This graphic, updated in January 2026, compares each tuna RFMO’s port state measure elements against the provisions in the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), identifying gaps between them and recommending priority areas for RFMO focus.
ISSF 2026-01: Status of the World Fisheries for Tuna. January 2026 summarizes and rates the status and management of 23 major commercial tuna stocks, based on the most recent scientific assessments as well as management measures adopted by the RFMOs.
Known as ISSF’s “Status of the Stocks” report, it uses a consistent methodology focused on three factors: Abundance, Exploitation/Management, and Environmental Impact (bycatch). It does not replace the more detailed information available directly from the RFMOs. But it does serve as a single source in which uniform information is presented. It is reviewed by the ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee, which provides advice on its content.
Status of the World Fisheries for Tuna features charts, graphs, and individual stock assessments, which are organized by ocean or by ocean region. The Management section in all stocks is organized into two sections: Harvest Strategy (divided in the different elements of a HS) and Management measures.
See the related graphics: Distribution of Stocks of Major Commercial Tunas by Catch (2011-January 2026) and Distribution of Stocks of Major Commercial Tunas (January 2026).
This is a June 2025 version of a report ISSF has published since 2013.
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has established a program whereby a fishery may be certified as being sustainable. The sustainability of a fishery is defined by MSC criteria that are embodied in three Principles: relating to the status of the stock, the ecosystem of which the stock is a member, and the fishery management system.
Since many of these MSC criteria are comparable for global tuna stocks, the MSC scoring system was used to evaluate 23 stocks of tropical and temperate tunas throughout the world and to evaluate the management systems of the Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs) associated with these stocks. No evaluation has been made of the fishery specific ecosystem criteria in this report.
The principles that were assessed were:
Each of these Principles is evaluated in relation to Performance Indicators (PIs) within each Principle based on public information available by March 2025. The update includes changes in version 3.1 of the standard (MSC Fisheries Standard and Guidance v3.1 –22nd July 2024; http://www.msc.org/).
Related P1 and P3 infographics are available: Summary of Sustainable Tuna Stocks (MSC Principle 1) (2025) and RFMO Performance (MSC Principle 3) (2025).
Read a press release about the report.
This table, updated in May 2025, shows which Regional Fishery Management Organization(s) (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.
See our related RFMO Best Practices Snapshots series.
In this infographic, updated in May 2025, ISSF benchmarks tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) requirements for observer coverage — including electronic monitoring (EM) — against best practices.
The infographic tracks priority areas for reform, indicating whether an RFMO has the priority reform in place, has a partial reform in place, or does not have a reform in place.
See the related RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2025: Observer Requirements.
In this infographic, updated in May 2025, ISSF benchmarks tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) requirements for compliance processes against best practices.
The infographic tracks priority areas for reform, indicating whether an RFMO has the priority reform in place, has a partial reform in place, or does not have a reform in place.
See the related RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2025: Compliance Processes.
This “snapshot” identifies best practices in tuna RFMO treatment of supply & tender vessels, and then shows each RFMO’s progress in implementing those practices. It was updated in May 2025.
See our related report, ISSF 2025-04: Survey of the Treatment of Support/Supply/Tender Vessels in Tuna RFMOs.*
This “snapshot” identifies best practices in compliance processes, and then shows each RFMO’s progress in implementing those practices. The snapshot was updated in May 2025.
See our related report, ISSF 2023-05: Tuna RFMO Compliance Assessment Processes: A Comparative Analysis to Identify Best Practices.*
This “snapshot” identifies best practices in observer requirements, and then shows each RFMO’s progress in implementing those practices. The snapshot was updated in May 2025.
See our related report, ISSF 2023-08: Survey of RFMO Observer Programs and a Set of Best Practices.*
This “snapshot” identifies best practices in Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) management, and then shows each RFMO’s progress in implementing those practices. The snapshot was updated in May 2025.
