Data Synergy & Market Value: Collaboration, Membership & VOSI Updates | How SFP, GFW & ISSF are advancing tuna transparency — and why ISSA membership matters more than ever
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SFP, ISSF, and GFW Join Forces to Enhance Supply Chain Transparency in Tuna
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), Global Fishing Watch (GFW), and ISSF are collaborating to improve transparency in global tuna fisheries. The groups will leverage their extensive databases to help buyers more holistically assess the environmental impacts and compliance of their tuna supply chains. This collaboration was made possible through grant funding from the Walmart Foundation.
The collaboration will utilize SFP’s FishSource and Seafood Metrics platforms, which buyers widely use to monitor sourcing. It will also integrate information from ISSF’s ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) and Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI), as well as GFW’s Vessel Viewer and Marine Manager. These databases include sustainability indicators beyond the health of fish stocks and management practices, to reflect market needs and ensure responsible tuna sourcing.
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Benefits of ISSA Membership for Seafood Companies
When seafood companies join the International Seafood Sustainability Association (ISSA), they are doing more than supporting tuna and ocean conservation. They are also investing strategically in the resilience, reputation, and long-term success of their business.
For tuna processors, traders, and marketers of any size, ISSA membership can help them to stay competitive, meet customer demands, and secure their place in a future-facing tuna industry. ISSA is a non-profit trade association that powers ISSF. All ISSA members are also ISSF participating companies.
Reasons to Join ISSA
In recent E News issues, we have been focusing on business advantages of ISSA membership. This week’s highlight:
Meet Customer and Market Expectations
- Buyer and retailer policies increasingly reference ISSA/ISSF participation and the use of vessels listed on the ISSF PVR and VOSI
- As a member, ISSF companies can verifiably show and transparently report progress to meet buyer commitments, procurement criteria, and due diligence requirements
If you’re already an ISSF participating company, vessel, retailer, or consultant focused on sustainable tuna, encourage your seafood partners to explore the value of affordable ISSA membership.
ICYMI
VOSI Transparency Tool Tracks Tuna Vessel Best Practices
ISSF recently released a redesigned version of its Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI) tool — a first-of-its-kind global transparency resource for seafood supply chain stakeholders to assess tuna vessel participation best-practice sustainability initiatives. The updated VOSI expands the number of practices tracked; new criteria now verify whether vessels are adopting measures to reduce bycatch of vulnerable species like sharks and sea turtles, such as:
- Use of circle hooks and finfish bait
- Use of monofilament branch lines
- Landing sharks with fins naturally attached
- Avoiding the use of shark lines
The enhanced tool also continues to report on other practices, from non-entangling and biodegradable FAD use to electronic monitoring and MSC Improvement Program participation. All commitments are independently verified by MRAG Americas through an annual documentation review process, ensuring that vessel-reported actions are credible and transparent.
A new, intuitive platform interface makes it easier for users to filter vessels by specific sustainability practices, vessel flag, or identifier. Quick links to PVR data and exportable vessel profiles help create a seamless user experience.
