World Tuna Day, observed annually on May 2, offers an opportunity to reflect on the state of one of the world’s most important seafood resources. This year also marks a milestone: 10 years since the United Nations formally established World Tuna Day, and more than a decade of sustained, measurable progress in global tuna fisheries.
Tuna fisheries require some of the most complex management arrangements in the world. Tuna are highly migratory species that cross national boundaries, multiple jurisdictions, and governance frameworks, and they are crucial to global food security, livelihoods, and international trade.
Addressing the sustainability challenges associated with tuna has never been the responsibility of any single entity. Progress at a global scale has required long‑term collaboration among scientists, five regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), governments, environmental organizations, and seafood companies across the tuna supply chain.
New Milestones in Sustainable Tuna
Since ISSF began publishing its signature “Status of the Stocks” report in 2011, the global picture for tuna has improved substantially. Today, 97 percent of the world’s commercial tuna catch comes from stocks at healthy abundance levels, and nearly 100 percent comes from stocks not experiencing overfishing — the highest levels ISSF researchers have calculated.
Just over a decade ago, only about 70 percent of the global tuna catch came from healthy stocks. This shift reflects years of sustained effort to strengthen science‑based management, improve RFMO oversight, and ensure that conservation measures are not only adopted on paper but also implemented in practice.
An important driver of this progress has been the growing commitment of seafood companies participating in ISSF conservation programs. These companies put smart science and sustainability policies into action — on vessels, in fleets, and throughout the global supply chain. Over time, conformance has increased substantially, reaching approximately 99 percent in recent reporting. By committing to implement science‑based practices, report data transparently, and cooperate with independent audits of their performance on conservation measures, ISSF participating companies are setting an example of how to translate scientific recommendations into measurable, real‑world outcomes.
One of the most important management advances over the past decade has been the adoption of science‑based harvest strategies. These pre‑agreed frameworks define how fisheries management must respond to changes in stock status — improving predictability, reducing uncertainty, and supporting long‑term stock resilience. Harvest strategies are now adopted or under development across all tuna RFMOs, with approximately half of the global tuna catch already managed under these frameworks. Industry engagement has been essential in advancing this transition through advocacy to RFMOs in support of the use of this management system.
Transparency has also improved, reinforced by tools developed and supported through ISSF. For example, the ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) list and Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI) tool provide publicly available, verified information on a substantial share of the world’s tuna vessels. Seafood buyers and other stakeholders use the PVR and VOSI to better understand fishing activity and compliance, strengthening market confidence. Participating companies have played a critical role by requiring transparency from fleets within their supply chains and supporting the infrastructure needed to make that transparency meaningful.
Focus on Tuna Ecosystem Health
However, progress has not been limited to target tuna stocks. Commercial tuna fishing’s impact on the marine ecosystem has been reduced through fishers’ adoption of non‑entangling and biodegradable fish aggregating device designs, as well as the use of expanded bycatch mitigation practices informed by ISSF research. Monitoring and compliance systems have evolved as well, with increased use of observer coverage, electronic monitoring, and improved data reporting by vessels.
Markets have reinforced these changes. Retailers and foodservice companies increasingly reference ISSF participation and use of ISSF tools within their sourcing policies. Consistent growth in the number of fisheries meeting the Marine Stewardship Council certification standard testifies to the success of science, management, industry, and market collaboration.
None of this progress has occurred in isolation, of course. Independent, peer‑reviewed science remains the foundation of effective fisheries management, informing stock assessments, risk analysis, and management advice. RFMOs provide the governance framework to translate that science into binding measures.
But it is industry that must operationalize those measures. Through participation in ISSF via membership in our sister organization, the International Seafood Sustainability Association (ISSA), seafood companies contribute to science, innovation, and advocacy that strengthen fisheries management and create resilient supply chains.
While we’ve witnessed substantial progress over the past decade, continued improvement remains essential. Expanding harvest strategy implementation; strengthening ecosystem‑based management; advancing monitoring and compliance; and addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing will require sustained commitment.
World Tuna Day is a moment to recognize what ongoing, science‑based collaboration can achieve to ensure that tuna remains a viable and sustainable resource for the future.
