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Mixed Results at ICCAT 2025: Skipjack Management Procedure Adoption Marks Progress, Other Key Reforms Slip to 2026 and Beyond

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

As ICCAT concludes its 2025 annual meeting in Seville, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) offers a measured assessment of the outcomes. While the Commission made meaningful progress in some areas, particularly on harvest strategies, many issues central to achieving fully monitored and accountable fisheries were deferred to intersessional work in 2026 and beyond. Intense time spent on bluefin tuna quota negotiations also limited the Commission’s ability to advance other priority reforms.

Below we evaluate the results of the meeting through the lens of the priorities highlighted in our October ICCAT preview: finalizing harvest strategies, scaling up electronic monitoring and observer coverage, and advancing bycatch mitigation and shark conservation.

Progress on Finalizing Harvest Strategies for Key Stocks

The highlight of the 2025 meeting was ICCAT’s adoption of a management procedure (MP) for western Atlantic skipjack — a significant milestone and one of our top priorities. MPs, also known as harvest strategies, form the backbone of modern, science-based fisheries management by establishing pre-agreed decision rules that respond predictably and transparently to changing stock conditions.

With this adoption, ICCAT adds western Atlantic skipjack to a growing suite of stocks managed through harvest strategies, joining Atlantic bluefin stocks, northern albacore, and North Atlantic swordfish. The Commission continues to lead among tuna RFMOs in the transition to evidence-driven, precautionary management systems.

Looking ahead, ISSF encourages ICCAT to maintain momentum by:

  • Advancing intersessional work on tropical tuna harvest strategies, with priority attention to yellowfin and bigeye
  • Using the 2026 stock assessment for southern Atlantic albacore to advance the MP evaluations for that stock

A Miss for Electronic Monitoring and Observer Coverage

Despite growing global momentum toward improved monitoring levels in tuna fisheries, ICCAT did not make substantive advances this year on electronic monitoring (EM) or human observer coverage. Minimum observer levels remain unchanged, and the Commission did not set a timeline toward achieving 100 percent monitoring for industrial tuna fisheries — including during at-sea transshipment events.

This lack of progress is concerning. EM systems are now widely available, improving data quality and supporting accountable, science-based management. ISSF will continue to work with ICCAT parties to build implementation capacity, share best practices, and support comprehensive monitoring across fleets.

Progress was made to more fully align ICCAT’s port State measures recommendation to the FAO Port State Measures Agreement. And ICCAT further refined and streamlined its compliance process — important steps forward, and ones for which ISSF and its stakeholders advocated.

Mixed Outcomes for Advancing Bycatch Mitigation and Shark Conservation

Although ICCAT considered a wide range of shark and bycatch proposals, overall progress was limited, with only a few targeted advances and several important reforms postponed to next year.

Shortfin Mako Sharks: A Step Forward for the South Atlantic, but Gaps Remain

ICCAT adopted a new measure for South Atlantic shortfin mako sharks that establishes a 1,000 t mortality limit, covering landings and dead discards. This represents a meaningful reduction from recent catch levels and reflects improved alignment with scientific guidance. However, significant concerns remain regarding monitoring, total mortality accounting, and implementation. For the North Atlantic stock, ICCAT did not modify the existing measure. A full retention ban continues to be the most precautionary, science-based approach to promote recovery, and ISSF encourages the Commission to maintain and strengthen measures for both stocks as new scientific advice becomes available.

Other Shark Measures

Despite growing global agreement on “fins naturally attached” (FNA) as the most effective and enforceable tool for preventing finning, ICCAT once again did not adopt an FNA requirement. Modernizing ICCAT’s finning regulation remains a critical priority for 2026 to ensure accurate species-specific landings data and robust enforcement.

ICCAT adopted new protections for two vulnerable species, basking sharks and great white sharks, by prohibiting their retention, transshipment, and landing when caught in ICCAT fisheries. While these measures are welcome, broader reforms to improve shark bycatch recording, mitigation, and management were deferred to intersessional work.

No Progress on Updating Outdated Seabird Measures

As highlighted in our October preview, ISSF urged ICCAT to modernize its outdated seabird mitigation measure and task its scientists with reviewing updated best-practice techniques. The Commission did not take these steps, and seabird conservation remains an important gap to address.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 ICCAT meeting produced a mix of achievements and missed opportunities. The adoption of the western Atlantic skipjack MP represents important progress toward science-based management. At the same time, delays on electronic monitoring, observer coverage, tropical tuna harvest strategies, and shark and seabird conservation highlight the need for greater urgency in 2026.

To meet scientific advice and increasing market expectations for accountability and transparency, ICCAT must accelerate its work on:

  • Advancing the harvest strategy portfolio
  • Scaling up EM and observer coverage
  • Modernizing shark and seabird measures to meet scientific best practice

ISSF remains committed to supporting CPCs in these efforts. Through collaborative research, best-practice guidance, and ongoing engagement with industry, scientists, and NGOs, we will continue working to help ICCAT translate momentum into meaningful, measurable improvements for tuna stocks, ecosystems, and fishing communities across the Atlantic.

ISSF Strengthens Conservation Measures for Seafood Companies to Elevate Transparency and Accountability in Global Tuna Supply Chains

Written by svanouse on . Posted in News, Press Releases.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has adopted amendments to four of its conservation measures (CM) — 1.2 – Regional Fisheries Management (RFMO) Participation, 4.4c – Transshipment at Sea – Observer Coverage, 3.6 – Transactions with Vessels Implementing Best Practices for Sharks, Sea Turtles and Seabirds, and 3.7 – Vessel-Based FAD Management Policies — reinforcing the tuna sector’s leadership in science-based sustainability and transparency across global supply chains.

“The companies participating in ISSF continue to show that transparency and accountability are central to sustainable tuna fisheries,” said Tony Lazazzara, Chair, ISSF Board of Directors and Group Director of Global Fish Procurement, Thai Union Group. “These amendments strengthen oversight of at-sea transshipment and set clearer expectations for longline vessels to implement best practices that reduce bycatch of sharks, seabirds, and sea turtles. Together with improved guidance on FAD management, these updates help ensure that science-driven fishing practices translate into measurable improvements on the water.”

All four measures apply to ISSF Participating Companies, and most also affect vessels listed on ISSF’s ProActive Vessel Register (PVR), one of four public vessel lists that ISSF provides to foster transparency in tuna fishing.

Strengthened Conservation Measures

  • ISSF CM 1.2 – RFMO Participation and CM 4.4c – Transshipment at Sea: Observer Coverage
    The amendments to Conservation Measures 1.2 and 4.4(c) work in tandem to strengthen the responsible management of at-sea transshipment — a critical activity for tuna supply-chain traceability and a focus area for RFMOs.

The update to CM 1.2 clarifies that vessels engaged in at-sea transshipment must be flagged to nations that are members of the relevant RFMO, extending to transshipment vessels a requirement that has always applied to fishing vessels under this measure. This measure applies to PVR-listed vessels.

The amended CM 4.4(c) for large-scale longline vessels further reinforces this requirement by reiterating that transshipment may occur only with vessels flagged to a country that is a member of the RFMO governing the waters in which the activity occurs. In addition, transshipment vessels must now also appear on the RFMO’s publicly available record of authorized vessels for that region, helping ensure that only vessels operating under RFMO jurisdiction and oversight are used in transshipment operations.

Together, these refinements help close critical gaps in oversight, align ISSF’s measures with best-practice transshipment expectations, and provide ISSF Participating Companies with greater clarity to support transparent and accountable supply chains.

  • ISSF CM 3.6 – Transactions with Vessels Implementing Best Practices for Sharks, Sea Turtles and Seabirds
    Updates to CM 3.6 clarify requirements for seafood companies to transact only with longline vessels that implement specific best practices for reducing bycatch of sharks, seabirds, and marine turtles, including:

    • Use of circle hooks and monofilament lines (where wire trace use is prohibited)
    • No use of shark lines at any time
    • Use of whole finfish bait (where required)
    • In southern temperate latitudes, use of at least two of the following seabird mitigation methods – weighted branch lines, tori lines, and night-setting; or use hook-shielding devices

These refinements support the adoption of proven bycatch mitigation techniques for longline tuna vessels, consistent with the ISSF Skippers’ Guidebook to Sustainable Longline Fishing Practices. This measure applies to PVR-listed vessels.

  • ISSF CM 3.7 – Vessel-Based FAD Management Policies
    This amendment clarifies the measure’s applicability to anchored FADs as well as drifting FADs, providing clearer direction for vessel policies, auditing, and compliance so that best practices are implemented across all FAD types. This measure applies to PVR-listed vessels.

“ISSF’s process brings science, industry practicality, and RFMO policy together,” said Susan Jackson, ISSF President. “By refining measures as conditions evolve, we help companies lead and continue to raise the bar on verified, effective practices that protect tuna stocks and ocean ecosystems.”

A Transparent and Verified Pathway for Industry Leadership

ISSF conservation measures are developed through a robust process that draws upon the best available fisheries science and expert input from the ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee, ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee, and ISSF Participating Companies before adoption by the ISSF Board of Directors. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures that new or amended measures are both scientifically sound and operationally practical across the global tuna supply chain.

Once adopted, these measures apply to all ISSF Participating Companies, which represent the  majority of the world’s canned tuna processing capacity. Compliance with the measures is independently audited by the third-party firm MRAG Americas, and the results are publicly reported. Through their commitment to conform with ISSF’s suite of conservation measures — covering topics from FAD management and bycatch mitigation to monitoring and traceability — ISSF Participating Companies are helping to drive tangible, science-based improvements in tuna fisheries worldwide. Each measure update, like those amendments adopted in November 2025, reflects ISSF’s continuous-improvement model and its unique role as a bridge among science, industry, and RFMO policy reform.

Read the updated ISSF Conservation Measures:
www.iss-foundation.org/vessel-and-company-commitments/conservation-measures/our-conservation-measures/

Securing the Pacific’s Tuna Future: ISSF Priorities for WCPFC Action on FADs and Transshipment

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When the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meets this December, it will have a vital opportunity to strengthen the management of the world’s most productive tuna fisheries — those that sustain global markets, coastal communities, and marine ecosystems alike. The Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) accounts for more than half of global tuna catches, making the Commission’s decisions critical to the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks and to the health of the ocean systems that support them.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is calling on WCPFC members to take decisive action in two areas where improved rules can deliver meaningful results: managing fish aggregating devices (FAD) and strengthening at-sea transshipment regulation and port State controls. Progress in these areas will reduce ecosystem impacts, enhance data collection and the monitoring and tracking of FADs, and help deter illegal fishing activities.

Advancing Science-Based FAD Management

FADs — floating objects that attract tuna and make fishing more efficient — play an important role in tropical tuna purse-seine fisheries. Yet when lost, abandoned, or poorly tracked, these devices can harm marine habitats, create marine litter, and complicate accurate assessments of fishing effort.

The WCPFC has taken important first steps by prohibiting the use of entangling materials in FADs, and several initiatives to recover FADs have begun in the WCPO. Yet compared with other tuna RFMOs, the Commission is falling behind in advancing more comprehensive FAD management reforms. Much more is needed: WCPFC must adopt a more robust, science-based framework to ensure effective FAD management and maintain parity with global best practices.

ISSF recommends that WCPFC adopt a package of measures that includes:

  • Establishing a timeline to transition to 100 percent biodegradable FADs, consistent with timelines set by other tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs)
  • Creating a FAD register
  • Requiring near-real-time transmission of FAD position and acoustic biomass data (with a maximum time lag of 90 days) to improve scientific analysis
  • Adopting a marking scheme for both FAD buoys and structures
  • Setting rules for FAD ownership and buoy activation and deactivation

These actions would equip scientists and managers with the information needed to set science-based management measures, develop and assess FAD recovery programs, and reduce ecosystem impacts and marine debris. By adopting this comprehensive approach, the Commission would bring its management framework up to pace with its peers — strengthening its stewardship of the region’s tuna resources and reinforcing its commitment to responsible, science-driven fisheries governance.

Closing Loopholes: Strengthening Transshipment and Enhancing Port State Controls

The transfer of catch between vessels at sea, known as transshipment, can improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. However, if poorly regulated it also provides an avenue for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fish to enter the supply chain, undermining hard-won gains in sustainable management and global and regional efforts to combat IUU.

WCPFC’s current at-sea transshipment measure has not kept pace with evolved international standards. ISSF recommends that WCPFC modernize this measure to implement the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Transshipment by:

  • Requiring advance notification at least 48 hours before any transshipment, with details on time, location, and quantities on board before transshipment
  • Mandating the use of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) as a complement to Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) along with more frequent VMS reporting, and prohibiting transshipments during VMS failures
  • Preventing vessels from acting as both donor and receiving vessels

At the same time, WCPFC must strengthen its measure for port State measures to align fully with the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) — the global achievement for combatting IUU fishing activities. Revisions to this measure should include:

  • Requiring advance notice of port entry
  • Setting minimum levels of inspection
  • Establishing clear criteria for denial of port entry or use

Effective port controls and robust oversight of at-sea transshipment are fundamental to combatting IUU fishing activities, as well as improving data collection and monitoring both at sea and in port. These revisions would close existing monitoring gaps and bring WCPFC into alignment with global best practices.

A Call to Leadership

The Western and Central Pacific region has achieved notable progress in sustainable tuna management — from maintaining healthy stocks to adopting harvest strategies for key species. Continued success calls for action to comprehensively address the management and tracking of FADs and stronger regulation and monitoring of fishing activities that can be a conduit for IUU.

ISSF stands ready to support the Commission and its members in tackling these issues with science-based guidance, technical resources, collaborative partnerships, and a shared commitment to ensuring that the Pacific’s tuna fisheries remain healthy and well-managed for generations to come.

Holly Koehler is the ISSF Vice President of Policy & Outreach and Kerrie Robertson is the ISSF Policy & Outreach Consultant.

Building on Progress: ISSF Priorities for ICCAT 2025

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As the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) convenes its annual meeting from November 17-24, 2025, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is encouraged by the Commission’s ongoing momentum toward stronger, science-based management.

At this year’s meeting, ISSF urges ICCAT Parties to build on that progress by focusing on three critical and complementary priorities: finalizing harvest strategies for key stocks, scaling up electronic monitoring (EM) and human observer coverage, and advancing bycatch mitigation and shark conservation.

Together, these actions can accelerate ICCAT’s transition to fully monitored and evidence-driven fisheries management.

Completing the Transition to Harvest Strategies

ICCAT has become a leader among tuna RFMOs in adopting harvest strategies, also known as management procedures (MPs), which are frameworks that use pre-agreed rules to adjust fishing opportunities based on stock status indicators. MPs replace short-term negotiations with predictable, transparent, and precautionary decision-making.

Following the successful adoption of MPs for northern albacore, Atlantic bluefin tuna, and north Atlantic swordfish, ICCAT scientists and managers have developed candidate MPs for western Atlantic skipjack that are ready for adoption. ICCAT must now adopt this MP in 2025.

ISSF also urges ICCAT to accelerate progress on multi-stock harvest strategies for bigeye, yellowfin, and eastern skipjack, as well as for southern Atlantic albacore. Several Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries that catch southern Atlantic albacore have deadlines to implement MPs by 2028–2029. By acting decisively, ICCAT can help fleets close MSC conditions and demonstrate leadership in adopting tools to ensure precautionary decision-making.

Scaling Up Electronic Monitoring and Observer Coverage

Independent data collection is the cornerstone of sustainable tuna fisheries. Comprehensive observer coverage — through human observers, electronic monitoring, or a combination of both — ensures that catch and effort data are accurate and that compliance with ICCAT measures can be verified.

In 2023, ICCAT took a major step by adopting minimum standards for electronic monitoring programs across purse-seine and longline fleets. The challenge now is implementation. At present, ICCAT requires only 10 percent observer coverage for longline vessels targeting tropical tunas — a level too low to produce reliable target catch and bycatch estimates. ISSF is therefore calling for ICCAT to increase observer coverage to at least 20 percent, as recommended in the past by ICCAT scientists, as an interim goal and to establish a clear timeline to reach 100 percent coverage in industrial tuna fisheries, including during at-sea transshipments.

EM technologies make that goal attainable. Cameras and sensors can continuously record fishing activity, complementing human observers and greatly expanding the scale of monitoring.

ISSF’s own research and advocacy — from pilot EM trials on tropical tuna vessels to collaborative workshops with RFMOs and companies — have helped demonstrate EM’s feasibility. By enabling electronic monitoring to count toward ICCAT’s current observer requirements, the Commission can improve data quality, incentivize implementation of EM, and ensure fleets are meeting the current minimum observer coverage levels — a win-win for science-based management.

Strengthening Shark Protections and Bycatch Mitigation Through Better Monitoring

Electronic monitoring and bycatch mitigation are closely linked: effective bycatch management depends on monitoring and accurate, verifiable data. Without adequate observer coverage, managers cannot accurately estimate bycatch or enforce the use of required mitigation measures or retention prohibitions — a gap that hinders conservation outcomes for sharks, seabirds, and sea turtles.

Shark conservation is a particularly urgent priority this year. Both North and South Atlantic shortfin mako populations remain overfished and subject to overfishing, according to the 2025 SCRS report. For the northern stock, any catch retention impedes recovery; for the southern stock, total removals must remain below 1,295 tonnes to stay within the scientific advice. ISSF supports a full retention ban for the North Atlantic and catch limits for the South Atlantic that account for all sources of mortality, including dead discards and post-release losses.

At the same time, ICCAT should modernize its finning regulation by requiring sharks to be landed with fins naturally attached with no exceptions. This rule improves enforcement and data accuracy while helping to curb illegal finning.

Updating ICCAT’s seabird bycatch measure is also essential. The current rule predates the latest science and does not align with standards under the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP). The Commission must update its seabird measure to ensure required seabird mitigation techniques reflect the best available science.

By embracing EM and increasing observer coverage requirements, ICCAT can close the monitoring and information gaps that undermine bycatch management. The technology now exists to collect needed data and identify and address compliance issues swiftly — from unreported shark discards to non-use of required mitigation gear — and to ensure that these conservation measures deliver real results for threatened species.

Looking Ahead

Over the past several years, ICCAT has been making measurable progress that we applaud. It has advanced new harvest strategies, improved tropical tuna management, and adopted standards for electronic monitoring — concrete steps that move Atlantic tuna fisheries closer to long-term sustainability. But sustaining these gains and ensuring similar outcomes for other tuna and non-target species requires better data, increased monitoring, modern management tools, and consistent accountability.

ISSF remains ready to assist. Through collaborative research, vessel transparency initiatives, and best-practice guidance, ISSF is committed to help ICCAT members and stakeholders translate science into action and take the needed next steps toward comprehensive monitoring, complete adoption of harvest strategies, and stronger protections for vulnerable species.

Mixed Outcomes at IATTC 2025: Progress for Tropical Tunas, Misses on Harvest Strategies

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Blogs, News.

When the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) convened its 2025 Annual Meeting, the stakes were high for the sustainability of tuna fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). Ahead of the meeting, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) identified a set of science-based priorities to advance conservation of tropical tunas, improve FAD management, strengthen bycatch mitigation, and support transparency and compliance.

After a week of intense negotiations, the meeting delivered more than many expected in some areas — particularly for tropical tunas and FAD management. Yet progress was uneven, with important gaps on longline observer coverage, harvest strategies, bycatch mitigation, and ecosystem-based fisheries management.

Progress for Tropical Tunas

A central achievement was the amendment of the tropical tuna conservation measure for one year. Based on advice from the IATTC Scientific Staff and Scientific Advisory Committee — and reflecting the healthy status of bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack stocks — the Commission reduced the purse seine closure by eight days, to 64 days. This measure continues to provide effective safeguards for tropical tunas in the EPO.

Crucially, the agreement preserved both the Individual Vessel Threshold and the Enhanced Monitoring Program, tools that are essential for tracking bigeye catch and supporting more accurate stock assessments.

The Commission also agreed to sustain the tuna tagging program, funded through an industry levy. Together, these actions underscore the importance of scientific research and monitoring programs that generate the data needed to assess the tuna stocks and inform management decisions.

Another highlight was the creation of a joint working group with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) on South Pacific albacore, strengthening collaboration across tuna RFMOs.

Strengthening FAD Management

On fish aggregating devices (FADs), delegates expanded requirements for keeping satellite buoy communications active. Now, vessel operators must maintain the active buoys drifting south of 10°S latitude and west of 100°W — allowing recovery programs to track and retrieve devices before they strand on reefs or other sensitive habitats.

This decision supports the work of FAD recovery initiatives such as those in French Polynesia, Palmyra Atoll, and Galápagos Islands aligning with ISSF’s long-standing call for practical, science-based FAD improvements and reduction of impacts.

However, broader reforms, such as establishing a comprehensive FAD register and mandating the reporting of historical acoustic buoy data, were not addressed and remain priorities for future meetings.

Sharks, Rays, and Bycatch

The meeting brought only modest progress on bycatch and ecosystem measures. Positively, the silky shark measure was extended for two years, and seven additional ray species were added under IATTC management.

Yet other proposals stalled. A long-advocated proposal for a “fins naturally attached” rule for sharks was, once again, not adopted, while measures to strengthen protections for cetaceans, seabirds, and sea turtles also did not advance. Efforts to embed an ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) also did not progress, leaving ISSF’s science-based recommendations unmet.

Assessing the Outcomes: Hits and Misses

Overall, the 2025 meeting delivered significant wins on tropical tuna management, scientific research and monitoring programs, and FAD buoy deactivation — tangible steps forward that demonstrate the Commission’s ability to reach compromise, even at the last minute.

Yet the lack of progress on harvest strategies,  stronger bycatch mitigation measures, and expanded longline observer coverage underscores persistent gaps in the EPO’s fisheries management framework. Without progress in these areas, the long-term sustainability of tuna fisheries and associated ecosystems remains at risk.

Looking Ahead

ISSF commends the Commission for its achievements in 2025, while underscoring the urgency of tackling unfinished business. Science-based harvest strategies, broader monitoring through observer coverage and electronic monitoring — particularly on large-scale longline vessels — and modern, science-based bycatch mitigation and ecosystem protections are essential to align with international best practices.

As IATTC prepares for its 2026 meeting next year, ISSF will continue to work with Commission members, industry, and other partners to encourage ambitious, science-driven progress for sustainable tuna fisheries in the EPO.

Securing the Future of Eastern Pacific Tuna: ISSF’s 2025 Priorities for the IATTC

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The Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) is home to some of the world’s most productive tuna fisheries, supplying a vital source of protein to millions of people while sustaining coastal economies across the Americas and beyond. The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) plays a central role in ensuring these fisheries are managed sustainably. As delegates prepare for the IATTC’s 2025 Annual Meeting in September, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is urging action on a set of science-driven priorities to safeguard the long-term health of tuna stocks and the ecosystems that support them.

The 2025 ISSF position statement emphasizes three interconnected areas: adopting effective harvest strategies; strengthening electronic monitoring (EM) and increasing observer coverage; and implementing science-based tuna conservation measures. Together, these steps can help secure the future of the region’s fisheries, supporting healthy marine ecosystems and responsible resource stewardship 

Embedding Harvest Strategies into Tuna Management

Harvest strategies, also known as management procedures (MP), are comprehensive, pre-agreed frameworks that set clear objectives, reference points, and harvest control rules for managing fish stocks. By agreeing on management responses in advance, harvest strategies help remove short-term political pressures from decision-making and keep fishing levels aligned with scientific advice.

IATTC has made progress in recent years, including adopting preliminary target reference points for skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna. But a complete harvest strategy for any of the tropical tunas has not yet been finalized. ISSF is calling on the Commission to:

  • Finalize the Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) for all tropical tunas, ensuring that management objectives and revised reference points are adopted.
  • Accelerate adoption of comprehensive, precautionary harvest strategies for all tropical tuna stocks, so that future management measures are grounded in a tested, science-based framework.

A robust harvest strategy not only provides stability for fishing nations and industry but also ensures that conservation measures — such as seasonal closures or catch limits — are part of a long-term plan, guided by science, rather than a year-by-year negotiation.

Increasing Observer Coverage, including Through the Use of Electronic Monitoring

Comprehensive monitoring is the backbone of effective fisheries management. Without reliable, independently verified data on catch, effort, and bycatch, managers cannot make informed decisions — and compliance with conservation measures is harder to assess.

Currently, IATTC rules require just 5% observer coverage for longline vessels, a level far too low to produce reliable estimates of catch and bycatch, especially for species like bigeye and yellowfin tuna. Small-scale purse seine vessels (classes 1–5) have no observer coverage requirement at all.

ISSF’s 2025 ask is clear:

  • Increase observer coverage on large-scale longline vessels to at least an interim 20%, whether through human observers or electronic monitoring in line with IATTC’s recently adopted interim EM standards — and set a timeline to reach 100%.
  • Require observer coverage for small-scale purse seine vessels at the same interim 20% level, with the same path toward full coverage.

Electronic monitoring technology, which includes cameras, sensors, and data transmission systems, offers a cost-effective way to expand coverage. The Commission adopted interim EM standards last year. And while further work is needed to operationalize these standards, this tool is available and being used by some fleets. EM technology can play an important role in increasing observer coverage for longline and small scale purse seine fleets. ISSF stresses that achieving 100% coverage for all industrial tuna fisheries is both feasible and necessary to ensure the accuracy of scientific assessments and strengthen compliance.

Science-Based Tuna Conservation Measures

The EPO’s three tropical tuna stocks — skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye — are currently in healthy condition, according to IATTC scientific advice. This presents an opportunity to refine management measures without compromising stock status, provided safeguards remain in place.

ISSF supports the scientific staff’s recommended adjustments to purse seine fishery closures; specifically, either:

  • Reduce the seasonal closure by no more than 10 days, or
  • Reduce by no more than 7 days while eliminating the ‘corralito’ closure area

Critically, ISSF emphasizes that any reductions in the closure period should be made within the framework of an adopted harvest strategy and alongside the maintenance of the Individual Vessel Limit and a robust monitoring program. Integrating the Traditional Port Sampling and Enhanced Monitoring Program into a unified Integrated Port Sampling Program (IPSP) would further strengthen data quality and oversight.

ISSF also urges IATTC to adopt a requirement for detailed set-by-set and vessel-specific catch and effort data from longline fisheries. Such data, both historical and current, are essential for developing reliable abundance indices and improving scientific advice.

Why These Measures Matter

The IATTC region is an important part of the global tuna supply. Its fisheries feed millions, provide livelihoods for coastal communities, and support a complex, interconnected seafood economy. But their productivity depends on healthy tuna stocks, thriving marine ecosystems, robust science, and transparent, enforceable management.

By advancing harvest strategies, increasing observer coverage, including through the use of EM, and fine-tuning conservation measures based on the best available science, the Commission can ensure the EPO remains on the path of long-term sustainability. These steps will not only protect tuna populations but also reinforce market and consumer confidence in seafood sourced from the region.

ISSF, alongside industry partners, NGOs, and scientific experts, remains committed to working with IATTC members to make these priorities a reality. The upcoming meeting offers a pivotal opportunity to strengthen the foundation for sustainable tuna management.

ISSF Releases 2025 Snapshot of Large-Scale Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fishing Fleets

Written by svanouse on . Posted in News, Press Releases.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has released its updated Snapshot of the Large-Scale Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fishing Fleets report, a unique global assessment of vessel capacity trends in tropical tuna fisheries. The authors estimate that, as of June 2025, 675 large-scale purse-seine (LSPS) vessels are fishing for tropical tuna species — an increase of 3.8% compared to last year — with a combined fish hold volume (FHV) of over 864,000 m3 (cubic meters), representing a less than 0.2% increase from last year in overall fishing capacity.

“ISSF is the only organization that aggregates and analyzes global capacity data for these fleets year over year,” said Dr. Victor Restrepo, ISSF Vice President of Science. “Our snapshot series provides science-based insights to support RFMO and industry decision-making on sustainable tuna fishing capacity management — an issue central to long-term ocean health.”

LSPS vessels, defined as those with at least 335 m³ in FHV, account for the majority of the world’s tropical tuna catch. To update the report, ISSF compiles data from RFMO vessel registries and other sources, focusing on vessels targeting skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna.

Key Findings from the 2025 Snapshot

  • New Vessel Additions: 47 LSPS vessels built after 2012 were added to RFMO authorized vessel lists since the 2024 report, including 11 newly built in 2024 and 2025. More than half are flagged to Indonesia and hover near the 335 m³ threshold.
  • Minimal Capacity Growth: While the number of LSPS vessels grew from 650 to 675, total FHV rose only marginally, from 863,100 m³ to 864,700 m³.
  • Fleet Turnover: Nine LSPS vessels were removed from the fishery due to scrapping or sinking between 2024 and 2025 — underscoring the need to account for vessel removals alongside new additions when evaluating fleet capacity.
  • Transparency on the Rise: 498 of the 675 LSPS vessels (74%) are now listed on ISSF’s independently audited ProActive Vessel Register (PVR), representing 83% of total FHV. The PVR is a voluntary transparency tool highlighting vessel practices that support sustainable tuna fisheries.
  • Flagging Patterns: For the first time, the report presents a trend analysis of flag State designations over time, showing that LSPS vessels flagged to developing or emerging economies now outnumber those flagged to developed ones by a ratio of 3.47 — more than double the ratio in the first snapshot released in 2012.
  • Global Trends: The estimated total number of all tuna purse-seine vessels worldwide rose by 9%, from 1,939 in 2024 to 2,106 in 2025. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) region continues to host the largest number of LSPS vessels (332).
  • Cross-Regional Authorization: 12% of LSPS vessels are authorized to fish in more than one RFMO region, complicating capacity management on a regional basis.

Recommendations for Industry and RFMOs

The report offers several recommendations for vessel owners and RFMOs:

  • Expand IMO Number Use: IMO number adoption among LSPS vessels has grown from 12% in 2011 to 99% today. ISSF urges further expansion to all vessel types and sizes.
  • Improve Vessel Data Accuracy: Greater quality control in RFMO vessel registry submissions is needed to address data gaps.
  • Track Active Capacity: All RFMOs should maintain not only lists of authorized vessels but also records of vessels actively fishing each year.

“Tracking tuna fishing capacity with rigor and consistency helps ensure that sustainability efforts keep pace with evolving fleet dynamics,” said Restrepo. “Publishing this data each year is critical to promoting accountability, enabling science-based decisions, and encouraging continuous improvement across the seafood supply chain.”

View the updated report here and a related infographic here.

 

Updated ISSF Report Assesses Tuna Stock Sustainability Against MSC Criteria

Written by svanouse on . Posted in News, Press Releases.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has published the latest edition of its comprehensive report, An Evaluation of the Sustainability of Global Tuna Stocks Relative to Marine Stewardship Council Criteria. The report assesses the 23 major commercial tuna stocks worldwide against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard, offering an informed view of global progress and remaining gaps in achieving tuna fisheries sustainability.

This edition applies v3.1 of the MSC Fisheries Standard, evaluating tuna stock health (MSC Principle 1) and the effectiveness of regional management frameworks (part of MSC Principle 3). The report’s insights are useful in informing seafood stakeholders and policymakers about where improvements are most needed to meet rigorous sustainability benchmarks.

Key Findings

Co-authored by independent experts Matthew Cieri, Geir Hønneland, Paul A. H. Medley, and Susan Singh-Renton, the 2025 report shows that 12 of 23 tuna stocks meet the critical MSC Principle 1 benchmark — demonstrating that they are not subject to overfishing and are maintaining target biomass levels. This finding represents a slight improvement over the 2024 report, which found 11 passing stocks. This year, South Pacific albacore earned a passing score.

The 12 passing stocks are:

  • Atlantic Ocean: Western skipjack, Northern albacore, Southern albacore, Eastern bluefin
  • Pacific Ocean: Western yellowfin, Western bigeye, Western skipjack, Eastern yellowfin, Eastern skipjack, South Pacific albacore
  • Indian Ocean: Skipjack
  • Southern Hemisphere: Southern bluefin

However, only seven of the 23 stocks have fully implemented well-defined harvest control rules. The continued absence of pre-agreed harvest strategies to implement controls before rebuilding is required, or to rebuild depleted stocks, remains a major barrier to broader MSC adherence.

“Although the report highlights important strides by tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), it also underscores that the urgency remains for adopting effective harvest control rules to prevent stock decline and ensure long-term sustainability,” said Susan Jackson, ISSF President. “Healthy fisheries require both sound science and robust governance.”

About the Report

Since 2013, ISSF’s annual Evaluation report has provided a consistent, science-based framework to measure tuna fisheries against the MSC sustainability criteria. This year’s report stands out for several reasons:

  • First use of MSC Version 3.1, which introduces more clear requirements around harvest control rules and other scoring elements
  • Full reassessment of the tuna RFMO portion of Principle 3 (Effective Management) — updated for the first time in several years, following a thorough review by one of the report co-authors
  • Updated scores reflect information available through March 2025

“These updates make the 2025 report especially useful,” said Dr. Victor Restrepo, ISSF Vice President of Science. “By applying the updated MSC criteria and reassessing management systems across all RFMOs, we’re able to provide clearer insights into where progress is being made — and where urgent action is still needed. And the report will be more helpful for fisheries that want to be certified using the updated MSC criteria.”

MSC Principle 1: Stock Status

MSC Principle 1 requires that fisheries avoid overfishing and support the recovery of depleted populations. The 2025 Evaluation report finds:

  • No change in the number of stocks with well-defined harvest control rules since 2024 — still only seven of 23
  • Failing stocks in the Atlantic: yellowfin, bigeye, Eastern skipjack, Mediterranean albacore, Western bluefin
  • Failing stocks in the Pacific: Eastern bigeye, Northern albacore, Pacific bluefin
  • Failing stocks in the Indian Ocean: yellowfin, bigeye, albacore

MSC Principle 3: Effective Management

MSC Principle 3 calls for an effective management system that ensures responsible and sustainable resource use while complying with legal and institutional frameworks.

  • All five tuna RFMOs — ICCAT, IOTC, IATTC, WCPFC, and CCSBT — received passing scores on Principle 3.
  • However, the report highlights ongoing concerns about compliance and enforcement across RFMOs, despite overall passing performance.

Verifying Seafood Industry Commitments

Written by svanouse on . Posted in Web Features.

This Web feature highlights ISSF’s latest compliance report, which offers a compelling snapshot of sustainability progress and accountability in the global tuna industry. It documents how ISSF participating seafood companies and ProActive Vessel Register-listed vessels have voluntarily adopted ISSF conservation measures for responsible tuna sourcing and fishing.

ISSF Annual Compliance Report Highlights Industry Progress in Tuna Sustainability and New Conservation Requirements

Written by svanouse on . Posted in News, Press Releases.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has published its latest ISSF Annual Conservation Measures & ProActive Vessel Register Compliance Report, showcasing the continued commitment of participating companies to sustainable tuna fisheries and responsible supply chains. For the 2024 audit period, the 24 ISSF participating companies achieved a 99.6% conformance rate across 33 ISSF conservation measures.

Download the compliance report, or view the PDF online.

The report also presents the first audited results for Conservation Measure (CM) 2.5 – Transparency in Reporting Progress Against ISSF’s Five-Year Goal and for the reduction in sourcing Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna, newly in effect under CM 1.3 – IOTC Yellowfin Tuna Rebuilding. In addition, it summarizes the aggregate compliance of vessels on the ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) with ISSF measures applicable to vessel operations.

Highlights of the ISSF Company and PVR Vessel Compliance Report

The report highlights progress by participating companies and vessels in advancing tuna fishery sustainability. It tracks conformance with a broad range of ISSF conservation measures, including:

Among participating companies, 21 of 24 fully complied with all 33 ISSF conservation measures during the reporting period. Three companies recorded a single major non-conformance each: one on CM 2.3 – Product Labeling by Species and Area of Capture and two on CM 1.3 – IOTC Yellowfin Tuna Rebuilding. The 99.6% conformance rate is a slight increase from 99.1% in November 2024.

PVR-listed vessels demonstrated an aggregate 77.5% compliance with 12 ISSF conservation measures that directly address vessel activity, including areas such as RFMO participation, use of non-entangling FADs, vessel-based FAD management policies, and observer coverage.

New and Notable ISSF Conservation Measures Audited

In 2024, all 24 ISSF participating companies achieved full conformance with CM 2.5 – Transparency in Reporting Progress Against ISSF’s Five-Year Goal. This measure requires companies to report the proportion of their tuna purchases from sustainable sources — such as Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries or comprehensive Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) — and to provide roadmaps for improvement.

“Adding CM 2.5 to our compliance reporting reinforces ISSF’s commitment to continuous improvement and full supply-chain transparency,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “This measure gives retailers, NGOs, and other stakeholders the verified data they need to track how companies are advancing responsible sourcing in real, quantifiable terms.”

The report includes charts illustrating this newly audited individual company performance under CM 2.5. One chart shows the percentage of purchases by fishery source (e.g., MSC-certified fisheries, MSC-assessed fisheries, comprehensive FIPs), while the other details purchases by supplier type (e.g., ISSF participating companies, direct-from-vessel transactions). Together, these provide a clear view of how companies are progressing toward ISSF’s Five-Year Goal.

The report also shows that 22 of 24 ISSF participating companies were in full compliance with ISSF CM 1.3 – IOTC Yellowfin Tuna Rebuilding for the 2024 audit year. This measure supports stock recovery by requiring companies to publicly commit to and implement plans to reduce their sourcing of yellowfin tuna from the Indian Ocean. The specific requirement for companies to achieve sourcing reductions of 11% to 22%, based on their average annual Indian Ocean yellowfin purchases from 2017–2019, was newly audited and reported in this year’s compliance report.

“The Scientific Committee of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission stated that larger catch reductions could allow the stock to recover sooner with a greater probability,” said Dr. Victor Restrepo, Chair, ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee. “Taken together, ISSF participating companies reduced sourcing of Indian Ocean yellowfin by 32.5%, well exceeding the intended goal of CM 1.3.”

“The adoption of CM 1.3 has been instrumental in aligning seafood industry practices with Indian Ocean Tuna Commission rebuilding efforts,” said marine scientist Dr. Andrew Rosenberg, Vice Chair, ISSF Board of Directors. “By setting a clear, science-based, measurable standard for sourcing reductions, the measure helps companies contribute directly to easing fishing pressure on the overfished yellowfin stock. This effort is essential for achieving sustainable fisheries.”

Reporting on Company Compliance Audits

ISSF’s commitment to transparency and accountability is reinforced through independent auditing by MRAG Americas, which assesses company compliance with ISSF conservation measures under a rigorous audit protocol. MRAG Americas also audits PVR vessels on compliance with vessel-related ISSF measures.

In addition to the summary report, MRAG Americas issues individual company compliance reports, which ISSF publishes on its website. PVR vessel compliance details are available on the PVR.

ISSF will publish the Update to the Annual Conservation Measures & ProActive Vessel Register Compliance Report in the fourth quarter of 2025 to reflect any improvements made by participating companies. Such updates will be noted in individual company reports available online.