Fact Checking Six Ideas About Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs)
ISSF fact checks misconceptions on fish aggregating devices (FADs).
Author: svanouse
RESOURCE ROUNDUP: Public Vessel Lists & Transparency in Tuna Fishing
Featured Content
ISSF’s Public Vessel Lists
The ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) is one of four public vessel lists that ISSF provides to foster transparency in tuna fishing. Vessels that join the PVR commit to provide regular, accurate information about specific activities. This information is displayed publicly in the PVR, which shows facts about each vessel, and based on independent audit results, if the vessel is following best practices for sustainable fishing, such as having a shark-finning prohibition policy and using non-entangling FADs.
ISSF developed “Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI)” as a first-of-its-kind searchable, online list of vessels worldwide that are fishing in a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified tuna fishery and/or participating in a tuna Fishery Improvement Project (FIP).
“Fishing vessels are on the front lines of our collective work toward sustainable fisheries,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “Our newest vessel list, which requires participating vessels to go through a third-party auditing process, offers more verified transparency when it comes to FIPs and vessels in MSC-certified fisheries. Giving the public more information via the VOSI helps to recognize those vessels that are part of the sustainability solution.”
In addition to the PVR and VOSI, ISSF offers two other public, global, and searchable vessel lists: the Record of Large-Scale Purse Seine Vessels (LSPSR) and Tuna Vessel IMOs and Other UVI Numbers (IMO/UVI)
Featured Graphics
PVR Growth by Vessel Type
An infographic shows how the PVR has grown from its inception in 2012 through 2021, both in number and type of vessel (handline, longline, pole & line, purse seine, supply & tender).
Snapshot of the Large-Scale Purse-Seine Fleet
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.
ICYMI: Latest ISSF Conservation Measures & Commitments Report Shows 100% Conformance
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ISSF Participating Companies Achieve Full Compliance with 30 Science-Based ISSF Conservation Measures
ISSF released its sixth annual Update to ISSF Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Report in November 2021, and it shows a conformance rate of 100 percent by ISSF participating companies with all 30 ISSF conservation measures in effect. Following the remediation period, all 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.
“Since we began our compliance and audit process for ISSF participating companies in 2015, we’ve seen the conformance rate improve nearly every year,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “We are especially proud to see consistently strong compliance from these 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.”
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Our Audit Process
As part of their commitment to improve the sustainability of tuna fisheries, ISSF participating companies agree to be audited annually on their conformance with ISSF conservation measures.
Featured Graphic
Aggregate Company Compliance Over Time
Our “Change Over Time” graphic tracks the percentage of ISSF participating companies that are in conformance, minor non-conformance, or major non-conformance with ISSF conservation measures. This graphic tracks compliance based on data published in the Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Reports.
ISSF in the News
122 Organizations Transforming Food Systems in 2022
Foodtank
Area-based management of blue water fisheries: Current knowledge and research needs
Fish and Fisheries
Multiple Pacific tuna fisheries face certification loss by 2023, MSC warns
Undercurrent News
The Year in Tuna Fisheries Management; 2021 RFMO Outcomes
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Reviewing RFMO Outcomes in 2021
At the start of the year, ISSF President Susan Jackson issued a call-to-action to the world’s tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs):
“RFMOs, tuna managers, scientists, and other stakeholders begin 2021 with almost one year of virtual information-sharing and decision-making experience under our belts. We can meet virtually without settling for minimum action — and stalling sustainability progress. In 2021, RFMOs must do better.”
How did RFMOs answer this appeal — one shared by many global stakeholders? Here we present a roundup of ISSF responses to the year’s meetings, including a special session the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) held this month.
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
Pacific Ocean Fisheries Managers Take Important Steps on FAD Management, But Delay Needed Action on Harvest Strategies to 2022
Read more
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
ISSF Assesses ICCAT Annual Meeting: Extended Tropical Tuna Measure and Progress on Electronic Monitoring Among Positive Meeting Outcomes
Read more
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC)
Progress for Eastern Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries: Protections, Monitoring for Tuna Stocks and Improved FAD Management
Read more
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
Minimal Progress for the Protection of Indian Ocean Tuna Stocks
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Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
FAD Management for Indian Ocean Tuna Fisheries; ISSF Response to IOTC Session
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Mixed Results at WCPFC
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Pacific Ocean fisheries managers take important steps on FAD management, but delay needed action on harvest strategies to 2022
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. Here is a summary of both the hits and the misses at the conclusion of the meeting.
Featured Reports
From Minimum Standards for Inspector Training to Advance Notice of Port Entry, Report Identifies IUU-Mitigation Gaps and Opportunities
ISSF’s report ISSF 2021-09: Port State Measures in Tuna RFMOs: Benchmarking RFMO Port State Measures Against the 2009 FAO PSMA and Identifying Gaps evaluates how well the port-State measures established by tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) follow an overarching international standard enacted to deter illegal, unreported, and unreported (IUU) fishing.
Tuna RFMO Compliance Assessment Processes: A Comparative Analysis to Identify Best Practices
Each tuna regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) has an annual mechanism to monitor and assess the compliance of members, and in some cases cooperating non-members (CNMs), with their obligations under the RFMO convention and its conservation and management measures.
This technical report — updated in April 2021 — examines each of these tuna RFMO compliance mechanisms with respect to the range of obligations and commitments that are assessed, the current operational conditions of each compliance assessment process, what tools are available to respond to instances of non-compliance, and the public availability of information about the level of compliance of RFMO members or CNMs and their actions to address areas of identified non-compliance.
ISSF in the News
Area-based management of blue water fisheries: Current knowledge and research needs
Fish and Fisheries
IOTC fails to resolve vote dispute, again
Seafood Source
Pacific Ocean Fisheries Managers Take Important Steps on FAD Management, But Delay Needed Action on Harvest Strategies to 2022
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.
FAD Management for Indian Ocean Tuna Fisheries; ISSF Response to IOTC Session
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ISSF Disappointed by Lack of Agreement on FAD Management at Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
“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.”
Featured Content
ICYMI: 87.7% of Global Tuna Catch Comes from Stocks at Healthy Levels
Of the total commercial tuna catch worldwide, 87.7% of the global catch comes from stocks at “healthy” levels of abundance, according to the latest 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.
ISSF publishes its signature Status of the Stocks report twice each year using the most current scientific data on 23 major commercial tuna stocks.
ISSF in the News
ISSF’s Susan Jackson: Tuna stock-rebuilding efforts are working
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ISSF content with ICCAT outcomes, while Europeche left frustrated
Undercurrent News
WCPFC faces test as expiration date nears for tropical tuna measure
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ISSF tuna companies achieve full compliance with conservation measures
Undercurrent News
ISSF Disappointed by Lack of Agreement on FAD Management at Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
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
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.
WCPFC Position Statement
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.”
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.
Read the full WCPFC Position Statement