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Newest ISSF Participating Tuna Company Compliance Report Shows 99.6 Percent Conformance with ISSF Conservation Measures

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has released its seventh annual Update to ISSF Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Report, which shows a conformance rate of 99.6 percent by 25 ISSF participating companies with all 32 ISSF conservation measures in effect. Following the remediation period, 22 of 25 companies were fully compliant with 32 measures audited; one major non-conformance in the April 2022 report was upgraded to a minor non-conformance.  

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.

Our updated compliance report shows a conformance rate of 99.6% by 25 ISSF participating companies with all 32 ISSF conservation measures in effect. Click To Tweet

“The transparent and independent auditing process these companies volunteer to undergo builds a foundation of accountability that makes our conservation measures effective and helps to hold other industry players to high standards,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “ISSF participating companies make sustainability a part of their business operations by individually committing to conservation measures, accelerating continuous improvement for the world’s tuna fisheries.”

Two measures were newly in effect for the 2021 audit period, and all 25 companies were in full conformance with them:

Details of the Updated Report

The November 2022 report is based on updates to the initial annual audit results published in April 2022, which showed one company had one major non-conformances with conservation measures in the prior year and two companies 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 2020: 99.1% November 2020: 99.4%
April 2021: 99.4% November 2021: 100%
April 2022: 99.6% November 2022: 99.6%

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

 

ISSF Urges ICCAT to Improve Tuna Stock Protections and Strengthen FAD Management

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 November 14-21, 2022. ISSF is advocating for action to ensure that bigeye and yellowfin tuna stocks are maintained at sustainable levels.

ISSF also is pushing for expanded FAD management measures, adoption of harvest strategies for western and eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna, stronger management and mitigation measures for sharks, and the development of standards for electronic monitoring and reporting to support more comprehensive observer coverage for Atlantic tuna fisheries.

Find out what we're asking #ICCAT to accomplish for #Atlantic fisheries — from reducing #bigeye and #yellowfin #tuna catches to requiring 100% observer coverage — at its upcoming annual meeting. Click To Tweet

“Many of the issues ISSF raised for ICCAT at this time last year have yet to be fully addressed. For example, catches of bigeye and yellowfin tuna have substantially exceeded total allowable catches (TACs) for years. And because there were no full allocations by fishing gear or by flag State, those members with over-catches could not always be identified,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “This situation must be addressed.”

“In addition, the incomplete submission of required FAD data has persisted since 2014, hindering needed scientific analyses for the development of limits on FAD sets or deployments. The failure to provide these data is unacceptable, and ICCAT must take corrective action. Finally, the development of harvest strategies for all tropical tunas must be accelerated.”  

ISSF Top Priorities for ICCAT 

ICCAT’s 23rd annual meeting has a “hybrid” format for participants and will be conducted both virtually and in person in Vale do Lobo, Portugal. 

In its October 20, 2022, position statement, which can be downloaded in English, French, and Spanish, ISSF shared these leading recommendations with ICCAT:

  • Adopt catch limits that allow bigeye and yellowfin tuna stocks to remain at sustainable levels, and ensure that catches are maintained within the Total Allowable Catches (TACs)
  • Adopt in 2022 a timeframe to transition to FADs without nets and made primarily with biodegradable materials; develop FAD recovery policies, marking scheme and ownership rules; and require FAD position and acoustic data for scientific use.
  • Adopt harvest strategies for bluefin tuna in 2022 and accelerate the development of harvest strategies for all tropical tuna stocks in 2023
  • Adopt minimum standards for electronic monitoring by 2023. Require 100% observer coverage (human and/or electronic) for all major ICCAT fisheries, and all vessels engaged in at-sea transshipment by 2024
  • Request that the Compliance Committee address non-compliance with FAD data reporting requirements and develop audit points for ICCAT measures

NEW WEB FEATURE: Acoustic Discrimination

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured Content

ISSF scientists are exploring innovative ways to use acoustic equipment at sea as a tool to prevent overfishing — and reduce bycatch — in purse-seine tuna fisheries.

We are studying how echosounder buoys near fish aggregating devices (FADs) can detect the distinctive “sound signatures” of different tuna species — and transmit that information to vessels before fishers travel to a FAD to make a set. If fishers can harness acoustic technology to “preemptively” estimate the type and amount of fish gathered at a particular FAD, they can choose to fish only on FADs with higher proportions of tuna species for which stocks are in healthy condition — and avoid those that have attracted larger groups of non-target species.

We’ve created a new Web feature story — with animated illustrations and photos of ISSF research projects — showing how fishers can use acoustic technology to better identify species at FADs, and fish more sustainably.

View the story

 

ICYMI: ICCAT Position Statement

ISSF has issued its position statement ahead of annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which will be held November 14-21.

Our statement compiles our sustainable-fishing asks for ICCAT, including detailed recommendations for policy and management changes in tuna conservation; fish aggregating devices (FADs); harvest strategies; bycatch and sharks; monitoring, control, and surveillance; compliance; and capacity management.

Download the ICCAT position statement in English, French, and Spanish.

 

Peer Reviewed Articles

Investigating trends in process error as a diagnostic for integrated fisheries stock assessments

Fisheries Research

 

2022 ICCAT Position Statement | “Grey Matter” Podcast with ISSF President Susan Jackson

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured News

ISSF has issued its position statement to inform discussion and decision-making at the 23rd annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which will be held Nov. 14-21.

ISSF’s statement compiles our sustainable-fishing asks for ICCAT. It includes detailed recommendations for policy and management changes in tuna conservation, fish aggregating devices (FADs); harvest strategies; bycatch and sharks; monitoring, control, and surveillance; compliance; and capacity management.

One of four tropical-tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMO), ICCAT is an inter-governmental fishery organization responsible for the conservation of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas.

Download the ICCAT position statement in English, French, and Spanish.

Read the position statement

 

Featured Content

On a new episode of “Grey Matter with Michael Krasny,” ISSF President Susan Jackson reflects on unique and urgent issues in managing tuna fisheries worldwide — from flag-state oversight and vessel reporting to bycatch mitigation — and shares how ISSF works to ensure greater sustainability.

The “Grey Matter” podcast series, which launched earlier this year, features “in-depth interviews with leading newsmakers, scholars, authors and intellectuals in conversation.”

Listen to the podcast

 

Featured Resource

See how ICCAT and other tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are performing against documented best practices in tuna fishery management.

Through our RFMO Best Practices Snapshot series — covering Transshipment, FAD Management, and other topics — we identify best practices that RFMOs should follow to manage tuna fisheries sustainably. In detailed tables, the snapshots compare tuna RFMOs’ progress in implementing the practices.

Read the snapshots

 

 

Meet Our Participating Companies

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured Content

ISSF believes it’s important to work with all stakeholders — and tuna processors, traders, and/or marketers are integral to improving the sustainability of the world’s tuna resources.

Seafood companies worldwide are invited to participate in ISSF’s efforts to foster sustainable tuna fishing and sourcing practices. All companies work with the Foundation to advocate for improved fishery management, fund scientific advancements through research and expert analysis, and take direct action to encourage the adoption of responsible fishing practices – all while committing to a suite of conservation measures aimed at improving the long-term health of global tuna fisheries.

Meet the companies

  

Featured Resource

ISSF produces videos to highlight our organization’s people, programs, and events. Browse the videos on the ISSF website and on ISSF’s Tuna Sustainability YouTube channel, including playlists on bycatch mitigation, skippers workshops, scientist interviews, and the ISSF story.

Peruse or search to learn about ISSF’s latest research projects and findings, fishing policy outreach, partnerships, publications, and team news.

Tune in

  

ICYMI 

ISSF is helping to improve tuna transshipment policies, practices, monitoring, and compliance — through our conservation measures for seafood companies and vessels, best practices research, RFMO benchmarking analysis, and advocacy outreach.

A new web feature on the ISSF site provides an overview of at-sea transshipment in tuna fisheries, why oversight is essential for sustainable fisheries, and the steps stakeholders can take to push for better oversight of tuna transshipment. A list of ISSF resources is also included.

View the feature

 

 

 

 

NEW WEB FEATURE: At-Sea Transshipment Oversight Is Essential for Sustainability in Tuna Fisheries

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured Content

Tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) regulate transshipment in their regions. With some exceptions, purse seiners are required to transship in port. Other gears, such as longline, may engage in transshipment at sea under certain regulatory conditions. Tuna RFMOs also mandate observer coverage and require the submission of transshipment data.

But gaps persist — particularly in the regulation of at-sea transshipment, including the types of data collected, the level of monitoring, and data-reporting recipients and timelines. These gaps can increase the likelihood of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities that undermine fisheries management.

ISSF is helping to improve tuna transshipment policies, practices, monitoring, and compliance — through our conservation measures for seafood companies and vessels, best practices research, RFMO benchmarking analysis, and advocacy outreach.

View the new web feature

 

Featured Graphics

ISSF has benchmarked the transshipment measures established by the four tropical-tuna RFMOs — the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) — to 10 best-practice recommendations.

Download the graphic

All About Tuna Vessels | Transparent Accountability in Tuna Fishing

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured Resources

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, accurate 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 reflected on the PVR.

Search VOSI

 

Featured Content

All fishing methods have advantages.  And all can be improved.  That’s our focus.

Commercial fishers use five primary methods, or fishing gear types, for catching tuna. The purse seine method is most common, accounting for about two-thirds of tuna caught globally every year. Each method has advantages as well as areas of concern.

Read about tuna fishing methods

 

Featured Graphics

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 indicates how the PVR helps to provide transparency of the fleet’s fishing activities, including changes in fish hold volume.

Download

ICYMI: Updated ISSF Conservation Measures | Evolving Measures for Sharks, Turtles, Birds + FAD Management

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured Content

Updated ISSF Conservation Measures

For long-term tuna fisheries 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.

This year, ISSF announced updates to several conservation measures that impact tuna fishing vessel practices. ISSF President Susan Jackson said: “ISSF continuously evolves our science-based conservation measures that guide seafood companies and tuna fishers to more sustainable practices. The ISSF Board of Directors has adopted changes to three vessel-focused measures that serve to deepen each measure’s impact.

“First, in additionally requiring proof of implementation rather than proof of policy alone for measures on protections for non-target species and shark finning prevention. And second, in making our conservation measure on FAD management policies more robust with the addition of data-reporting provisions.”

Learn more about the updates

 

Featured Blog

New Recommendations for International Fisheries Bodies Should Boost Compliance with Rules

Regional management organizations and their member countries can do more to reduce illegal fishing and improve transparency.

Read the blog on the Pew Charitable Trusts website

  

Featured Graphic

A 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.

View the table

 

 

Science-Based Recommendations to RFMOs

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured Content

Science-Based Recommendations to RFMOs

ISSF and its partners cooperate with and support Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), and we vigorously advocate to RFMO members for the adoption and implementation of science-based management measures so that tuna stocks and their ecosystems are managed comprehensively and sustainably.

Our advocacy priorities include:

  • Implementation of rigorous harvest strategies, including harvest control rules and reference points
  • Effective management of fleet capacity, including establishing mechanisms that support developing coastal state engagement in the fishery
  • Science-based FAD management measures, requiring the use of both non-entangling FAD designs and biodegradable materials, and adopting FAD marking guidelines and tracking and recovery policies
  • Strengthened RFMO member compliance processes, including greater transparency in these processes to ensure full compliance with all adopted measures
  • Strengthened MCS measures, including tightening the regulation of at-sea transshipment; reforming vessel monitoring systems; increasing observer coverage on fishing vessels and carriers; and adopting port State measures
  • Adoption of best-practice bycatch mitigation for sea turtles, sharks and rays, seabirds, and effective shark conservation and management measures

Learn more

 

Featured Report

RFMO Best Practices Snapshot: Transshipment Regulation

Our “snapshots” identify best practices that RFMOs should follow to manage tuna fisheries sustainably. In detailed tables, the snapshots compare tuna RFMO progress in implementing the practices.

This snapshot identifies best practices in tuna RFMO transshipment regulations, and then shows each RFMO’s progress in implementing those practices. You can also review a related report, ISSF 2022-10: Transshipment: Strengthening Tuna RFMO Transshipment Regulations*.

View the snapshot

 

Featured Graphic

Our “RFMO Progress” infographic series conveys how “cumulative wins” for key issues in sustainable fishing have increased over time across WCPFC, ICCAT, IATC, and IOTC.

Updated in January 2022, this infographic shows the number of tuna RFMO actions from 2013-2021 related to Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) that aligned with ISSF’s advocacy recommendations.

View the graphic

 

Preventing IUU Fishing in Tuna Fisheries | Tuna RFMO Best Practice Snapshots

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured Content

RFMO Best Practice Snapshots — IUU Vessel Listing & Transshipment Regulation

Our “snapshots” identify best practices that Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) should follow to manage tuna fisheries sustainably. In detailed tables, the snapshots compare tuna RFMO progress in implementing the practices. We also publish companion “best-practices reports” on these topics. Here we highlight two snapshots that address the topic of Illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing activities at sea.

IUU fishing poses a considerable threat to the sustainability of global fisheries resources. It contributes to overexploitation, impedes the recovery of fish stocks and ecosystems, deprives coastal States of the benefits of the fisheries resources over which they have jurisdiction, and undermines the economic viability of legal fishing operations. RFMO IUU vessel lists are designed to identify those vessels that operate outside of the international legal framework and undermine conservation and management measures and then to sanction them by depriving access to ports and markets, thus removing their ability to profit from IUU activities.

Read the IUU snapshot

 

The transfer of tuna at sea, without effective monitoring and data collection, undermines tuna sustainability. Unregulated, or poorly regulated, transshipment compromises the accuracy of RFMO stock assessments, provides a loophole for IUU activities and fish to enter the supply chain, and disrupts traceability and supply chain integrity. When comprehensively regulated and monitored, transshipment management measures will support rigorous traceability and help to combat IUU fishing and to prevent IUU fish from entering the supply chain. In addition, lawful transshipment can allow fishing vessels to remain at sea longer, thereby increasing their efficiency, because they no longer have to travel to port to offload their catch.

Read the transshipment snapshot

 

Featured Graphic

An infographic describes the negative impact of IUU fishing activities and explains what ISSF does to help combat it.

Download the infographic

 

ISSF in the News 

ISSF reports 86.4 percent of tuna catches coming from healthy stocks 

SeafoodSource