The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has expanded its Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI) resource to track vessel adoption of four additional, science-based best practices to reduce bycatch and protect marine ecosystems in tuna fisheries. The VOSI criteria for recognizing vessels using electronic monitoring, a best practice for ensuring comprehensive observer coverage of fishing activities, also has been updated.
Launched in 2020, VOSI provides information on vessels that have implemented sustainable-fishing initiatives that go beyond regulatory requirements. VOSI now tracks a total 15 individual best practices or indicators of sustainable fishing — in addition to noting participation in Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries, MSC Improvement Programs, and fishery improvement projects — for vessels worldwide.
More than 1,300 purse-seine, longline, pole-and-line, and supply-and-tender vessels are listed in VOSI. Independent auditor MRAG Americas annually verifies each listed vessel’s best practice recognition(s).
Stakeholders can use VOSI to search and filter vessel profiles by initiative type, vessel flag, vessel type and unique vessel identifier. They also can access related ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) vessel information within the VOSI interface. VOSI users can “pin,” copy, and export vessel data.
“Our VOSI resource helps turn vessel sustainability commitments into information that market partners and other stakeholders can see and use,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “By continuing to expand the independently verified practices that VOSI tracks, we make it easier for users to identify which vessels have been taking certain concrete and important steps to fish more sustainably.”
Four New Best Practices in FAD Use and Seabird Bycatch Mitigation
VOSI now tracks vessels with independently verified implementation of these sustainability practices:
- Biodegradable FADs only (purse seine and supply & tender vessels): The only FADs a vessel deploys are made of fully biodegradable materials (Category I) or fully biodegradable materials except for plastic-based flotation components (Category II). This indicator complements VOSI’s existing indicator for participation in biodegradable FAD trials
- Seabird bycatch mitigation measures for longline vessels: When tuna fishing in southern temperate latitudes, the longline vessel uses at least two of these three practices to reduce seabird bycatch: weighted branch lines, night setting, and tori lines
- Hook-shielding devices for longline vessels: When fishing in southern temperate latitudes, the longline vessel uses a hook-shielding device as a stand-alone seabird bycatch mitigation measure
- Underwater bait-setting devices for longline vessels: When fishing in southern temperate latitudes, the longline vessel uses an underwater bait-setting device as a stand-alone seabird bycatch mitigation measure
These seabird protection initiatives align with ISSF Conservation Measure 3.6 and best practices outlined in ISSF’s Skippers’ Guidebook to Sustainable Longline Fishing Practices.
The biodegradable FAD indicator helps VOSI users distinguish vessels that already have adopted and deploy only Category I and/or Category II biodegradable FAD designs from those vessels participating in bio-FAD trials.
Together, these four additional indicators can provide greater visibility into vessels’ adoption of key sustainability practices. Vessel owners who wish to demonstrate progress — and offer sustainable-fishing stakeholders more extensive verified vessel data — can apply for VOSI recognition now.
Updated Electronic Monitoring Recognition
ISSF also expanded its criteria for vessels to receive recognition under VOSI’s existing Electronic Monitoring (EM) indicator. A vessel may now qualify for the indicator by demonstrating that it meets the EM standard applicable in the tuna regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) area where it operates and makes EM data — such as analyzed records or image footage — available to that RFMO proactively, even in cases where EM is not formally required. These criteria recognize vessels taking steps to improve transparency and accountability beyond regulatory requirements.
Explore the updated VOSI tool, which is free to use and does not require an account, here.
Vessel owners interested in applying for VOSI recognition can learn more here.
