Since our inception in 2009, ISSF has adopted conservation measures with the intent that processors, traders, importers, transporters, and others in the seafood industry commit to conform to them to facilitate real, continuous improvement across global tuna stocks.
ISSF Participating Companies are seafood companies that have committed to conform to our conservation measures for improving the long-term health of tuna fisheries. They also must adhere to the ISSA Compliance Policy.
We publish yearly reports, prepared by auditor MRAG Americas, on each participating company’s compliance with our measures.
Some of these measures also apply to vessels registered on ISSF’s ProActive Vessel Register, which is indicated by the orange icon below.
Conservation Measures Text
The full text of all conservation measures is available as a PDF.
ISSF CONSERVATION MEASURES BY CATEGORY
1) RFMO Support
Tuna are highly migratory, swimming through international waters belonging to many nations. To manage tuna stocks, countries sharing these resources joined together to create Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs).
Learn about RFMOs
2) Traceability & Data Collection
RFMOs are responsible for tuna conservation and management, with the objective of maintaining populations at levels of abundance that can support the average maximum yield on a sustained basis. But the findings of RFMO scientific bodies depend on the completeness and accuracy of the data available to them. ISSF supports RFMOs in ensuring that their findings and the data underlying them are as accurate as possible.
Similarly, adequate product traceability records are necessary for the enforcement of and compliance with conservation measures, and for the successful elimination of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.
3) Bycatch Mitigation
Bycatch mitigation measures for tuna fisheries are intended to reduce catches of non‑target species including seabirds, sea turtles, marine mammals, sharks, and rays. They include changes in gear designs and fishing methods to avoid catching bycatch, along with techniques to release bycatch species when caught.
Learn about Bycatch Mitigation
4) Monitoring, Control and Surveillance
Monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) includes tools and approaches to monitor and control fishing activities, including transshipment.
5) Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
Fishing activities that are illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) can harm fish stocks and damage marine ecosystems — and they undermine the efforts of responsible fishers and fisheries managers.
Learn about IUU Fishing
6) Capacity
The problem of overfishing is principally the result of open-access fishing and related excess fishing capacity.
Learn about Capacity Management
7) ProActive Vessel Register
The ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) is one of four public vessel lists that ISSF provides to foster transparency in tuna fishing. Fishing vessels can be registered on the PVR to show how they are following best practices that support sustainable tuna fisheries.
Learn about the PVR
8) Miscellaneous
9) Social and Labor Standards
Increased transparency and accountability regarding social and labor standards can help improve the treatment of workers throughout the global tuna supply chain.
