COVID-19 blindsided everyone in 2020. Yet crisis can galvanize people and institutions to rise to meet challenges and be their “best selves.” In important ways, the global catastrophe of COVID-19 has indeed spurred information-sharing, problem-solving, and other essential collaboration across borders and oceans. In that…
Last month, ISSF and its partners appealed to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) to, at a minimum, act to ensure its current measures on tuna conservation and management do not lapse and stay in place for 2021. ISSF outlined its science-based recommendations to IATTC…
Despite COVID-19 Challenges, ICCAT, IATTC and WCPFC Must Take Action to Ensure Continued Management of Tuna Stocks and Ocean Ecosystems
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has published its position statements in advance of three regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) meetings this fall: the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Annual Meeting, which is being conducted by correspondence; the Inter-American Tropical Tuna…
Many Points on the Horizon Are Looking Much Brighter, But Regulators, Industry Remain Adrift in Challenging Seas.
One of the biggest fish in Silicon Valley, Elon Musk, stirs up turbulence with just about everything he says. But, as I reviewed 2019’s record of progress in tuna sustainability, one of his comments came back to me, calm and clear. “I’m learning patience,” he…
But Commission Fails to Act on Transshipment Regulations, Turtles, and Sharks
After a week of intense negotiations, 800 participants took decisive action at the close of this year’s meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The Commission made important progress by acting to protect the region’s overfished bigeye tuna stock and…
Nearly 30 Seafood Companies to Commit to Purchase Only from Vessels Following Best Practices for FAD Management
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) today announced the adoption of a new conservation measure requiring that fishing vessels have publicly available fish aggregation device (FAD) management policies to comply with ISSF supply-chain recommendations for marine ecosystem health. These policies must be in line with…
ISSF Priorities for this Year’s Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
In the Atlantic Ocean region, managers will soon have the opportunity to improve the sustainability of their tropical tuna fisheries. And given the inaction at last year’s meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), this year’s to-do list is especially…
ISSF’s new Guide to Non-entangling and Biodegradable FADs supports the conservation work of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
ISSF’s new Guide to Non-entangling and Biodegradable FADs equips the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) with scientific research to back stronger sustainability measures for FAD fishers in its region. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) oversees the long-term conservation of highly…
Updated Best-Practices Illustrated Manual Offers Practical, Science-based Guidance on Building Biodegradable FADs
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has published a best-practices guide — based on years of ISSF scientific research and fleet collaboration worldwide, including at skippers workshops — to help tuna fishers accelerate their use of fish aggregating device (FAD) designs with the least possible…
A Recap of the 2019 IATTC Annual Meeting
The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) recently concluded its 94th Annual Meeting in Bilbao. And while the Commission took some positive steps in line with the science-based asks made by ISSF and WWF, overall, little progress was made. Before we detail this lack of progress,…