Author: Lynne Mandel

ISSF Welcomes New Participating Company | PLUS Innovating for Bycatch Mitigation

Written by Lynne Mandel on May 29, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured News

ISSF Welcomes Vietnam’s KTCFOOD as a New Participating Company

KTCFOOD Joins 23 Leading Seafood Companies Working to Drive Sustainability in Global Tuna Fisheries

Vietnam-based KTCFOOD has joined ISSF as its newest participating company. By aligning with ISSF — recognized as a leading force in the long-term conservation and sustainable use of global tuna fisheries — KTCFOOD will support science-based conservation initiatives, contribute to sustainability-focused research, and help promote responsible fishing policies and practices worldwide.

“KTCFOOD’s decision to join ISSF reflects a commitment to investing in a better future for tuna fisheries through credible, science-based action,” said Susan Jackson, ISSF President. “We are proud to welcome them to our global network of changemakers. With every new partner, we strengthen our commitment to building a seafood supply chain that is more transparent and sustainable — while advancing the health of tuna stocks and protecting the broader marine ecosystem through collaborative conservation efforts.”

Meet the ISSF Participating Companies

Featured Content

Advancing Shark, Mobula Ray, and Seabird Bycatch Research

ISSF’s at-sea bycatch-mitigation research includes testing Bycatch Release Devices (BRDs), such as release ramps, with purse seine fleets.

These ramps allow fishers to release bycatch animals from the upper deck of the purse seiner back into the ocean. While primarily designed for sharks — particularly silky sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks, which are often accidentally caught and are of special concern due to their low resilience to fishing pressure — these ramps are also effective for releasing other bycatch species.

BRDs not only enable faster animal release, which is critical for post-release survival, but also improve crew safety.

Learn More in the ISSF Annual Report

Featured Article

A new article in the ICES Journal of Marine Science, titled “Codeveloping On-Deck Conservation Technology with Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fishers to Mitigate Elasmobranch Bycatch,” and co-authored by ISSF scientists, highlights innovative, co-developed bycatch release devices (BRDs) designed with tropical tuna purse seine fishers to improve the survival of sharks and rays.

These tools, including ramps, stretchers, and sorting grids, enhance crew safety and speed up releases, offering a practical win-win for conservation and fishing operations. The work also underscores the importance of long-term collaboration with fishers and growing market demand for sustainable practices.

A brief related video on the ICES YouTube channel offers an overview of the paper, including photos and video clips of BRDs.

Read the Paper

See All ISSF Peer-reviewed Articles

BLOG: Recognizing Progress in Fisheries Management | PLUS Updated RFMO Best Practice Snapshots

Written by Lynne Mandel on May 22, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured Content

Recognizing Progress in Tuna Fisheries Management

How RFMOs Are Advancing Four Key Components of Sustainable Fisheries

A growing share of the global tuna catch comes from stocks that are not subject to overfishing, thanks largely to continuously improving management by tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs). As an advocate and partner for science-based reforms, ISSF has played a catalytic role in driving many of these improvements.

Through targeted research, technical guidance, and the development of practical tools, ISSF has supported RFMOs in advancing key areas of fisheries management—particularly in strengthening compliance frameworks and expanding the use of electronic monitoring (EM). ISSF has also led pioneering research on fish aggregating device (FAD) designs, promoting the adoption of non-entangling and biodegradable materials to reduce ecological impacts and support sustainable fishing practices. These efforts have helped RFMOs build more transparent, accountable, and effective management systems.

Drawing from ISSF’s recently updated RFMO Best Practices Snapshots series and related content, here is a look at how tuna RFMOs have made significant strides across four fundamental aspects of sustainable fisheries management.

Featured Resource

RFMO Best Practices Snapshots

ISSF’s RFMO Best Practices Snapshots series offers an at-a-glance view of how the world’s major tuna RFMOs are performing against widely recognized best practices in fisheries management.

Updated regularly, the snapshots help stakeholders—including policymakers, industry leaders, and NGOs— track progress, identify gaps, and prioritize areas for action. By providing side-by-side comparisons across key sustainability topics like compliance, FAD management, and observer coverage, the series supports greater accountability and encourages continued improvements. The snapshots are a practical tool for fostering informed dialogue and driving science-based reforms at the RFMO level.

Explore Our Snapshots

Featured Graphic

RFMO Best Practice Performance

An updated table shows which RFMOs are leaders — that is, following best practices in fishery management — in several categories: IUU Vessel List, Authorized Vessel Record, Compliance Assessment Process, EM and 100% Observer Coverage, Supply & Tender Vessels, VMS, Transshipment, and FAD Management.

View

Did you Know?

Explore all ISSF advocacy outcomes in our annual report, Science Leads the Way.

Science in Action | Driving Progress for Sustainable Tuna Fisheries

Written by Lynne Mandel on May 8, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

ICYMI

Science Leads the Way

“ISSF uses the power of the scientific process to illuminate ways to continuously improve sustainable tuna-fishing policies. In the big picture of fishery sustainability, solution-oriented science is essential for sound policy. Our research can have the most impact when RFMOs and government agencies are able to leverage it to enact optimal conservation measures for fisheries.”

Susan Jackson, ISSF President, opens our 2024 Annual Report with a reflection that highlights ISSF’s commitment to continuous improvement in sustainable tuna fisheries through science-based initiatives, collaboration, and transparency.

Read Ms. Jackson’s Letter

Did you Know?

Vessel List Growth

At 2024-year end, the ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) listed an all- time-high 1,739 vessels. The Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI) reached 808 vessel registrations, a 63% annual increase.

Nearly 70% of vessels registered on ISSF’s Large Scale Purse Seine Record (LSPSR) also were listed on the PVR. And 84% of the large- scale tropical tuna purse-seine fish hold volume globally is represented on the PVR.

ISSF in the News

ISSF Publishes 2024 Annual Report Highlighting Scientific Achievements in Sustainable Tuna Fishing

Fish Focus

Progress at IOTC welcomed, but ISSF calls for stronger action

Undercurrent News

Science Leads the Way | ISSF Publishes 2024 Annual Report

Written by Lynne Mandel on April 29, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

ISSF Publishes 2024 Annual Report Highlighting Scientific Achievements in Sustainable Tuna Fishing

ISSF today released its 2024 annual report, Science Leads the Way, spotlighting the organization’s global efforts to drive sustainability in tuna fisheries through science-based solutions, industry engagement and policy advocacy.

With nearly half of ISSF’s budget dedicated to science in 2024, the report details a year rich with research milestones, collaborative partnerships and field-level impacts — efforts collectively aimed at ISSF’s ultimate objective: helping tuna fisheries to meet and maintain the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard criteria. From publishing the first “jelly-FAD” construction guide on biodegradable, non-entangling fishing gear to organizing 34 workshops for tuna fishers worldwide, ISSF continues to place science at the core of its efforts.

“ISSF uses the power of the scientific process to illuminate ways to continuously improve sustainable tuna-fishing policies,” Susan Jackson, ISSF President, remarks in the report. “In the big picture of fishery sustainability, solution-oriented science is essential for sound policy. Our research can have the most impact when RFMOs and government agencies are able to leverage it to enact optimal conservation measures for fisheries.”

Learn More

ISSF Responds to IOTC Meeting | Hits and Misses for Indian Ocean Tuna Fisheries

Written by Lynne Mandel on April 22, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

As we mark Earth Day — a moment to reflect on our shared responsibility to protect the planet — ISSF celebrates progress made at the recent Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) annual meeting. The adoption of science-based measures for tuna and sharks represents meaningful steps toward healthier ocean ecosystems and more sustainable fisheries management.

Progress Made at IOTC
ISSF Applauds New Measures for Skipjack, Bigeye, and Sharks, Urges Further Action

In March, we reflected on the importance of the IOTC maintaining momentum on science-based tuna conservation and effective monitoring of its fisheries. As the IOTC annual meeting concludes with significant progress accomplished, the Commission still has more work to do to align its measures with the necessary reforms stakeholders like ISSF had asked for.

Read our overview of the outcomes across key priority areas in a new blog from ISSF experts Dr. Hilario Murua and Kerrie Robertson.

Read the Blog

Understanding Bycatch in Tuna Fisheries | UPDATED Tuna Fisheries’ Impacts Report

Written by Lynne Mandel on April 17, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured Report

REPORT: Tuna Fisheries’ Impacts on Non-Tuna Species and Other Environmental Aspects

Fishers use different types of fishing gears and strategies to catch tunas. All tuna fishing methods have some sort of environmental impact, the most obvious one being the catch of non-tuna species, some of which are highly vulnerable.

An updated report, Tuna Fisheries’ Impacts on Non-Tuna Species and Other Environmental Aspects, summarizes some of the main impacts for fisheries that catch the major commercial tunas. It also analyzes the environmental scores obtained by different tuna fishery types certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, showing that most of the main fishing methods have some type of impacts on non-tunas, habitats, and ecosystems.

The report then reviews the management measures adopted by RFMOs to mitigate these impacts, and this information is complemented with a description of other conservation measures adopted by ISSF that enable seafood companies and vessels to improve the sustainability of tuna fisheries.

Learn more

Featured Content

Reducing Bycatch: Efforts to Make Tuna Fishing More Sustainable

ISSF’s Bycatch Reduction webpage outlines the organization’s initiatives to minimize the unintentional capture of non-target marine species in tuna fisheries. The page presents efforts to reduce bycatch of sharks and sea turtles, particularly in purse-seine and longline fishing operations. It also highlights strategies such as modifying fishing gear, implementing best practices for releasing bycatch species, and supporting data collection to inform conservation measures.

Dive in

Did you Know?

ISSF Participating Companies are seafood companies that have committed to conform to ISSF conservation measures for improving the long-term health of tuna fisheries — including bycatch mitigation measures for tuna fisheries that are intended to reduce catches of non‑target species including seabirds, sea turtles, marine mammals, sharks, and rays.

View Bycatch Mitigation Measures

ISSF in the News
Reeling in Responsibility: The Path to Sustainable Tuna Fisheries

TriplePundit

Priorities for Indian Ocean Tuna Fisheries | Reviewing Our Top IOTC Asks

Written by Lynne Mandel on April 10, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

ICYMI

BLOG: The Need for Science-Based Conservation and Effective Monitoring in the Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) annual meeting presents a crucial opportunity for member nations to continue to increase cooperation toward the adoption of science-based tuna conservation measures; improved bycatch mitigation measures; and enhanced monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) mechanisms.

Without the adoption of catch limits and other management measures to ensure stringent adherence to such limits – all of which also demand robust compliance monitoring systems – the health of tuna stocks and the broader marine ecosystem remain at risk.

Continue reading the blog by Holly Koehler and Dr. Hilario Murua.

Featured Infographic

Impacts of FAD Use, Proposed Solutions, & RFMO Implementation Status

An updated infographic identifies solutions to several potential negative impacts of fish aggregating devices (FADs) and then tracks four tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations’ implementation of the solutions.

View

Featured Content

Fuel Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Global Tuna Fisheries: 2024 Updated Report

Global tuna fisheries are amongst the largest and most valuable marine capture fisheries in the world. As the climate continues to warm, it is critical to understand the scale of this industry’s fuel use and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhancing the sustainability of this fishery while contributing to global climate goals.

In 2010, Dr. Peter Tyedmers and Dr. Robert Parker undertook work for ISSF to quantify direct fuel use and associated GHG emissions from tuna fishing vessels for the 2009 fishing year. The current study by Dr. Tyedmers and Sarah Donovan serves as an update to the original assessment, providing a snapshot of fuel use and related GHG emissions estimate of global tuna fisheries and supporting activities as of 2023. By comparing the current findings with the earlier project results and data published in the literature, this report also aims to provide a sense of the trajectory of fuel use and resulting GHG emissions within tuna fisheries, as well as to identify opportunities for further improvement.

ISSF in the News

87% of Global Tuna Catch Comes from Stocks at Healthy Abundance Levels

Perishable News

BLOG: Science-Based Conservation & Effective Monitoring in the Indian Ocean

Written by Lynne Mandel on April 3, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured News

Maintaining Momentum for Sustainable Tuna Fisheries: The Need for Science-Based Conservation and Effective Monitoring in the Indian Ocean

The April 2025 Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) annual meeting presents a crucial opportunity for member nations to continue to increase cooperation toward the adoption of science-based tuna conservation measures; improved bycatch mitigation measures; and enhanced monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) mechanisms.

Continue reading the blog by Holly Koehler & Dr. Hilario Murua.

ICYMI

IOTC Position Statement

ISSF released its position statement ahead of the annual meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) April 13-17, 2025.

A French translation of the statement is available.

Review the Full Statement

Featured Video

Success in Research

ISSF President Susan Jackson highlights research outcomes that support long-term tuna fisheries sustainability. Jackson reviews ISSF work on acoustic discrimination technology to enable selective fishing and biodegradable fish aggregating device (FADs) that help minimize the ecosystem impacts of fishing.

Watch

ISSF in the News

Global tuna stocks report show sustainability progress

Undercurrent News

How to Protect Tuna: Insights from ISSF’s Gala Moreno on Sustainable Fisheries

How to Protect The Ocean Podcast

Understanding Tuna Stock Health | ISSF Resource Round Up

Written by Lynne Mandel on March 20, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

ICYMI

87% of Global Tuna Catch Comes from Stocks at Healthy Levels

Of the total commercial tuna catch worldwide, about 87% comes from stocks at “healthy” levels of abundance, according to the March 2025 ISSF Status of the Stocks report, and that percentage is similar to findings shared in the previous November 2024 report. Overfished stocks account for 2% of the total catch—down eight percentage points from the last report. The percentage of the catch that came from stocks at an intermediate level of abundance is 10%—an eight-percentage-point increase from November 2024 findings.

Learn More

ISSF produces other reports that are complementary to the Status of the Stocks report and are published as part of the our technical report series.

Stock Assessment 101: Current Practice for Tuna Stocks gives a simple introduction to concepts and terms such as F, FMSY, SSBMSY, Recruitment, etc., which are encountered numerous times in this report. Many terms are also defined in the ISSF Glossary.
Tuna Fisheries’ Impacts on Non-Tuna Species and Other Environmental Aspects: 2025 Update reviews some of the main environmental impacts, particularly bycatch, caused by different types of tuna fishing methods.

Additional related resources are available:

The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) page of ISSF’s website provides additional information about the RFMOs: How they are structured, who are their members, how they obtain their scientific advice, how are decisions made, and what ISSF’s main advocacy asks are for each one.
Our MSC tuna fisheries list shows tuna fisheries worldwide that either have been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or are currently undergoing a full assessment to become certified. The list is updated quarterly.
The tuna FIPs list shows publicly listed tuna fishery improvement projects (FIPs) that are third-party verified. The list is updated quarterly.

Featured Tool

Interactive Stock Status & Catch Tool

Our interactive tool allows you to visualize current and historical data from ISSF’s Status of the Stocks report. The tool has three tabs — one for visualizing tuna stock health since 2011, another for visualizing the current tuna catch by fishing method, and a third with catch trends by fishing method since 1950.

Explore Here

REPORT: 87% of Global Tuna Catch Comes from Stocks at Healthy Levels | PLUS Priorities for Indian Ocean Tuna Fisheries

Written by Lynne Mandel on March 13, 2025. Posted in eNewsletters, News.

Featured News

87% of Global Tuna Catch Comes from Stocks at Healthy Levels

Catch from Overfished Stocks Decreased By Eight Percentage Points Versus November 2024 Report

Featured Content

ISSF Urges IOTC to Strengthen Compliance Processes, Tuna Stock Conservation, and More

ISSF has released its position statement ahead of the annual meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) April 13-17, 2025.

The statement leads with a call to strengthen the management organization’s compliance processes and ensure robust and transparent assessment of IOTC member accountability. It goes on to detail priorities for Indian Ocean tuna stock conservation—including for yellowfin, skipjack, and bigeye tuna—as well asks for improvements in FAD management, bycatch mitigation and shark protections, electronic monitoring and reporting and observer coverage, and more.

A French translation of the statement is available.

Review the full statement