Commission’s progress in adopting some of the improvements called for in our position, including FAD marking guidelines, a timeline for transition to biodegradable FADs, and access to FAD position data for the IOTC Scientific Committee for science needs.
But ISSF is concerned by the lack of a shared effort by all IOTC delegations in working together toward the realization of scientific advice. The general breakdown of communication and negotiation that was evident at the IOTC Special Session sets an unwelcome precedent for future meetings and, ultimately, the sustainable use of Indian Ocean tuna fisheries.
“IOTC parties are beholden to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, the core provisions of which require cooperation and consultation amongst all coastal States and States fishing on the high seas,” noted ISSF President Susan Jackson. “Both practices are critically important in managing highly migratory fish stocks like tuna, and both practices seemed to have been unfortunately lacking at this meeting.
“We therefore remain cautious in our assessment of the effectiveness of the new FAD measure, especially in helping rebuild the yellowfin tuna stock. And we urge all parties to recommit to working together for the long-term sustainable management of Indian Ocean resources.”
ISSF Urges Indian Ocean Fisheries Managers to Strengthen Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) Management Measure at February 2023 Special Session
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has published a position statement ahead of the February 3-5 Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Special Session, the objective of which is to adopt an IOTC conservation and management measure on fish aggregating devices (FADs). The Special Session was called last year due to inaction on this topic.
In its position statement, ISSF calls for a concerted effort in the Indian Ocean to better monitor FAD usage and to support the adoption of science-based, FAD-related management measures. Shark and non-target species bycatch and other ecosystem impacts — such as marine debris and FAD beaching — must also be reduced. Using non-entangling and biodegradable FAD designs is a critical step to achieving that.
We've outlined the FAD management issues that the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) must address at its Special Session on February 3-5. Share on XConsistent with appeals ISSF and our stakeholders issued throughout 2022, the ISSF statement specifies enhanced FAD management provisions, including:
- Developing and implementing science-based limits on FAD deployments and/or FAD sets, consistent with management objectives for tropical tunas.
- Allowing the IOTC Scientific Committee to use submitted FAD tracking data for scientific purposes — data that are currently used only for FAD limit compliance purposes.
- Requiring the use of biodegradable materials in the construction of FADs to minimize the use of synthetic/plastic materials in FAD construction. Establish a timeline for transitioning to 100% biodegradable.
- Developing and adopting FAD marking guidelines, including requiring the marking of the buoy and the FAD structure.
- Developing and adopting FAD tracking and recovery policies that consider utilizing supply vessels in FAD recovery efforts.
- Adopting clearer rules for FAD ownership and activation, as well as for deactivation of FAD buoys.
Read the full IOTC Special Session Position Statement on the ISSF website.
Update from the Field: Fishing for Answers for Endangered Mobulid Rays
Testing conservation solutions can sometimes require setting sail on the high seas.
In December 2022, we began the first of our field expeditions onboard tuna purse seine vessels, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); AZTI; University of California, Santa Cruz; and the American Tunaboat Association.
We’re searching for Mobulids — otherwise known as manta and devil rays — which are sometimes captured accidentally by fishing boats.
Protecting Vulnerable Mobulids
Though these encounters are rare and occur primarily in free-swimming-school sets, it’s important that scientists and fishers work together to avoid these interactions because Mobulids are experiencing population declines globally.
We have two main goals for these trips: first, we want to simply find out more information about these threatened species, using fishing vessels as scientific platforms.
We’re taking tiny samples of Mobulid tails that can be used to unlock huge amounts of genetic and demographic information about these mysterious species.
We’re also swabbing Mobulid mucus that can be used for novel rapid identification technology by the organization iCatch to improve species identification in fisheries across the world.
Testing the Manta Grid
Second, we are working with fishing crews to test out a novel bycatch mitigation technology — a “manta grid,” designed to facilitate fast release for accidentally captured rays. The grid takes advantage of the powerful hydraulic machines already in place on these vessels — which come in handy when you need to lift a Mobulid that weighs the same as a small car.
Even more important, Mobulids, like many sharks, need to constantly pass water over their gills to stay alive (a process called ram ventilation). So, any technology that brings the animal back into the water faster is likely to increase their chance of survival after release. For Mobulids, who reproduce slowly and have only one offspring every few years, reducing the impact of bycatch could have huge benefits for population status.
But all good technologies need to be tested. To test the manta grid, we are deploying satellite-linked tags on Mobulids captured in the net. These tags not only tell us whether a Mobulid survives the capture.
They also can give us rare and valuable information on the movement of Mobulids. For remote and distant areas of the high seas, this kind of data is virtually impossible to access with conventional scientific methods.
Working with Fishers at Sea
We’ve been at sea onboard the American purse seiner Pacific Princess for three weeks now and are on the lookout for any of the five Mobulid species found in the Pacific Ocean.
In the meantime, working with tuna fishers at sea presents a unique opportunity to gather information about Mobulid sightings, consult with crew about feasible solutions, and share our Mobulid research and conservation.
Stay tuned for more news from the expedition and results from this project!
Melissa Cronin, Ph.D. of the University of California, Santa Cruz, was the Grand Prize winner in ISSF’s International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Seafood Sustainability Contest.She won for her contest entry, “Incentivizing Collaborative Release to Reduce Elasmobranch Bycatch Mortality,” which proposed handling-and-release methods that purse-seine vessel skippers and crew can use to reduce the mortality of manta rays and devil rays incidentally caught during tuna fishing.
Advances in Fisheries Management Helped Redeem 2022 from its State of “Permacrisis”
Each morning’s news, in 2022, seemed designed to ratchet up the preceding day’s anxieties: Extreme weather. Political turmoil. Economic meltdowns. A triple-barreled pandemic. War. No surprise, one dictionary crowned “permacrisis” 2022’s Word of the Year.
But, setting existential dread to one side (and sadly noting 12 months of heart-wrenching human tragedy), I’ve reached a humble conclusion: 2022 brought exceptional progress for tuna fisheries and sustainability.
Thanks to hard work and collaboration among NGOs, fishery managers, scientists, members of the fishing and seafood industries and many other stakeholders, the signs of positive, long-term change were unmistakable. Three examples:
Fishery Certification Standards Evolved to Meet Changing Expectations
In October, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC ) published Version 3 of its Fisheries Standard, and it’s a major step forward. Based on today’s science and best practices, it sets criteria for proper fishery management and sustainability, while acknowledging real-world “Catch-22s” that have frustrated industry professionals.
- MSC has long discouraged shark finning. It’s widely prohibited, but compliance is hard to prove; requirements for demonstrating a vessel has not engaged in the practice were less than robust. The new standard sets a higher bar for evidence that supports a fisher’s case for certification.
- Interactions with endangered, protected or threatened (ETP) species should be avoided, and reported when they happen. New requirements consistently classify ETP species, to eliminate any ambiguity and establish firmer safeguards.
- Many tuna fleets operate in remote corners of the globe, far from land-based oversight. To ensure that catches of both target and bycatch species are adequately sampled, Standard 3.0 mandates a minimum level of independent observation in certified fisheries under the purview of Regional Fishery Management Organizations.
- Agreement on harvest strategies typically has been difficult to achieve because it requires alignment among multiple states representing their own national interests. Now RFMO-managed fisheries must deliver state-of-the-art harvest strategies, within a clear time frame, that spell out pre-agreed objectives and carry “safety-net” provisions to reduce catches if stocks begin to decline.
The Supply Chain Got Measurably More Transparent
Packagers, retailers, shoppers and diners want assurance that their seafood has been harvested with due regard for marine life and the oceans. How can the industry quell suspicions of greenwashing?
The answer, of course, is credible supply-chain transparency. With that in mind, in 2022 ISSF expanded a vessel-level transparency-boosting tool, and published an authoritative report that documents industry progress in sustainability.
The tool is Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI), a comprehensive, searchable list of vessels that operate in MSC-certified tuna fisheries or participate in tuna Fishery Improvement Projects (FIP). The VOSI also credibly identifies vessels that participate in other important voluntary projects like teaming up with scientists on FAD retrieval or biodegradable FAD tests. We’ve watched the fishing industry work hard with scientific organizations to improve fishing operations; now, with the VOSI, there’s a conspicuous platform for recognizing vessels that make the extra effort.
The publication I mentioned is our seventh annual Update to ISSF Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Report. As always, it was the result of a rigorous and impartial third-party audit of compliance with ISSF measures among ISSF-participating seafood companies.
Incidentally, the record shows that conformance with all of our science-based measures (32 at the moment) has reached 99.6 percent among our 25 participating companies. This milestone is especially notable as we consider the growing number of measures against which companies are audited, as well as the evolution of standards, which must respond to shifting industry dynamics and ever-advancing scientific knowledge.
In Fisheries Management, Science Called the Shots
Science is gaining new traction in decision-making circles. On the regulatory side, two Regional Fisheries Management Organizations made remarkable progress toward consensus on science-based harvest strategies. Meanwhile, ISSF’s scientists and partners continued to chip away at the hard problems of sustainable fishing, uncovering knowledge that will drive ever-better standards for sustainability. For example:
Just a few weeks ago, the annual meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission demonstrated the organization’s confidence in scientific harvest strategies with the adoption of new management procedures for northern albacore and skipjack tunas. Harvest strategies had been on the agenda for years, with limited progress.
Earlier in November, in another ocean, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas adopted a harvest strategy for bluefin tuna, resolving an issue that had been under discussion for years.
Why so much progress this year? Well, let’s go back to where I began: the new MSC Standard. Requirements and expectations were enhanced. Timelines were firmed up. Ramifications were clarified. Stakeholders with an interest in keeping their MSC certifications joined the loudest chorus to date in encouraging fisheries managers to move this issue forward. And they were heard.
The people behind the science had a busy year, too. In at-sea research, one ISSF team continued to study the acoustic signatures of tuna species. Their findings could enable fishers to control overfishing and bycatch by distinguishing among tropical tuna species around FADs before casting their nets.
Another seagoing project that moved ahead in 2022 involves shifting the FADs paradigm toward still-effective but biodegradable “jelly-FADs” that mimic the resilience of jellyfish while replacing plastic-heavy construction with organic materials.
Ultimately, we’re proud to be advocates for original research and fact-based, decision-making information, all calculated to lead the industry closer to the ideal of a sustainable tomorrow.
True to form, 2022 concluded with one last dose of permacrisis, capping a global round of heat waves, floods and droughts with an extreme winter storm here in North America. Despite it all, wherever you find yourself in 2023, I hope you’ll be safe, and take comfort in the enduring possibility of positive change.
Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries Managers Adopt Critically Needed Harvest Strategy and Strengthened Shark Protections
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) recently wrapped its annual meeting — its first in-person annual meeting since 2019 and one with important stakes for tuna stocks in the region. The meeting brought good outcomes for Pacific tuna fisheries, most notably the adoption of a harvest strategy (or management procedure) for skipjack tuna and stronger protections for sharks.
The ISSF position statement outlined these priority topics and others for the Commission in 2022. Here is a review of the outcomes of the WCPFC meeting against our organization’s asks.
Harvest Strategies
ISSF and partners have been consistently pressing for the accelerated adoption of harvest strategies for tunas across regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs). Harvest strategies — which include target and limit reference points together with harvest control rules — provide pre-agreed rules for managing fisheries resources, prescribing action in response to stock status changes. They are crucial for the long term, sustainable management of tuna fisheries.
The need for action at the WCPFC this year was particularly urgent. Fisheries managers had to adopt this management method to meet a 2023 Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) deadline for harvest strategy conditions. They otherwise risked running out of time to complete a requirement under the MSC Standard — specifically, introducing catch or effort constraints to ensure the harvest strategy is applied in practice.
We pressed for the adoption of comprehensive harvest strategies for Western Pacific skipjack and Northern albacore, including harvest control rules. And we are gratified that the Commission answered these appeals, especially with an adopted management procedure for skipjack. A harvest strategy for Northern albacore was also adopted. These actions show that the WCPFC has embraced harvest strategies as part of its management toolbox, which will have a positive impact on the management of other WCPO tuna stocks.
Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) Management
FAD management consistently tops ISSF’s appeals to tuna RFMOs. Without rigorous management in place, FADs can have negative impacts on the marine environment.
This year, WCPFC adopted a definition of biodegradable FADs and categories of biodegradable FADs, measures that are now consistent with those of one of its peer RFMOs, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), and help pave the way for more harmonized regulation and use of improved FAD designs across global tuna fisheries. These items led our FAD-focused asks, and we welcome their adoption.
We called for progress on other FAD management needs, too, such as the adoption of a FAD marking scheme; FAD ownership rules; rules for activation and deactivation of FAD buoys; a FAD-recovery policy and incentives; a clear transition timeline to using FADs made largely of biodegradable materials; and requiring vessels to report near-time FAD position and acoustic data. Measures on these items were not approved. But we are hopeful that the Commission’s FAD Working Group will tackle them under their updated work plan for 2023.
Protections for Sharks
Our position statement emphasized that WCPFC needs to improve efforts to mitigate bycatch of vulnerable species in purse seine and longline fisheries. Strengthened management measures for sharks are especially needed because several WCPO shark stocks are seriously depleted and the relevant WCPFC measure contained loopholes.
We are pleased that a top request in this area was adopted: the Commission will prohibit the use of branchlines of wire trace and shark lines between 20N and 20S as of January 1, 2024. This action heeds WCPFC Scientific Committee advice. It will help reduce fishing mortality on overfished oceanic whitetip and silky sharks.
At-Sea Transshipment Management
If not well-managed, transshipment at-sea can be a conduit for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fish to enter the supply chain. Fortunately, the Commission addressed a persistent gap in data collection for Pacific tuna fisheries this year: WCPFC adopted minimum standard data fields to be collected by observers during transshipment events. ISSF applauds this progress; however, much more action is needed.
We will continue to urge the transshipment working group to progress its workplan in 2023 to develop clear recommendations to reform the regulation of transshipment at-sea next year.
Electronic Monitoring (EM)
Despite good progress made, ISSF is very disappointed that the WCPFC has not made more progress to advance electronic monitoring (EM). Comprehensive observer coverage through an EM program is critical to effective fisheries management; compliance monitoring; and independent verification of catch, effort, and marine species interactions. The value of this tool became especially clear when the global pandemic limited the ability to place human observers on fishing vessels — a point ISSF and partners repeatedly highlighted in our RFMO appeals.
ISSF has been calling for the adoption of a conservation measure for an EM program and minimum standards for the use of EM in WCPO fisheries. The Commission did not agree to such measures; they must do much more to advance this critical issue in 2023.
This year’s WCPFC annual meeting was a productive one overall, with a good spirit of cooperation among parties. After two years of remote meetings forced by a global pandemic, we were grateful to meet our colleagues in person again. We are hopeful that this collaborative approach continues into 2023 as we continue our work for the sustainable use of the world’s largest tuna fishing grounds and protections for the broader marine ecosystem.
Seafood Industry Leader Tony Lazazzara of Thai Union to Chair Board of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF)
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) today announced Tony Lazazzara of Thai Union Group as Chair of its Board of Directors. Mr. Lazazzara is Director of Group Fish Procurement for Thai Union Group. He succeeds Kevin Bixler, formerly of Thai Union, in the role, upon Mr. Bixler’s move to Peter Pan Seafood.
“I am thankful for Kevin Bixler’s guidance over the last year as ISSF Board Chair, and I wish Kevin all the best in his new position as CEO at Peter Pan,” said Susan Jackson, President, ISSF.
“I am excited to welcome Tony Lazazzara as our new Chair. Tony’s deep industry knowledge and can-do attitude are an ideal match for ISSF’s practical approach to improving the sustainability of global tuna fisheries,” she continued. “We are fortunate to have a tenured and well-respected industry leader at our helm. I look forward to working with him.”
“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of my colleague Mr. Bixler,” said Mr. Lazazzara. “I hope to make this transition as smooth as possible, while ensuring continued progress and expanding new efforts towards sustainability for tuna fisheries and the marine ecosystem. I am excited to continue working with leaders in the seafood sustainability space, and I am eager to see what we can achieve together.”
ISSF welcomes Tony Lazazzara, Thai Union Group, as our new Board chair and Dr. Andre Boustany, Monterey Bay Aquarium, to the Environmental Stakeholder Committee. @thaiuniongroup @MontereyAq Share on XOn the ISSF Board, Mr. Lazazzara joins a diverse and global group of leaders from non-governmental organizations, marine science, government agencies, and the seafood industry. In addition to fiduciary and governance responsibilities, ISSF Board members advance the mission of the Foundation, including through the adoption of ISSF conservation measures, to which ISSF participating companies commit to conform.
“In addition to welcoming our new Chair, I’d also like to recognize the contributions of longtime ISSF Board member John Connelly upon his passing,” added Ms. Jackson. “As president of the National Fisheries Institute, John was an early and enthusiastic supporter of our organization. We miss John and his leadership, and we send our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues.”
Other ISSF Board members are:
- Dr. Transform Aqorau, Pacific Fisheries Expert and former CEO, Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA)
- Dr. Rohan Currey, Chief Science and Standards Officer, Marine Stewardship Council
- Dr. Giuseppe Di Carlo, Lead Conservationist, WWF-International
- William Gibbons-Fly, Executive Director, American Tunaboat Association (ATA)
- Javier Garat, Secretary General, Cepesca
- Bill Holden, Chair, ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee, Senior Tuna Fisheries Outreach Manager, Marine Stewardship Council
- Susan Jackson, President, ISSF
- Ichiro Nomura, Fisheries Policy Advisor, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Republic of Indonesia
- Dr. Victor Restrepo, Vice President, Science, ISSF
- Dr. Martin Tsamenyi, Professor of Law & Former Director of the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Australia
New ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee (ESC) Member
ISSF also announced a new addition to its Environmental Stakeholder Committee (ESC). Andre Boustany, Principal Investigator of Global Ocean Conservation at Monterey Bay Aquarium, joins the Committee, replacing Jennifer Dianto-Kemmerly, Vice President, Global Ocean Initiatives, Monterey Bay Aquarium.
“We are thankful for Ms. Dianto-Kemmerly’s expertise and know that we are in good hands as Dr. Boustany joins the Environmental Stakeholders Committee,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson.“We welcome the continued contributions of the Monterey Bay Aquarium as an invaluable partner in our work toward sustainable fisheries.”
The ESC comprises expert representatives from various conservation organizations who volunteer to share their expertise. The ESC, much like ISSF’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), provides advice to the ISSF Board of Directors on issues to consider before taking action on specific sustainability efforts, including the adoption of ISSF conservation measures.
Other ESC members are:
- Sonja Fordham, Founder, Shark Advocates International
- Ben Gilmer, Associate Director of Corporate Engagement and Strategic Initiatives, The Nature Conservancy
- Bill Holden, Chair, ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee | Senior Tuna Fisheries Outreach Manager, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
- Sara Lewis, Traceability Division Director, FishWise
- Dr. Vishwanie Maharaj, Lead, Tunas and Other Multilateral Fisheries, World Wildlife Fund-US
- Dr. Alexia Morgan, Science Lead, Tuna and Large Pelagic Species, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP)
- Dr. Tom Pickerell, Executive Director, Global Tuna Alliance
About Tony Lazazzara
Mr. Lazazzara is Thai Union Group Director, Global Fish Procurement, and has more than 30 years’ experience in the seafood sector. He began his career with Palmera in Italy, followed by the U.S.-based StarKist. In 1997, he joined Heinz European Seafood. Today, he is part of the Thai Union team. Over the years, Mr. Lazazzara has held diverse roles in Supply Chain. His experience includes: General Manager Indian Ocean Tuna (IOT – Seychelles), General Manager European Facilities in Portugal and France and MW Brands Supply Chain Director prior to the company’s acquisition by Thai Union.
About Andre Boustany
Dr. Boustany is the Principal Investigator of Global Ocean Conservation at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Before coming to the Aquarium, Boustany was a research scientist at Duke University, where he studied pelagic fish and fisheries, looking at ways to improve stock assessments, reduce bycatch, and improve fisheries management. He also serves on several advisory committees, advising federal fisheries regulators on domestic and international management of pelagic fisheries. Dr. Boustany is also an active participant in the NGO Tuna Forum. Dr. Boustany earned a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Cornell University.
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Urges Action on Harvest Strategies for Pacific Tuna Stocks
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has issued its position statement for consideration by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) ahead of its 19th regular session from November 27 to December 3, 2022 in Da Nang, Vietnam. ISSF leads its position statement with the urgent call for the adoption of harvest strategies for certain tuna stocks.
Harvest strategies — which include target and limit reference points together with harvest control rules — provide pre-agreed rules for managing fisheries resources allowing quick action in response to stock status changes. They are crucial for the long term, sustainable management of tuna fisheries. Further, fisheries managers in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) need to adopt this important management method to meet a 2023 Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) deadline for harvest strategy conditions. WCPFC otherwise risks running out of time to complete a new requirement under the MSC standard — specifically, introducing catch or effort constraints to ensure the harvest strategy is applied in practice.
Harvest strategies for skipjack and albacore tuna stocks, and interim target reference points for yellowfin and bigeye, are among our top priorities for WCPFC at its annual meeting beginning Nov. 27. Share on X“WCPFC once led the way on harvest strategies. Today it is falling behind other regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and is now the only tuna RFMO without a harvest strategy in place,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “WCPFC member countries must urgently adopt harvest strategies for Western Pacific skipjack and Northern albacore tuna and accelerate the adoption of one for South Pacific albacore next year. Harvest strategies are the best way to protect tuna fisheries and help sustain the ecosystem and economies that rely on them.”
ISSF is specifically asking WCPFC to:
- Adopt comprehensive harvest strategies for Western Pacific skipjack and Northern albacore, including harvest control rules
- Accelerate the development of a harvest strategy for South Pacific albacore that will consider the entire South Pacific stock in the operating models
In addition to harvest strategies, the ISSF position statement outlines further science-based “asks” of the Commission, including:
- Adopting interim target reference points (TRPs) for yellowfin and bigeye tuna
- Adopting a definition of biodegradable FADs and categories of biodegradable FADs this year. And by 2023, adopting a FAD marking scheme; FAD ownership rules; rules for activation and deactivation of FAD buoys; a FAD-recovery policy and incentives; a clear transition timeline to using FADs made largely of biodegradable materials; and requiring vessels to report near-time FAD position and acoustic data.
- Adopting a measure for an electronic monitoring (EM) program and minimum standards for the use of EM by 2023
- Adopting minimum standard data fields to be collected by observers during transshipment events
- Requiring that all sharks be landed with fins naturally attached — without exceptions — and prohibiting the use of branchlines of wire trace and shark lines
The full ISSF WCFPC position statement can be read here.
Verifying Sustainability Commitments in the Global Seafood Supply Chain
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 President Susan Jackson sat down with MRAG Americas Vice President Dr. Graeme Parkes to discuss the ISSF audit and compliance process.
SSJ: How long has MRAG Americas audited ISSF participating companies’ operations, and what is the value of this continuous engagement?
GP: We have been providing auditing services to ISSF since 2012, starting with the vessels on the PVR and adding the participating companies’ activities in 2014. This continuous engagement has provided a high level of consistency and stability, without which reliable tracking of progress over time of the program and participants’ grading would be highly challenging. The longevity of the program and resulting uniformity in methodology and implementation have provided enhanced credibility to the auditing process and outcomes.
SSJ: Why is an independent audit an important part of the ISSF audit and compliance process? What is the value of a third-party audit rather than ISSF performing this function internally?
GP: Independent auditing adds value to the ISSF compliance process in several important ways. First and foremost, it adds credibility in a way that an internal audit cannot. Participants and other stakeholders need to have confidence that conformance with ISSF conservation measures is being assessed accurately and consistently. Of course, this can be done internally, but an external, independent process undertaken by a qualified provider with an established track record in rigorous conformity assessment provides a highly visible level of integrity and reliability.
Additionally, our many years of experience in fisheries and supply chain auditing enables ISSF to understand the auditing implications of new conservation measures at an early stage, helping them to grow the program as effectively and efficiently as possible.
SSJ: From the auditor’s perspective, what are the challenges of auditing seafood companies on multiple measures? Can you explain how MRAG audits a particular commitment?
GP: The auditing challenges arise in part from the number and range of ISSF conservation measures, but also the variety of ISSF participating companies’ sourcing practices. The sourcing of tunas by the companies covers a broad range of species, gear types, geographic regions, and hence RFMO jurisdictions.
Among other things, the audit team needs to be familiar with the differing requirements for fishing licenses, transshipment declarations, captain statements and catch certificates to assess accurately the validity of the documents presented as evidence of conformance. We spend significant time and effort on maintaining audit program consistency. This requires multiple levels of scrutiny by the whole audit team, including reviews of prior audit reports, to ensure uniformity in grading of compliance within and between years. The resulting stability in audit outcomes has helped companies to understand the evidence requirements for audits, that information requests for auditing are fair, and that the program is equitable for all participants.
Traceability audits are a good example to consider. The traceability exercises demonstrate a participating company’s ability to trace its products from can code or sales invoice back to a vessel and trip, enabling our audit to assess its conformance along the supply chain. The auditor reviews recent mock recalls, if available, and selects a sample of can codes or sales invoices by label and destination from which the company will conduct traceability exercises. The traceability exercises also enable the auditor to cross-reference evidence provided in connection with other conservation measures.
SSJ: We hear a lot about “transparency” in the fishing industry today. What does this mean in practice for a process like the ISSF one?
GP: Transparency is essential to explain how the audits are undertaken and what they show about individual company conformance with the conservation measures. This is why the audit protocols and participating company annual audit reports are publicly available. However, this transparency must be applied with forethought and foresight; it cannot extend to all levels of the program. With much of the detailed information provided for audits being confidential and commercially sensitive, participating companies must have confidence and trust in the independent auditor. They must be assured that while the results of their audit will be made public, irrespective of the audit findings, their proprietary information used in the assessment of conformance remains protected and confidentiality is not compromised.
SSJ: How do insights and findings from audits inform ISSF conservation measures — expanding existing measures, for example, or suggesting a need for additional measures?
GP: Our experience from auditing the ISSF program, and other independent auditing activities, enables us to counsel ISSF regarding the auditability of proposed new conservation measures and amendments to existing ones. However, as independent auditors, we do not advise ISSF on the need for these measures – this is up to the organization itself.
SSJ: Is auditing like this common with sustainable fishing commitments, or is there something unique or important about the ISSF-MRAG model?
GP: The types of conservation measures agreed by ISSF are not unique; they overlap with some of the key requirements of other fisheries sustainability initiatives. But the combination of ISSF’s approach to establishing participating companies’ sustainability commitments with MRAG Americas’ independent conformance assessment using a comprehensive series of audit protocols is ground-breaking.
ISSF is a cross-sector organization that draws on state-of-the-art environmental and scientific expertise to develop conservation measures with which participating companies commit to conform. The sustainability commitments of these companies are consequently meaningful, transparent, and enduring, and there is a high level of cooperation with the independent auditing procedures established by MRAG Americas.
If companies receive non-conformances during their audits, they know there are real consequences, and they are quick to remedy their practices to ensure these non-conformances are mitigated and not repeated. The results have been, and continue to be, transformational in the sustainability performance of the canned tuna supply chain and have the potential to make similarly far-reaching advancements in other seafood sectors.