ISSF position statements raise issues and recommendations for Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) to consider in their policymaking discussions and decisions.

Our advocacy team prepares and circulates our statements in advance of major tuna RFMO meetings. Some statements are available in several languages, depending on RFMO region. If you would like to request an older version of a statement, write to us at [email protected].

ISSF 2022-12: Survey of the Treatment of Support/Supply/Tender Vessels in Tuna RFMOs*

Date Added: May 19, 2022
Authors: Holly Koehler, Dr. Gala Moreno
Downloaded: 106 times
Tags: Best Practices, CCSBT, FADs, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, Supply Vessel, WCPFC
Language: English
Featured: True
Report Type: Technical Report

Description

The use of man-made floating objects, also known as drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs), by purse-seine vessels has increased in all oceans. In addition, purse-seine vessels often utilize other vessels – called supply, support, auxiliary or tender vessels – to deploy dFADs and service them.  The use of such vessels and recent technological advances have made purse-seine fishing with dFADs increasingly efficient and has contributed to effort creep.

At present, three of the four tropical tuna RFMOs allow the use of these vessels in the tuna purse-seine fishery. The degree to which the use of support vessels is regulated, monitored, or to which data are collected on these vessels’ activities, including the deployment of FADs, varies. This technical report surveys how support vessels are currently treated in tuna RFMOs and identifies a set of best practice recommendations.

See also our RFMO Best Practices Snapshot on treatment of support/supply/tender vessels.