Skip to main content

RFMOs: WCPFC

Tuna RFMO Measures Regulating Transshipment

Written by Sharon Tomasic on .

ISSF has benchmarked the transshipment measures established by the four tropical-tuna RFMOs — the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic  Tunas (ICCAT), Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) —  to 10 best-practice recommendations.

Our infographic, updated in May 2025, rates and compares the RFMOs’ performances on those best practices. It also appears in our Web feature, “At-Sea Transshipment in Tuna Fisheries: Why Oversight Is Essential for Sustainability.”

See also our related items: RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2025: Transshipment Regulation and ISSF 2023-06: Transshipment: Strengthening Tuna RFMO Transshipment Regulations.

Potential Negative Impacts of FAD Use, Proposed Solutions, and RFMO Implementation Status

Written by svanouse on .

This 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.

It is based on the peer-reviewed research article “Benefits, concerns, and solutions of fishing for tunas with drifting fish aggregation devices,” co-authored by ISSF’s Dr. Victor Restrepo and Dr. Gala Moreno and colleagues, which was published July 2023 in Fish and Fisheries.

The infographic was updated in March 2025.

Electronic Monitoring (EM): RFMO Requirements

Written by Lynne Mandel on .

All tuna RFMOs have made progress in using electronic monitoring (EM) systems to provide on-board vessel monitoring.

RFMOs begin using data received from EM systems for scientific and/or compliance purposes approximately two years after the adoption of EM minimum standards: one year for program implementation, and an additional year for data review and submission. However, for those CPCs currently implementing an EM program, this timeline could be shortened to one year.

RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2025: Observer Requirements

Written by svanouse on .

Note: This snapshot was reviewed in February 2026, and no changes were needed. The information is current for 2026.

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.*

2024 WCPFC Position Statement

Written by svanouse on .

ISSF prepared this position statement for consideration at the 21st regular session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), which will take place November 28–December 3, 2024. The statement covers topics in these categories: compliance processes; tuna stock conservation; fish aggregating device (FAD) management; electronic monitoring and reporting and observer coverage; transshipment regulation; effective management procedures (harvest strategies); bycatch mitigation and shark protections; and capacity. The statement also includes ISSF’s top “asks” or requests of WCPFC.

RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2023: Authorised Vessel Lists

Written by svanouse on .

NOTE: This snapshot was reviewed in April 2025. It is up to date with current RFMO measures.

This “snapshot” identifies best practices in authorised vessel lists, and then shows each RFMO’s progress in implementing those practices. The snapshot was updated in June 2023.

See our related report, ISSF 2023-07: Tuna RFMO Authorised Vessel Lists: A Comparative Analysis to Identify Best Practices.*