Skip to main content

Author: svanouse

Priorities for EPO Tuna Fisheries

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Position Statement

ICYMI: Action Needed to Protect Eastern Pacific Ocean Tuna Stocks

The August 2021 Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) annual meeting yielded few positive results in advancing the Commission’s agenda to protect bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack tuna stocks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

ISSF issued a position statement before the meeting calling for the adoption of a precautionary and science-based new version of the current inadequate IATTC conservation measure. And ISSF President Susan Jackson noted, “Decisive action on these items in August will clear the way for an October agenda that is set up for progress on other pressing topics like harvest strategies and monitoring, control, and surveillance. The added fall IATTC meeting must be viewed as further opportunity to adopt all much-needed measures before the end of the year—rather than a reason to delay decision-making at the August meeting.”

Unfortunately, the IATTC was unable to reach a consensus on a tuna conservation measure, delaying this critical goal until part two of its annual meeting next week. ISSF is therefore urging all IATTC parties to come to the first day of the meeting ready to adopt a new tropical tuna measure — allowing adequate time to address the other critical matters before the Commission this year.  

Read the ISSF IATTC position statement

Featured Content

Questions and Answers About FADs & Bycatch

How does the bycatch of non-target species in purse seine fisheries compare to other major global fisheries?

Do sets on FADs and other fishing methods catch juvenile tunas? What are their impacts?

These questions are examples of the many timely inquiries addressed in a newly revised ISSF technical report, Questions and Answers About FADs and Bycatch, co-authored by ISSF scientists Hilario Murua, Ana Justel-Rubio, Gala Moreno and Victor Restrepo, as well as marine scientist Laurent Dagorn. Illustrated throughout with charts and graphics, the report has been updated to reflect the latest tuna fisheries data.

Read the report 

A related blog by Dr. Victor Restrepo, Reviewing Progress on the Path to Better Designed, Better Managed FADs, reviews the efforts of ISSF, together with research, NGO, and industry partners, to ensure that FAD fisheries are sustainable for the long term.

Read the blog

Featured Graphic

Bycatch Rates by Ocean & Set Type

An infographic shows bycatch rates for both free school sets and FAD sets in tuna purse-seine fisheries in four ocean regions over a 10-year period. It’s based on presentation data shared at the International Workshop on Mitigating Environmental Impacts of Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fisheries co-presented by ISSF and the Common Oceans ABNJ Tuna Project. 

View the graphic

 

 

Updated Status of the Stocks

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured News

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

Of the total commercial tuna catch worldwide, 87.7% of the global catch continues to be sourced from stocks at “healthy” levels of abundance, according to the newest International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Status of the Stocks report. In addition, 9.6% of the total tuna catch came from overfished stocks, and 2.7% came from stocks at an intermediate level of abundance.

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

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

ISSF publishes its signature Status of the Stocks report twice each year using the most current scientific data on 23 major commercial tuna stocks. 

Learn more


Featured Blog

ICYMI: Helping Fisheries Managers Better Monitor and Enforce Requirements for Member States

What good are regulations if they’re not followed? Why adopt policies without a strong plan to monitor adherence to them?  In an era of greater expectations regarding transparency and accountability, these are the questions stakeholders are increasingly asking of RFMOs. And for tuna fisheries, a vital, global food source and economic engine, those expectations are especially heightened. Now, a group of policy experts is stepping in to help tuna RFMOs continue strengthening their compliance processes. 

Read the blog


Featured Infographic

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 also indicates how ISSF’s ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) vessel list helps to provide transparency of the fleet’s fishing activities, including changes in fish hold volume.

View the infographic

 

ISSF in the News

Fuel consumption of free-swimming school versus FAD strategies in tropical tuna purse seine fishing

Fisheries Research

Nota Bene Episode 145: Tuna Sustainability: A Model Bigger than its Niche with ISSF President Susan Jackson [PODCAST] 

National Law Review

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

ISSF publishes its signature Status of the Stocks report twice each year using the most current scientific data on 23 major commercial tuna stocks. 

Key Statistics in the Report

  • ​​Abundance or “spawning biomass” levels: Globally, 65% of the 23 stocks are at healthy levels of abundance, 22% are at an intermediate level, and 13% are overfished.
  • Fishing mortality levels: 74% of the 23 stocks are experiencing a well-managed fishing mortality rate, and 22% are experiencing overfishing.
  • Total catch: The catch of major commercial tuna stocks was 5.3 million tonnes in 2019, a 1% increase from 2018. 60% was skipjack tuna, followed by yellowfin (28%), bigeye (7%), and albacore (4%). Bluefin tuna accounted for 1% of the global catch.
  • Largest tuna catches by stock: The five largest catches in tonnes, unchanged since the previous report, are Western Pacific Ocean skipjack, Western Pacific Ocean yellowfin, Indian Ocean skipjack, Indian Ocean yellowfin, and Eastern Pacific Ocean skipjack.
  • Tuna production by fishing gear: 65.7% of the catch is made by purse seining, followed by longline (10.0%), pole-and-line (7.8%), gillnets (3.7%), and miscellaneous gears (12.9%). These percentages changed minimally since the previous report.

The Status of the Stocks report is reviewed by the ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee, which provides advice on its content. The report does not advocate any particular seafood purchase decisions.

The Pandemic’s Impact on the Status of the Stocks  

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

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

About the Report

There are 23 stocks of major commercial tuna species worldwide — 6 albacore, 4 bigeye, 4 bluefin, 5 skipjack, and 4 yellowfin stocks. The Status of the Stocks summarizes the results of the most recent scientific assessments of these stocks, as well as the current management measures adopted by the RFMOs. Updated twice per year, Status of the Stocks assigns color ratings (green, yellow or orange) using a consistent methodology based on three factors: Abundance, Exploitation/Management (fishing mortality), and Environmental Impact (bycatch).

ISSF produces two Status of the Stocks reports annually to provide clarity about where we stand — and how much more needs to be done — to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks. The Status of the Stocks presents a comprehensive analysis of tuna stocks by species, and the Evaluation of the Sustainability of Global Tuna Stocks Relative to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Criteria provides scores for the stocks and RFMOs based on MSC assessment criteria. The MSC-certified fisheries list (Appendix 2) in Status of the Stocks complements the Evaluation report. Together, these tools help to define the continuous improvement achieved, as well as the areas and issues that require more attention.

In addition, ISSF maintains a data-visualization tool based on its Status of the Stocks report. The “Interactive Stock Status Tool” is located on the ISSF website and accessible through the Status of the Stocks overview page; users can easily toggle through tuna abundance and exploitation health indicators by catch or stock and filter by location and species as well as be informed about the share of total catch by species/stocks and gear types.

Action Needed to Protect EPO Tuna Stocks

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured News

Action Needed to Protect Eastern Pacific Ocean Tuna Stocks
The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Must Work Decisively When it Reconvenes in October

The August 2021 Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) annual meeting yielded few positive results in advancing the Commission’s agenda to protect bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack tuna stocks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

ISSF issued a position statement before the meeting calling for the adoption of a precautionary and science-based new version of the current inadequate IATTC conservation measure. And ISSF President Susan Jackson noted, “Decisive action on these items in August will clear the way for an October agenda that is set up for progress on other pressing topics like harvest strategies and monitoring, control, and surveillance. The added fall IATTC meeting must be viewed as further opportunity to adopt all much-needed measures before the end of the year—rather than a reason to delay decision-making at the August meeting.”

Unfortunately, the IATTC was unable to reach a consensus on a tuna conservation measure, delaying this critical goal until part two of its annual meeting in October.

ISSF is therefore urging all IATTC parties to come to the first day of their October meeting ready to adopt a new tropical tuna measure — allowing adequate time to address the other critical matters before the Commission this year.  

Read the ISSF IATTC position statement

 

Featured Content

RFMO Best Practices Snapshots

A series of “snapshots” identify best practices for sustainable tuna fishing, from FAD management to IUU fishing activities. Updated to reflect 2020 outcomes, they compare tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) progress in implementing these practices in detailed tables. Two snapshots are highlighted here in advance of the IATTC meeting.

RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2021: FAD Management

RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2021: Observer Requirements

 

Featured Blog

ICYMI: Understanding the IUCN Red List

“In the days since the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released its updated Red List of Threatened Species™, many colleagues have contacted ISSF to celebrate IUCN’s news that four tuna species were no longer classified as endangered.

IUCN attributed the progress to countries enforcing sustainable fishing quotas and successfully combating illegal fishing, which are essential for protecting in-demand fish stocks and the marine ecosystem. In noting any improvements in tuna stock health, sustainable fishing stakeholders also should acknowledge successes in implementing needed fisheries management measures by tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations…

I welcome attention to the urgency regarding tuna stock sustainability, and I join in the celebration of hard-won gains in tuna conservation. But there is more to the story.”

Dr. Victor Restrepo considers why it’s important to understand how the IUCN Red List methodology compares to other tuna assessment criteria.

Read the blog

 

ISSF in the News

Purse seine tuna fleet grew this year, study finds

Undercurrent News

NEW REPORT: 1,855 Purse Seine Vessels Authorized to Fish for Tuna

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured News

Increase in Purse Seine Vessels Overall, but Fewer Large Scale Purse Seine Vessels Fishing for Tropical Tuna Species Globally

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has updated its report Large-Scale Tuna Purse Seine Fishing Fleets as of July 2021. The total number of purse seine vessels, calculated based on data from the five tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), has increased from 1,721 in 2020 to 1,855 today. The report also shows approximately 678 vessels (down 2.6 percent from last year) defined as large-scale purse seine (LSPS) vessels targeting tropical tuna species (skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye), with a combined fishing capacity of over 865,000 m3 (cubic meters). 

Having an accurate estimate of active vessels is critical for managing tuna fishing capacity regionally as well as globally. Although purse seine vessels account for approximately 69 percent of the 5.0 million-tonne global tuna catch, multiple databases must be searched to compile a count of all authorized purse seine vessels. To provide an annual best estimate — and to track capacity changes from year to year — ISSF analyzes and aggregates information from the five tuna RFMOs and other sources.

Learn more

 

Featured Infographic

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 also indicates how ISSF’s ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) vessel list helps to provide transparency of the fleet’s fishing activities, including changes in fish hold volume.

View the infographic here

 

Featured Blogs

Helping Fisheries Managers Better Monitor and Enforce Requirements for Member States

What good are regulations if they’re not followed? Why adopt policies without a strong plan to monitor adherence to them?  

In an era of greater expectations regarding transparency and accountability, these are the questions stakeholders are increasingly asking of RFMOs. And for tuna fisheries, a vital, global food source and economic engine, those expectations are especially heightened. Now, a group of policy experts is stepping in to help tuna RFMOs continue strengthening their compliance processes. 

Read the blog

A companion piece on the Pew Charitable Trusts website, “Enhanced Monitoring and Enforcement Needed to Improve Sustainability of International Fisheries,” introduces the reports from the expert workshops that are seeking to strengthen RFMO compliance mechanisms.

Read the blog

ISSF Study Reports Increase in Purse Seine Vessels Overall, but Fewer Large Scale Purse Seine Vessels Fishing for Tropical Tuna Species Globally

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

Tuna Conservation Group Releases 2021 Snapshot of Large-Scale Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fishing Fleets as of July 2021

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has updated its Large-Scale Tuna Purse Seine Fishing Fleets report as of July 2021. The total number of purse seine vessels, calculated based on data from the five tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), has increased from 1,721 in 2020 to 1,855 today. 

The report also shows approximately 678 vessels (down 2.6 percent from last year) defined as large-scale purse seine (LSPS) vessels targeting tropical tuna species (skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye), with a combined fishing capacity of over 865,000 m3 (cubic meters). 

In our new report, we calculate there are about 678 large-scale purse-seine vessels targeting tropical #tuna species today, with a combined #fishing #capacity of over 865,000 cubic meters. Click To Tweet

Having an accurate estimate of active vessels is critical for managing tuna fishing capacity regionally as well as globally. Although purse seine vessels account for approximately 69 percent of the 5.0 million-tonne global tuna catch, multiple databases must be searched to compile a count of all authorized purse seine vessels.

To provide an annual best estimate — and to track capacity changes from year to year — ISSF analyzes and aggregates information from the five tuna RFMOs and other sources. As the report explains, these figures still may underestimate the total fleet, because many small-scale purse seiners or purse seiners operating in only one exclusive economic zone (EEZ) do not have to be listed on RFMOs’ records of authorized fishing vessels. 

Other report findings about the large-scale purse seine vessels targeting tropical tuna include:

  • About 16 percent of these 678 large-scale vessels are authorized to fish in more than one RFMO, which should be taken into account in any efforts to manage fishing capacity at a regional level.
  • Among the RFMOs, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) still has the highest number of LSPS registrations (341), more than half of the total worldwide. 
  • The majority of large-scale vessels (503) are registered on the ISSF ProActive Vessel Register (PVR); PVR-registered LSPS represent 74 percent in number and 81 percent in fish hold volume (FHV).

The report also covers purse-seine vessel construction, distribution, and FHV by national flag. It offers recommendations for vessel owners on registration for IMO numbers and for RFMOs on vessel-data collection and management, such as a recommendation to publish lists of active vessels. View the updated report here. View a related infographic here. 

What Do Changes to Tuna Ratings on the IUCN List Really Indicate?

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

News of Improved Ratings for Some Tuna Stocks Offers an Opportune Moment to Consider the Metrics that Support Fisheries Management

In the days since the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released its updated Red List of Threatened Species™, many colleagues have contacted ISSF to celebrate IUCN’s news that four tuna species were no longer classified as endangered (see details below).

IUCN attributed the progress to countries enforcing sustainable fishing quotas and successfully combating illegal fishing, which are essential for protecting in-demand fish stocks and the marine ecosystem. In noting any improvements in tuna stock health, sustainable fishing stakeholders also should acknowledge tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) successes in implementing needed fisheries management measures.

As a coauthor of the tuna portion of the IUCN assessment updates, I welcome attention to the urgency regarding tuna stock sustainability, and I join in the celebration of hard-won gains in tuna conservation. But there is more to the story.

To appreciate why, it’s important to understand how the IUCN Red List methodology compares to other tuna assessment criteria. An explanation I offered 10 years ago, when I was a co-author of IUCN’s first tuna ratings, is still relevant today, so I will summarize it here. 

IUCN has rated tuna species twice to date, and those assessments were 10 years apart.

“Rate of Decline Criterion” 

First, the primary indicator that IUCN relies on to classify fish species is the “rate of declining criterion.” The rate assesses the abundance of mature individual fish and how much they’ve declined over a period of time relative to the age at which they reach maturity.

If during this period (between 5-20 years for tunas) the mature population has declined by at least 50%, it is classified as Vulnerable. If the decline is 70-89%, it is classified as Endangered. If the decline is 90% or more, it is classified as Critically Endangered.

Although this is a consistent formula, when IUCN lists a fish as “Threatened,” it does not necessarily equate to the species being in immediate danger of extinction or collapse. It means only that there has been a drop in population size that meets the IUCN criteria for that particular classification. 

Classifications vs. Real World Fisheries Management

Second, while the IUCN classifications are no doubt useful, they do not always align with criteria for what is considered successful fisheries management. In addition, IUCN assessments are done at the global, species level, while RFMO assessments are done at the stock-region level.

Several factors must be considered in making, or weighing, any evaluation of a stock’s health.

Tuna species are actually at their most productive when they are at 25-40% of their maximum population size, the population that supports maximum sustainable yield, which is RFMOs’ main population management objective.

So that means a 50% drop in tuna population may receive a somewhat alarmist classification by IUCN standards, but it is actually quite reasonable from a fisheries management standpoint. 

Overfished or Threatened?

Consider a scenario in which a fish population has been heavily overfished and has remained severely low — but stable — for decades.

In that case, IUCN would not detect a major drop in abundance based on the IUCN “rate of decline” criterion, and would classify the species as “Least Concern” — or, in other words, not threatened. This classification, however, would be contrary to what fisheries management norms would consider it to be: a failure to ensure that stock’s sustainability.

Recent Red List Report Changes

In the 2021 Red List update, IUCN reassessed the seven most commercially fished tuna species and found four to have shown signs of recovery:

  • The Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) moved from Endangered to Least Concern.
  • The Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) moved from Critically Endangered to Endangered.
  • The albacore (Thunnus alalunga) and yellowfin tunas (Thunnus albacares) both moved from Near Threatened to Least Concern.

Alternately, ISSF uses tuna RFMO stock assessments to evaluate stock status. For these four species, the data show the two stocks of Atlantic bluefin with an intermediate stock abundance status, Southern Bluefin with an intermediate stock abundance status, five Albacore stocks with a healthy stock abundance status and one at an intermediate level, and three yellowfin stocks at a healthy level and one depleted (Indian Ocean yellowfin). Intermediate stock abundance refers to a spawning biomass that is below maximum sustainable yield levels but otherwise stable, increasing, or fluctuating, and with corrective actions in place.

As one strong example of divergence, our ISSF assessment shows that Indian Ocean yellowfin is overfished and in need of stronger management, contrary to IUCN’s “Least Concern” classification for yellowfin tuna globally, at a species level. 

Detailed Stock Assessments Ensure Better Stock Management

In conclusion, the Red List, while undeniably useful, does not replace the need for RFMOs’ own stock assessments and related management efforts. Routine, detailed stock assessments yield essential data to be incorporated into scientific advice to guide the development of informed stock-specific management measures. In turn, these targeted management measures can reduce fishing mortality, which improves stock abundance over time. 

For the four stocks in this latest Red List spotlight, IUCN’s “once in a decade” and “one-size-fits-all” stock ratings methodology happens to generally align with tuna RFMOs’ stock status assessments, which are a testament to effective science and management efforts.

But to optimally safeguard tuna populations, it is necessary to dive deeper — to tailor and adopt management measures for each stock based on its unique status and regional circumstances. RFMOs will most certainly need to keep at this work, year in and year out. 

 

ISSF Expresses Disappointment in Eastern Pacific Ocean Fisheries Failure to Adopt Tuna Conservation Measures

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

The recent weeklong Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) yielded few positive results in the advancement of the Commission’s agenda to protect bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack tuna stocks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Prior to the meeting, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) issued a position statement calling on the regional governing body to adopt a precautionary and science-based new version of its currently inadequate IATTC conservation measure. The current measure has been ineffective in limiting catches of yellowfin, bigeye and skipjack tuna, according to IATTC’s own Scientific Advisory Committee. 

“The IATTC was unable to reach a consensus on an urgently needed tuna conservation measure, delaying this critical goal until its next meeting in October,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “While we are disappointed, we are encouraged by the strong efforts of several parties to the Commission, which did their best to find consensus and promote the adoption of a robust new measure.

Prior to last week’s meeting, ISSF also called on IATTC to ensure the new tuna conservation measure included stronger provisions to manage fish aggregating devices (FADs) to prevent an increase in fishing mortality. Specifically, ISSF’s FAD management priorities included the extension of the FAD closure, active FAD limits, and deployment limits or buoy purchase limits, in addition to requiring the provision of raw data from echosounder buoys and a clear timeline to transition to the use of FADs without netting and made primarily of biodegradable materials. While several IATTC parties made proposals on these topics, they were also not progressed during the meeting. 

In a positive development, IATTC did adopt an electronic monitoring (EM) work plan, which includes a timeline for EM workshops for stakeholders, like fishers and vessel owners.  The IATTC also adopted two resolutions on EM: one on EM definitions and another that establishes the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the workshops.

For the IATTC meeting in October, ISSF is again urging the Commission to pass a new tuna conservation measure that is precautionary and based on scientific advice to limit fishing pressure on yellowfin and bigeye; make improvements in FAD management; and accelerate the development of harvest strategies and modernized monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) tools. The ISSF position statement addresses these priorities specifically as follows:

  • Develop FAD ownership rules and definitions to ensure FAD accountability is maintained through the end of the FAD’s lifetime, and design FAD-recovery mechanisms and incentives by 2023
  • Develop a work plan to create and adopt a FAD marking scheme by 2022 for all new FAD deployments, regardless of vessel type, that requires that FADs be marked on both the buoy and the FAD structure
  • Accelerate development of Management Strategy Evaluation for bigeye, skipjack and yellowfin tuna
  • Require 100% observer coverage (human and/or electronic) in industrial tuna fisheries, including all those engaged in at sea transshipment, by 2024
  • By 2022, adopt a Port State Measures Resolution
  • Establish a work plan to operationalize paragraphs 5-8 of IATTC’s measure C-11-07 on Compliance, and develop audit points

Eastern Pacific Ocean Fisheries Managers Must Adopt Effective Management Measures for Bigeye, Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has published its position statement in advance of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) 98th Meeting, which will be held virtually on August 23-27, 2021, and convened again in October 2021. The IATTC is responsible for the conservation and management of tuna and other marine resources in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). The Commission will focus its August meeting solely on EPO tuna measures, and a subsequent meeting in mid-October will address other items on the Commission’s 2021 agenda.

“The global pandemic continues to stymie the IATTC and all tuna RFMOs in their ability to conduct meetings, negotiate solutions and find consensus,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “We acknowledge these challenges. But continued progress to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna fisheries and ecosystems — using the best available scientific information — cannot wait for a ‘return to normalcy.’”

At its August meeting, #IATTC must adopt a new precautionary, science-based #conservation measure for yellowfin, bigeye, and skipjack #tuna. Our position statement explains why. Click To Tweet

Jackson continued, “The IATTC has prioritized discussions on new tuna conservation measures for its August meeting, and we are urging the adoption of tuna measures based on current scientific advice along with related FAD management measures. Decisive action on these items in August will clear the way for an October agenda that is set up for progress on other pressing topics like harvest strategies and monitoring, control, and surveillance. The added fall IATTC meeting must be viewed as further opportunity to adopt all much-needed measures before the end of the year—rather than a reason to delay decision-making at the August meeting.”

The current IATTC tuna conservation measure has been ineffective in limiting catches of yellowfin, bigeye and skipjack tuna. ISSF’s position statement therefore leads with the request that the Commission adopt a new precautionary and science-based tuna conservation measure. This new tuna conservation measure should also include and address fish aggregating device (FAD) management to prevent an increase of fishing mortality—specifically through the extension of the FAD closure, active FAD limits, deployment limits, or buoy purchase limits. The IATTC should further require the provision of raw data from echosounder buoys and set a clear timeline to transition to the use of FADs without netting and made primarily of biodegradable materials.

ISSF urges the Commission, among the topics to be addressed in October, to progress improvements in FAD management; harvest strategies; and monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS). The ISSF position statement addresses these priorities specifically as follows:

  • Develop FAD ownership rules and definitions to ensure FAD accountability is maintained through the end of the FAD’s lifetime, and design FAD-recovery mechanisms and incentives by 2023
  • Develop a work plan to develop and adopt a FAD marking scheme by 2022 for all new FAD deployments, regardless of vessel type, that requires that FADs be marked on both the buoy and the FAD structure
  • Accelerate development of Management Strategy Evaluation for bigeye, skipjack and yellowfin tuna
  • Adopt the IATTC electronic monitoring systems (EMS) work plan. Establish a fleetwide observer program (human or electronic) for small purse seine vessels by 2022. Require 100% observer coverage (human and/or electronic) in industrial tuna fisheries, including all those engaged in at sea transshipment, by 2024
  • By 2022, adopt a Port State Measures Resolution
  • Establish a work plan to operationalize paragraphs 5-8 of IATTC’s measure C-11-07 on Compliance, and develop audit points

Read ISSF’s full IATTC position statement, which is also available in Spanish translation, on the ISSF website.

ISSF Global Priorities for Tuna RFMOs

ISSF is committed to advocating for science-based approaches, policies and conservation measures to advance tuna fisheries sustainability. Here are ISSF’s Global Priorities for four Tuna RFMOs — the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC):

  • Implementation of rigorous harvest strategies, including harvest control rules and reference points
  • Effective management of fleet capacity, including developing mechanisms that support developing coastal state engagement in the fishery
  • Science-based FAD management & non-entangling and biodegradable FAD designs
  • Increased member compliance with all adopted measures, and greater transparency of processes reviewing member compliance with measures
  • Strengthened Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) measures and increased observer coverage, including through modern technologies such as electronic monitoring and e-reporting
  • Adoption of best-practice bycatch mitigation and shark conservation management measures

ISSF Expands Requirements for Longline Fishing Vessels by Strengthening Conservation Measures Covering Shark Finning and Fisher Outreach on Bycatch Mitigation

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Conservation Measures, Featured, News, Press Releases.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) today announced updates to several ISSF conservation measures (CM) to facilitate continuous improvements in the sustainability of global tuna fisheries, including those measures that impact longline tuna vessels and the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs).

“ISSF is guiding seafood companies and tuna fishers — with an expanded focus on longline fisheries — in taking additional, scientifically researched steps to protect sharks and other marine species, including through accessible education on up-to-date bycatch-mitigation best practices for skippers,” explains ISSF President Susan Jackson. “We also are furthering requirements for tuna fishers that use FADs to have clear policies for better managing and recovering them — and to use non-entangling, natural materials in FADs to reduce fishing’s impact on the ocean ecosystem.”

These latest conservation measure amendments aim to:

  • Increase protections for vulnerable sharks, sea turtles, and seabirds and other non-target species in tuna fisheries
  • Reduce fishing gear debris in and harm to marine environments
  • Expand how bycatch-mitigation information is shared with fishers

The full text of all measures is published on the ISSF site and excerpted as an editor’s note below.

Shark Finning Prevention: Requirement to Land Sharks with Fins Naturally Attached

Sharks can be caught incidentally in tuna fishing operations, with shark bycatch a significant sustainability concern in longline fisheries. But sharks often are intentionally targeted by vessels for the value of their fins in certain markets.

Shark finning — the practice of retaining shark fins onboard and discarding the remaining carcasses at sea — threatens shark populations and violates the U.N. FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and its International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks.

ISSF is strengthening its existing shark-finning measures 3.1 (a) – Shark Finning Policy, 3.1(b) – Prohibition of Transactions with Shark-Finning Vessels, and 3.1(c) – Prohibition of Transactions with Companies without a Public Policy Prohibiting Shark Finning, by requiring seafood companies by December 31, 2022, to enact policies requiring all retained, incidentally caught sharks to be landed with their fins still naturally attached. In addition to decreasing shark finning, such policies will help to improve data collection, species identification, and monitoring and enforcement. 

Bycatch Prevention: Marine Species in Longline Tuna Fisheries

Since its inception, ISSF has dedicated resources and efforts to understanding bycatch issues in global tuna fisheries and minimizing bycatch. ISSF has expanded a bycatch-mitigation measure — CM 3.6 – Transactions with Vessels Implementing Best Practices for Sharks, Sea Turtles and Seabirds — effective December 21, 2022, to reflect current on-the-water best practices in longline tuna fisheries.

Bycatch Mitigation: Best-Practices Education for Longline Skippers

To continue disseminating best-practices information on bycatch prevention and mitigation, ISSF will extend its fisher education requirements, as detailed in amended CM 3.4 – Skipper Best Practices, to longline skippers effective December 31, 2022.

Marine Ecosystem Protections: FAD Management and Biodegradable FAD Designs

ISSF strengthens its requirements for better FAD management in CM 3.7 – Transactions with Vessels or Companies with Vessel-based FAD Management Policies — an important component for meeting the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification fisheries standard without conditions — including FAD recovery and FAD designs made with biodegradable and non-entangling materials to minimize fishing’s impact on the marine ecosystem.

Bycatch Prevention: Driftnet Prohibition

Large-scale pelagic driftnets are an unselective method of fishing that results in substantial unintentional catches of many non-target marine species. ISSF has expanded the geographic scope of its measure — CM 3.2 – Large-Scale Pelagic Driftnets Prohibition — on this issue.

About ISSF Conservation Measures & Compliance Process

Since its inception in 2009, ISSF has adopted conservation measures and commitments to facilitate its mission with the intent that processors, traders, marketers and others involved in the seafood industry will follow them to facilitate real and continuous improvement across global tuna stocks. Each ISSF participating company commits to conform to these conservation measures to improve the long-term health of tuna fisheries. They also must adhere to the ISSA Compliance Policy.

ISSF participating tuna companies, which represent the majority of the world’s canned-tuna production and include well-known brand names, are audited yearly by MRAG Americas on their compliance with ISSF conservation measures.   

ISSF recently released its ISSF Annual Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Report, which ISSF published in coordination with its recent annual report Staying the Course. In addition to a summary report, MRAG Americas issues individual company reports that detail each organization’s compliance with ISSF’s conservation measures. ISSF publishes these individual company compliance reports on its website. 

NOTES TO EDITOR:
Updated ISSF Conservation Measures: Excerpted Amended Text in Bold

ISSF Conservation Measure 3.1 (a) – Shark Finning Policy
All ISSF Participating Companies shall establish and publish policies prohibiting shark finning and requiring sharks be landed with fins naturally attached, if retained.

ISSF Conservation Measure 3.1(b) – Prohibition of Transactions with Shark-Finning Vessels
Processors, traders, importers, transporters and others involved in the seafood industry shall not conduct transactions with vessels that carry out shark finning and/or do not land all sharks with fins naturally attached, if retained.

ISSF Conservation Measure 3.1(c) – Prohibition of Transactions with Companies without a Public Policy Prohibiting Shark Finning
Processors, traders, importers, transporters, marketers and others involved in the seafood industry shall not conduct transactions with companies that do not have a public policy prohibiting shark finning and requiring sharks be landed with fins naturally attached, if retained. 

ISSF Conservation Measure 3.6 – Transactions with Vessels Implementing Best Practices for Sharks, Sea Turtles and Seabirds
Processors, traders, importers, marketers and others involved in the seafood industry shall conduct transactions only with those longline vessels whose owners have a policy requiring the implementation of the following best practices for sharks, seabirds and marine turtles:
(a) the use of circle hooks and only monofilament lines (e.g., the use of wire trace is prohibited); and
(b) the use of whole finfish bait
(c) implementation by the crew of best practice handling techniques for sharks, seabirds and marine turtles such as those outlined in the ISSF Skippers’ Guidebook to Sustainable Longline Fishing Practices; and
(d) No use of “shark lines” at any time.

ISSF Conservation Measure 3.4 – Skipper Best Practices
Processors, traders, importers, transporters, marketers and others involved in the seafood industry shall conduct transactions only with those purse seine and longline vessels whose skippers:
(a) have attended an in-person and/or online ISSF Skippers Workshop; or
(b) have attended an in-person Skippers Workshop provided by a tuna FIP and conducted by a trainer that has been accredited by ISSF to conduct these workshops; or
(c) have viewed an ISSF Skippers Workshop video online; or
(d) have reviewed the online ISSF Skippers Guidebook.

All of the above provide information on best practices for purse seine and longline fishery management.

ISSF Conservation Measure 3.7 – Transactions with Vessels or Companies with Vessel-based FAD Management Policies
To further support the implementation of existing RFMO conservation measures and recommendations for FAD data collection and reporting and the use of non-entangling FAD designs that do not use any netting in any components, including both the raft and the tail, and the use of biodegradable FAD designs that are also fully non-entangling, and to promote the development and implementation of FAD recovery policies, strategies to mitigate shark bycatch in purse seine tuna fisheries and the voluntary provision of FAD buoy data to strengthen FAD management:

  1. Processors, traders, importers, transporters, marketers and others involved in the seafood industry shall conduct transactions only with those purse seine vessels whose owners develop and make public FAD Management Policies that include the activities purse seine and supply vessels are undertaking (if any) on the following elements: (a) Comply with flag state and RFMO reporting requirements for fisheries statistics by set type; (b) Voluntarily report additional FAD buoy data for use by RFMO science bodies; (c) Support science-based limits on the overall number of FADs used per vessel and/or FAD sets made; (d) Use only non-entangling FADs to reduce ghost fishing; (e) Mitigate other environmental impacts due to FAD loss including through the use of biodegradable FADs and FAD recovery policies; (f) For silky sharks (the main bycatch issue in FAD sets) implement further mitigation efforts.
  2. In developing a FAD Management Policy, purse seine vessels and purse seine vessel owning companies should refer to ISSF Technical Paper 2019-11 (or any subsequent revision) in designing the activities for each element
  3. With respect to the element on mitigating other environmental impacts due to FAD loss (item e above), by 1 January 2023, public FAD Management Policies developed under this measure shall include a statement that purse seine vessels and supply vessels covered by the policy are participating in trial(s) of biodegradable FAD designs and/or FAD recovery programs that include the participation of the relevant RFMO science bodies and/or coastal States, national scientists, and/or ISSF scientists to monitor experimental design.
  4. With respect to the element on the use of only non-entangling FADs (item d above), by 1 January 2024, public FAD management policies developed under this measure shall include a statement that purse seine vessels and supply vessels covered by the policy will from this date only use and deploy fully non-entangling FADs, without any netting in any components, including both the raft and the tail.
  5. ISSF CM 3.5 is repealed and replaced by this measure as of 1 January 2024.


ISSF Conservation Measure 3.2 – Large-Scale Pelagic Driftnets Prohibition
ISSF supports the Resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly concerning large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing and its impact on the living marine resources of the world’s oceans and seas, including enclosed and semi-enclosed seas.

Processors, traders, importers, transporters, marketers and others involved in the seafood industry shall refrain from transactions in tuna caught by large-scale pelagic driftnets regardless of the geographic area in which the tuna were caught by such driftnets.