ISSF develops and implements verifiable, science-based practices, commitments, and conservation and fisheries management measures that can:

• Ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of global tuna stocks, reducing bycatch and promoting tuna ecosystem health
• Enable tuna fisheries to meet the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard without conditions
• Become the industry standard for vessel owners and seafood traders, processors and marketers

Our contributions to advancing sustainable fisheries — which are explored on our “Decade of Discovery” timeline — include:

• Tuna Conservation: Through regular Status of the Stocks Reports, ISSF creates a window into tuna-stock assessments on a global scale for management, science, and conservation interests.
• Bycatch Mitigation: Through at-sea research, ISSF-supported scientists gain new insights, develop ideas and solutions, and implement strategies and tactics for bycatch mitigation. ISSF develops and disseminates their discoveries and best practices, including through global Skippers Workshops.
• Seafood Company Compliance: ISSF evaluates participating company compliance with all ISSF Conservation Measures — including an emphasis on traceability from product to processing facility to fishery to vessel — and communicates those results publicly to promote transparency.
• Advocacy: Along with NGO partners and other allies, ISSF regularly advocates for critical new RFMO measures to improve global conditions around illegal fishing prevention; deployment of monitoring, control and surveillance technology; harvest control rules; increased observer coverage; and improved data collection.
• ProActive Vessel Register: Through the ProActive Vessel Register (PVR), ISSF manages and updates a publicly accessible database of  vessels across all gear types that are committed to transparency in their adherence to science-backed and auditable fishing practices.

In 2019, we celebrated ISSF’s first “Decade of Discovery” of researching, sharing, and advocating best practices in sustainable tuna fishing.

• That year, we also co-sponsored the International Workshop on Mitigating Environmental Impacts of Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fisheries with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) Common Oceans Tuna Project.
• Seafood News published an op-ed by members of ISSF’s Scientific Advisory Committee reflecting on these contributions. “ISSF’s Scientist Advisors Reflect on a Decade of Discovery: Why we do it, and how we’re making a difference,” published March 15, 2019, is available online by subscription to Seafood News.
• ISSF President Susan Jackson wrote an op-ed reflecting on her 10 years as ISSF president, “6 lessons for converting adversaries into allies,” which was published in GreenBiz.com.