Skip to main content

Author: svanouse

Seafood Industry Leader Tony Lazazzara of Thai Union to Chair Board of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF)

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) today announced Tony Lazazzara of Thai Union Group as Chair of its Board of Directors. Mr. Lazazzara is Director of Group Fish Procurement for Thai Union Group. He succeeds Kevin Bixler, formerly of Thai Union, in the role, upon Mr. Bixler’s move to Peter Pan Seafood.

“I am thankful for Kevin Bixler’s guidance over the last year as ISSF Board Chair, and I wish Kevin all the best in his new position as CEO at Peter Pan,” said Susan Jackson, President, ISSF.

“I am excited to welcome Tony Lazazzara as our new Chair. Tony’s deep industry knowledge and can-do attitude are an ideal match for ISSF’s practical approach to improving the sustainability of global tuna fisheries,” she continued. “We are fortunate to have a tenured and well-respected industry leader at our helm. I look forward to working with him.”

“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of my colleague Mr. Bixler,” said Mr. Lazazzara. “I hope to make this transition as smooth as possible, while ensuring continued progress and expanding new efforts towards sustainability for tuna fisheries and the marine ecosystem. I am excited to continue working with leaders in the seafood sustainability space, and I am eager to see what we can achieve together.”

ISSF welcomes Tony Lazazzara, Thai Union Group, as our new Board chair and Dr. Andre Boustany, Monterey Bay Aquarium, to the Environmental Stakeholder Committee. @thaiuniongroup @MontereyAq Click To Tweet

On the ISSF Board, Mr. Lazazzara joins a diverse and global group of leaders from non-governmental organizations, marine science, government agencies, and the seafood industry. In addition to fiduciary and governance responsibilities, ISSF Board members advance the mission of the Foundation, including through the adoption of ISSF conservation measures, to which ISSF participating companies commit to conform.

“In addition to welcoming our new Chair, I’d also like to recognize the contributions of longtime ISSF Board member John Connelly upon his passing,” added Ms. Jackson. “As president of the National Fisheries Institute, John was an early and enthusiastic supporter of our organization. We miss John and his leadership, and we send our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues.”

Other ISSF Board members are:

  • Dr. Transform Aqorau, Pacific Fisheries Expert and former CEO, Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA)
  • Dr. Rohan Currey, Chief Science and Standards Officer, Marine Stewardship Council
  • Dr. Giuseppe Di Carlo, Lead Conservationist, WWF-International
  • William Gibbons-Fly, Executive Director, American Tunaboat Association (ATA) 
  • Javier Garat, Secretary General, Cepesca
  • Bill Holden, Chair, ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee, Senior Tuna Fisheries Outreach Manager, Marine Stewardship Council
  • Susan Jackson, President, ISSF
  • Ichiro Nomura, Fisheries Policy Advisor, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Republic of Indonesia
  • Dr. Victor Restrepo, Vice President, Science, ISSF
  • Dr. Martin Tsamenyi, Professor of Law & Former Director of the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Australia

New ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee (ESC) Member 

ISSF also announced a new addition to its Environmental Stakeholder Committee (ESC). Andre Boustany, Principal Investigator of Global Ocean Conservation at Monterey Bay Aquarium, joins the Committee, replacing Jennifer Dianto-Kemmerly, Vice President, Global Ocean Initiatives, Monterey Bay Aquarium.

“We are thankful for Ms. Dianto-Kemmerly’s expertise and know that we are in good hands as Dr. Boustany joins the Environmental Stakeholders Committee,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson.“We welcome the continued contributions of the Monterey Bay Aquarium as an invaluable partner in our work toward sustainable fisheries.”

The ESC comprises expert representatives from various conservation organizations who volunteer to share their expertise. The ESC, much like ISSF’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), provides advice to the ISSF Board of Directors on issues to consider before taking action on specific sustainability efforts, including the adoption of ISSF conservation measures.

Other ESC members are:

  • Sonja Fordham, Founder, Shark Advocates International
  • Ben Gilmer, Associate Director of Corporate Engagement and Strategic Initiatives, The Nature Conservancy
  • Bill Holden, Chair, ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee | Senior Tuna Fisheries Outreach Manager, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
  • Sara Lewis, Traceability Division Director, FishWise
  • Dr. Vishwanie Maharaj, Lead, Tunas and Other Multilateral Fisheries, World Wildlife Fund-US
  • Dr. Alexia Morgan, Science Lead, Tuna and Large Pelagic Species, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP)
  • Dr. Tom Pickerell, Executive Director, Global Tuna Alliance

About Tony Lazazzara

Mr. Lazazzara is Thai Union Group Director, Global Fish Procurement, and has more than 30 years’ experience in the seafood sector. He began his career with Palmera in Italy, followed by the U.S.-based StarKist. In 1997, he joined Heinz European Seafood. Today, he is part of the Thai Union team. Over the years, Mr. Lazazzara has held diverse roles in Supply Chain. His experience includes: General Manager Indian Ocean Tuna (IOT – Seychelles), General Manager European Facilities in Portugal and France and MW Brands Supply Chain Director prior to the company’s acquisition by Thai Union.

About Andre Boustany

Dr. Boustany is the Principal Investigator of Global Ocean Conservation at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Before coming to the Aquarium, Boustany was a research scientist at Duke University, where he studied pelagic fish and fisheries, looking at ways to improve stock assessments, reduce bycatch, and improve fisheries management. He also serves on several advisory committees, advising federal fisheries regulators on domestic and international management of pelagic fisheries. Dr. Boustany is also an active participant in the NGO Tuna Forum. Dr. Boustany earned a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Cornell University.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Urges Action on Harvest Strategies for Pacific Tuna Stocks

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

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has issued its position statement for consideration by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) ahead of its 19th regular session from November 27 to December 3, 2022 in Da Nang, Vietnam. ISSF leads its position statement with the urgent call for the adoption of harvest strategies for certain tuna stocks. 

Harvest strategies — which include target and limit reference points together with harvest control rules — provide pre-agreed rules for managing fisheries resources allowing quick action in response to stock status changes. They are crucial for the long term, sustainable management of tuna fisheries. Further, fisheries managers in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) need to adopt this important management method to meet a 2023 Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) deadline for harvest strategy conditions. WCPFC otherwise risks running out of time to complete a new requirement under the MSC standard — specifically, introducing catch or effort constraints to ensure the harvest strategy is applied in practice.

Harvest strategies for skipjack and albacore tuna stocks, and interim target reference points for yellowfin and bigeye, are among our top priorities for WCPFC at its annual meeting beginning Nov. 27. Click To Tweet

“WCPFC once led the way on harvest strategies. Today it is falling behind other regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and is now the only tuna RFMO without a harvest strategy in place,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “WCPFC member countries must urgently adopt harvest strategies for Western Pacific skipjack and Northern albacore tuna and accelerate the adoption of one for South Pacific albacore next year. Harvest strategies are the best way to protect tuna fisheries and help sustain the ecosystem and economies that rely on them.”

ISSF is specifically asking WCPFC to:

  • Adopt comprehensive harvest strategies for Western Pacific skipjack and Northern albacore, including harvest control rules
  • Accelerate the development of a harvest strategy for South Pacific albacore that will consider the entire South Pacific stock in the operating models

In addition to harvest strategies, the ISSF position statement outlines further science-based “asks” of the Commission, including:

  • Adopting interim target reference points (TRPs) for yellowfin and bigeye tuna
  • Adopting a definition of biodegradable FADs and categories of biodegradable FADs this year. And by 2023, adopting a FAD marking scheme; FAD ownership rules; rules for activation and deactivation of FAD buoys; a FAD-recovery policy and incentives; a clear transition timeline to using FADs made largely of biodegradable materials; and requiring vessels to report near-time FAD position and acoustic data.
  • Adopting a measure for an electronic monitoring (EM) program and minimum standards for the use of EM by 2023
  • Adopting minimum standard data fields to be collected by observers during transshipment events
  • Requiring that all sharks be landed with fins naturally attached — without exceptions — and prohibiting the use of branchlines of wire trace and shark lines

The full ISSF WCFPC position statement can be read here.

Harvest Strategies Top Asks for Pacific Fisheries | ISSF WCPFC Position Statement

Written by svanouse on . Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured Content

ISSF has issued its position statement for consideration at the 19th regular session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), which will take place November 27-December 3, 2022.

The statement covers topics in these categories: harvest strategies; tuna conservation; fish aggregating device (FAD) management; monitoring, control, and surveillance; bycatch and sharks; compliance; and capacity management. The statement also includes ISSF’s top “asks” or requests of WCPFC, along with a list of ISSF’s global priorities for all RFMOs.

Download the WCPFC position statement.

 

Peer-Reviewed Articles

The Jelly-FAD: A paradigm shift in the design of biodegradable Fish Aggregating Devices

Marine Policy

 

Seventy years of tunas, billfishes, and sharks as sentinels of global ocean health

Science

 

Featured Video 

In the new paper “Seventy years of tunas, billfishes, and sharks as sentinels of global ocean health” published in the journal Science, a team of researchers has found that, in general, tuna and billfish are responding positively to conservation efforts, while, as a group, sharks are not. Population numbers for multiple species of billfish and tuna have been rising due to new fishing regulations and systems for enforcing them. This is not the case for sharks, in general, which indicates that some species need stronger management measures.

“Sound management measures ensure the sustainability of commercially valuable target species of tunas and billfishes,” says co-author and ISSF Senior Scientist Dr. Hilario Murua. “The same approach should be replicated with sharks captured incidentally by the same fisheries to ensure their sustainability.”

The research team includes members from AZTI, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, ISSF, and Simon Fraser University’s Earth to Ocean Research Group.

Learn more in a video from co-author Dr. Maria José Juan-Jordá, which summarizes the report’s findings.

Watch the video

NEW: Latest Compliance Report Shows 99.6% ISSF Participating Company Conformance Rate

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Conservation Measures, eNewsletters, News.

Featured News

22 of 25 Companies Fully Compliant with All 32 Measures Audited

ISSF has released its seventh annual Update to ISSF Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Report (PDF), 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 the companies were fully compliant with all measures audited. 

Two of the measures were newly in effect for the 2021 audit period.

“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.

Download the Report

Read the Press Release

 

Featured Content

Our Audit Process

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. ISSF participating seafood companies agree to be audited annually according to a rigorous audit protocol.

Learn More

 

Featured Graphic

Aggregate Participating 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 our Update to ISSF Conservation Measures & Commitments Compliance Report.

Download the Infographic

Verifying Sustainability Commitments in the Global Seafood Supply Chain

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

This month, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) 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 the 32 ISSF conservation measures in effect. As part of its commitment to foster transparency and accountability in the fishing industry, ISSF engages third-party auditor MRAG Americas to assess ISSF participating seafood companies’ compliance with ISSF conservation measures according to a rigorous audit protocol.

ISSF President Susan Jackson sat down recently with MRAG Americas Vice President Dr. Graeme Parkes to discuss the ISSF audit and compliance process.

 

SSJ: How long has MRAG Americas audited ISSF participating companies’ operations, and what is the value of this continuous engagement?

GP:  We have been providing auditing services to ISSF since 2012, starting with the vessels on the PVR and adding the participating companies’ activities in 2014. This continuous engagement has provided a high level of consistency and stability, without which reliable tracking of progress over time of the program and participants’ grading would be highly challenging. The longevity of the program and resulting uniformity in methodology and implementation have provided enhanced credibility to the auditing process and outcomes.

SSJ: Why is an independent audit an important part of the ISSF audit and compliance process? What is the value of a third-party audit rather than ISSF performing this function internally?

GP: Independent auditing adds value to the ISSF compliance process in several important ways. First and foremost, it adds credibility in a way that an internal audit cannot. Participants and other stakeholders need to have confidence that conformance with ISSF conservation measures is being assessed accurately and consistently. Of course, this can be done internally, but an external, independent process undertaken by a qualified provider with an established track record in rigorous conformity assessment provides a highly visible level of integrity and reliability.

Additionally, our many years of experience in fisheries and supply chain auditing enables ISSF to understand the auditing implications of new conservation measures at an early stage, helping them to grow the program as effectively and efficiently as possible. 

SSJ: From the auditor’s perspective, what are the challenges of auditing seafood companies on multiple measures? Can you explain how MRAG audits a particular commitment?

GP: The auditing challenges arise in part from the number and range of ISSF conservation measures, but also the variety of ISSF participating companies’ sourcing practices. The sourcing of tunas by the companies covers a broad range of species, gear types, geographic regions, and hence RFMO jurisdictions.

Among other things, the audit team needs to be familiar with the differing requirements for fishing licenses, transshipment declarations, captain statements and catch certificates to assess accurately the validity of the documents presented as evidence of conformance. We spend significant time and effort on maintaining audit program consistency. This requires multiple levels of scrutiny by the whole audit team, including reviews of prior audit reports, to ensure uniformity in grading of compliance within and between years. The resulting stability in audit outcomes has helped companies to understand the evidence requirements for audits, that information requests for auditing are fair, and that the program is equitable for all participants.

Traceability audits are a good example to consider. The traceability exercises demonstrate a participating company’s ability to trace its products from can code or sales invoice back to a vessel and trip, enabling our audit to assess its conformance along the supply chain. The auditor reviews recent mock recalls, if available, and selects a sample of can codes or sales invoices by label and destination from which the company will conduct traceability exercises. The traceability exercises also enable the auditor to cross-reference evidence provided in connection with other conservation measures.

SSJ: We hear a lot about “transparency” in the fishing industry today. What does this mean in practice for a process like the ISSF one?   

GP: Transparency is essential to explain how the audits are undertaken and what they show about individual company conformance with the conservation measures. This is why the audit protocols and participating company annual audit reports are publicly available. However, this transparency must be applied with forethought and foresight; it cannot extend to all levels of the program. With much of the detailed information provided for audits being confidential and commercially sensitive, participating companies must have confidence and trust in the independent auditor. They must be assured that while the results of their audit will be made public, irrespective of the audit findings, their proprietary information used in the assessment of conformance remains protected and confidentiality is not compromised.

SSJ: How do insights and findings from audits inform ISSF conservation measures — expanding existing measures, for example, or suggesting a need for additional measures?

GP: Our experience from auditing the ISSF program, and other independent auditing activities, enables us to counsel ISSF regarding the auditability of proposed new conservation measures and amendments to existing ones. However, as independent auditors, we do not advise ISSF on the need for these measures – this is up to the organization itself.

SSJ: Is auditing like this common with sustainable fishing commitments, or is there something unique or important about the ISSF-MRAG model?

GP: The types of conservation measures agreed by ISSF are not unique; they overlap with some of the key requirements of other fisheries sustainability initiatives. But the combination of ISSF’s approach to establishing participating companies’ sustainability commitments with MRAG Americas’ independent conformance assessment using a comprehensive series of audit protocols is ground-breaking.

ISSF is a cross-sector organization that draws on state-of-the-art environmental and scientific expertise to develop conservation measures with which participating companies commit to conform. The sustainability commitments of these companies are consequently meaningful, transparent, and enduring, and there is a high level of cooperation with the independent auditing procedures established by MRAG Americas.

If companies receive non-conformances during their audits, they know there are real consequences, and they are quick to remedy their practices to ensure these non-conformances are mitigated and not repeated. The results have been, and continue to be, transformational in the sustainability performance of the canned tuna supply chain and have the potential to make similarly far-reaching advancements in other seafood sectors.

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