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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].

Position Statements tagged with RFMOs

Image Title Date Author(s) Language RFMO(s) Tag(s) Category Company Report Type Activity Year
Image Title Date Author(s) Language RFMO(s) Tag(s) Category Company Report Type Activity Year
2022 ICCAT Position Statement (English) October 31, 2022 English ICCAT Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Capacity Management, Compliance, FADs, Harvest Strategies, ICCAT, MCS, RFMOs, Sharks, Tuna Position Statements N/A Final October 31, 2022
2022 ICCAT Position Statement (French) October 20, 2022 French ICCAT Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Capacity Management, Compliance, FADs, Harvest Strategies, ICCAT, MCS, RFMOs, Sharks, Tuna Position Statements, Translated N/A Final October 20, 2022
2022 ICCAT Position Statement (Spanish) October 20, 2022 Spanish ICCAT Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Capacity Management, Compliance, FADs, Harvest Strategies, ICCAT, MCS, RFMOs, Sharks, Tuna Position Statements, Translated N/A Final October 20, 2022
2022 WCPFC Position Statement October 20, 2022 English WCPFC Bycatch, Capacity Management, Compliance, FADs, Harvest Strategies, MCS, RFMOs, Sharks, Tuna, WCPFC Position Statements N/A Final October 20, 2022
2023 CIAT Declaración de Posición | 2023 IATTC Position Statement (Spanish) July 4, 2023 Spanish IATTC Advocacy, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Capacity Management, Compliance, Electronic Monitoring & Reporting, FAD Management, Harvest Strategies, IATTC, Observer Coverage, Observer Programs, RFMOs, Sharks, Supply Vessel, Tuna, Vessel Monitoring System Position Statements, Translated N/A Final July 4, 2023
2023 IATTC Position Statement June 29, 2023 English IATTC Advocacy, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Capacity Management, Compliance, Electronic Monitoring & Reporting, FAD Management, Harvest Strategies, IATTC, Observer Coverage, Observer Programs, RFMOs, Sharks, Supply Vessel, Tuna, Vessel Monitoring System Position Statements N/A Final June 29, 2023
Electronic Monitoring (EM): RFMO Requirements August 22, 2023 English IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, WCPFC Electronic Monitoring & Reporting, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, WCPFC Infographics N/A Final August 22, 2023
Electronic Monitoring Vendors and Data Submission Information July 18, 2023 ISSF English N/A Bycatch, Conservation Measures, Electronic Monitoring & Reporting, FADs, RFMOs Conservation Measures N/A Final July 18, 2023
ISSF 2011-06: Managing Fishing Capacity in International Fisheries. Approaches and Practices in RFMOs. Aug 2011 August 15, 2011 María Cecilia Engler Palma English N/A Capacity Management, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, WCPFC Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report August 15, 2011
ISSF 2012-11: Confidentiality Rules Regarding Detailed Fishing Operations September 12, 2012 Kathryn Matthews English N/A FADs, RFMOs Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report September 12, 2012
ISSF 2012-12: Harmonisation of Purse-Seine Data Collected by Tuna RFMO Observer Programmes October 19, 2012 ISSF English N/A Bycatch, Observer Programs, RFMOs, Stock Status Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report October 19, 2012
ISSF 2013-03: Report of the 2013 Stock Assessment Workshop. Harvest Control Rules and Reference Points for Tuna RFMOs March 8, 2013 ISSF English N/A CCSBT, Harvest Control Rules, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, Stock Status, WCPFC Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Workshop Report March 8, 2013
ISSF 2013-09: Sustainable Fishery Agreements: Strategies for Enforcement & Compliance. Maui Conferences, Jan 2013 January 25, 2013 ISSF English N/A Capacity Management, Compliance, RFMOs Meeting Reports, Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report January 25, 2013
ISSF 2015-06: Report of the 2015 Stock Assessment Workshop. Characterizing Uncertainty in Stock Assessment March 29, 2015 ISSF English N/A CCSBT, Harvest Control Rules, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, Stock Status, WCPFC Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Workshop Report March 29, 2015
ISSF 2015-08: Harmonization of Longline Bycatch Data in Tuna RFMOs February 26, 2015 ISSF English N/A Bycatch, Longline, RFMOs, Tuna Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report February 26, 2015
ISSF 2016-15: A Comparative Study of Annual Tuna Catches from Two Different Sources: FAO Global Capture Database vs. Tuna RFMOs Statistical Databases (2000-2014) October 6, 2016 Ana Justel-Rubio, Luca Garibaldi, Dr. John Hampton, Dr. Mark Maunder, Dr. Victor Restrepo English N/A RFMOs, Tuna Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report October 6, 2016
ISSF 2017-08: Management of Tuna Stocks and Fisheries. Nov. 2017* November 22, 2017 ISSF English N/A RFMOs, science, Stock Status, Tuna Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report November 22, 2017
ISSF 2018-15: 2018 ISSF Stock Assessment Workshop: Review of Current t-RFMO Practice in Stock Status Determinations April 26, 2018 ISSF English N/A CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, Stock Assessment, Stock Status, Tuna, WCPFC Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Workshop Report April 26, 2018
ISSF 2018-16: A Pre-Assessment of the Sustainability of Global Tuna Fisheries Relative to Marine Stewardship Council Criteria: Principle 2 May 22, 2018 Paul A.H. Medley, Tristan Southall, Jodi Bostrom, Erika Zollett, Gudrun Guadian English N/A Harvest Strategies, MSC Certification, RFMOs, Stock Assessment, Tuna Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report May 22, 2018
ISSF 2018-16: MSC Principle 2 Pre-assessment Report Materials May 21, 2018 ISSF English N/A Harvest Strategies, MSC Certification, RFMOs, Stock Assessment, Tuna Scientific Reports N/A Technical Report May 21, 2018
ISSF 2018-18: Reporting and Transparency of Catch and/or Effort Quotas in Tuna RFMOS: A Survey Paper July 12, 2018 Holly Koehler, Dr. Victor Restrepo English N/A CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, WCPFC Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report July 12, 2018
ISSF 2019 Position Statements February 15, 2021 English, French, Spanish IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, WCPFC Bycatch, Capacity Management, Compliance, FADs, Harvest Strategies, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, MCS, RFMOs, Sharks, Supply Vessel, Tuna, WCPFC Position Statements N/A Final February 15, 2021
ISSF 2022-01: Biology and Stock Status of Minor Commercial Tunas: Summary of Current Knowledge and Gaps February 16, 2022 Dr. Lorena Recio, Dr. Hilario Murua, Dr. Victor Restrepo English N/A Neritic Tunas, RFMOs, Stock Status, Tuna Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report February 16, 2022
ISSF 2022-06: RFMO Vessel Monitoring Systems: A Comparative Analysis to Identify Best Practices* May 3, 2023 Holly Koehler English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, Vessel Monitoring System, WCPFC Best Practices Reports, Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report May 3, 2023
ISSF 2022-07: Port State Measures in Tuna RFMOs: Benchmarking RFMO Port State Measures Against the 2009 FAO PSMA and Identifying Gaps* May 3, 2023 Holly Koehler English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, Port State Measures, RFMOs, Tuna, WCPFC Best Practices Reports, Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report May 3, 2023
ISSF 2022-08: Combatting IUU Fishing: Continual Improvement and Best Practices for IUU Listing Measures in Tuna RFMOs* April 3, 2023 Holly Koehler, Claire van der Geest English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, Vessel Lists, WCPFC Best Practices Reports, Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report April 3, 2023
ISSF 2023-02: An Evaluation of the Sustainability of Global Tuna Stocks Relative to Marine Stewardship Council Criteria* March 21, 2023 P.A.H. Medley, Jo Gascoigne English N/A Albacore Tuna, Bigeye Tuna, CCSBT, Harvest Strategies, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, MSC Certification, RFMOs, science, Skipjack, Stock Status, Tuna, WCPFC, Yellowfin Tuna Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report March 21, 2023
ISSF 2023-03: ISSF Workshop on Different Approaches to Limit the Number of FADs in the Oceans: San Diego, CA, USA, March 1-3, 2023 April 12, 2023 ISSF English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FAD Management, FADs, RFMOs Scientific Reports, Strategic Plan N/A Technical Report April 12, 2023
ISSF 2023-04: A Snapshot of the Large-Scale Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fishing Fleets as of June 2023* June 5, 2023 Ana Justel-Rubio, Dr. Lorena Recio English N/A Capacity Management, Purse Seine, RFMOs, Tuna Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report June 5, 2023
ISSF 2023-05: Tuna RFMO Compliance Assessment Processes: A Comparative Analysis to Identify Best Practices* June 5, 2023 Holly Koehler English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, Compliance, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, WCPFC Best Practices Reports, Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report June 5, 2023
ISSF 2023-06: Transshipment: Strengthening Tuna RFMO Transshipment Regulations* June 9, 2023 Claire van der Geest English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, IUU, MCS, RFMOs, Transshipment, WCPFC Best Practices Reports, Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report June 9, 2023
ISSF 2023-07: Tuna RFMO Authorised Vessel Lists: A Comparative Analysis to Identify Best Practices* June 6, 2023 Claire van der Geest English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, MCS, RFMOs, Vessel Lists, WCPFC Best Practices Reports, Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report June 6, 2023
ISSF 2023-08: Survey of RFMO Observer Programs and a Set of Best Practices* June 9, 2023 Holly Koehler English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, Observer Coverage, Observer Programs, RFMOs, WCPFC Best Practices Reports, Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report June 9, 2023
ISSF 2023-09: Survey of the Treatment of Support/Supply/Tender Vessels in Tuna RFMOs* June 7, 2023 Holly Koehler, Dr. Gala Moreno English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, Supply Vessel, WCPFC Best Practices Reports, Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report June 7, 2023
Key Gaps and Priorities in Tuna RFMO Port State Measures March 23, 2022 English N/A CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, Port State Measures, RFMOs, Tuna, WCPFC Infographics N/A Final March 23, 2022
Non-Entangling and Biodegradable FADs Guide (English) October 8, 2019 ISSF English N/A Best Practices, Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Ghost Fishing, Non-Entangling FADs, RFMOs, science, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Guides & Best Practices, Non-Entangling FADs N/A Guide October 8, 2019
Non-Entangling and Biodegradable FADs Guide (French) October 8, 2019 ISSF French N/A Best Practices, Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Ghost Fishing, Non-Entangling FADs, RFMOs, science, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Guides & Best Practices, Non-Entangling FADs, Translated N/A Guide October 8, 2019
Non-Entangling and Biodegradable FADs Guide (Indonesian) October 8, 2019 ISSF Indonesian N/A Best Practices, Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Ghost Fishing, Non-Entangling FADs, RFMOs, science, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Guides & Best Practices, Non-Entangling FADs, Translated N/A Guide October 8, 2019
Non-Entangling and Biodegradable FADs Guide (Japanese) October 8, 2019 ISSF Japanese N/A Best Practices, Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Ghost Fishing, Non-Entangling FADs, RFMOs, science, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Guides & Best Practices, Non-Entangling FADs, Translated N/A Guide October 8, 2019
Non-Entangling and Biodegradable FADs Guide (Korean) October 8, 2019 ISSF Korean N/A Best Practices, Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Ghost Fishing, Non-Entangling FADs, RFMOs, science, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Guides & Best Practices, Non-Entangling FADs, Translated N/A Guide October 8, 2019
Non-Entangling and Biodegradable FADs Guide (Simplified Chinese) October 8, 2019 ISSF Simplified Chinese N/A Best Practices, Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Ghost Fishing, Non-Entangling FADs, RFMOs, science, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Guides & Best Practices, Non-Entangling FADs, Translated N/A Guide October 8, 2019
Non-Entangling and Biodegradable FADs Guide (Spanish) October 10, 2019 ISSF Spanish N/A Best Practices, Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Ghost Fishing, Non-Entangling FADs, RFMOs, science, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Guides & Best Practices, Non-Entangling FADs, Translated N/A Guide October 10, 2019
Non-Entangling and Biodegradable FADs Guide (Tagalog) October 8, 2019 ISSF Tagalog N/A Best Practices, Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Ghost Fishing, Non-Entangling FADs, RFMOs, science, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Guides & Best Practices, Non-Entangling FADs, Translated N/A Guide October 8, 2019
Non-Entangling and Biodegradable FADs Guide (Traditional Chinese) October 8, 2019 ISSF Traditional Chinese N/A Best Practices, Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Ghost Fishing, Non-Entangling FADs, RFMOs, science, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Guides & Best Practices, Non-Entangling FADs, Translated N/A Guide October 8, 2019
Non-Entangling and Biodegradable FADs Guide (Vietnamese) October 8, 2019 ISSF Vietnamese N/A Best Practices, Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Ghost Fishing, Non-Entangling FADs, RFMOs, science, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Guides & Best Practices, Non-Entangling FADs, Translated N/A Guide October 8, 2019
Non-Entangling FADs: Skipper Acceptance Levels & RFMO Proposals January 21, 2020 English N/A FADs, Non-Entangling FADs, RFMOs, Skippers Workshops, Strategic Plan Infographics, Strategic Plan N/A Final January 21, 2020
Number of Tuna Transshipments by Year (2014-2021) September 15, 2022 English IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, WCPFC IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, Transshipment, Tuna, WCPFC Infographics N/A Final September 15, 2022
Potential Negative Impacts of FAD Use, Proposed Solutions, and RFMO Implementation Status August 2, 2023 English IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, WCPFC Best Practices, FAD Management, FADs, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, WCPFC Infographics N/A Final August 2, 2023
Providing Data to Tuna RFMO Scientific Bodies June 29, 2023 English N/A Compliance, Conservation Measures, RFMOs Guides & Best Practices N/A Final June 29, 2023
RFMO Best Practice Performance June 12, 2023 English CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, WCPFC Best Practices, CCSBT, Compliance, FADs, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, IUU, Observer Coverage, RFMOs, Supply Vessel, Transshipment, Vessel Lists, Vessel Monitoring System, WCPFC Infographics, RFMO Best Practices Snapshots N/A Final June 12, 2023
RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2022: Vessel Monitoring Systems May 3, 2023 ISSF English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, Vessel Monitoring System, WCPFC RFMO Best Practices Snapshots N/A Snapshot May 3, 2023
RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2023: Authorised Vessel Lists June 6, 2023 English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, Vessel Lists, WCPFC RFMO Best Practices Snapshots N/A Snapshot June 6, 2023
RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2023: Compliance Processes June 5, 2023 English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, Compliance, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, WCPFC RFMO Best Practices Snapshots N/A Snapshot June 5, 2023
RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2023: FAD Management July 11, 2023 English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, FAD Management, FADs, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, WCPFC RFMO Best Practices Snapshots N/A Snapshot July 11, 2023
RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2023: IUU Vessel Listing June 5, 2023 English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, IUU, RFMOs, Vessel Lists, WCPFC RFMO Best Practices Snapshots N/A Snapshot June 5, 2023
RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2023: Observer Requirements June 15, 2023 English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, Observer Coverage, Observer Programs, RFMOs, WCPFC RFMO Best Practices Snapshots N/A Snapshot June 15, 2023
RFMO Best Practices Snapshot — 2023: Treatment of Supply & Tender Vessels by RFMO June 7, 2023 English N/A Best Practices, CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC, RFMOs, Supply Vessel, WCPFC RFMO Best Practices Snapshots N/A Snapshot June 7, 2023
RFMO Performance (MSC Principle 3) March 29, 2023 English N/A MSC Certification, RFMOs Infographics N/A Final March 29, 2023
RFMO Support Conservation Measures Category June 27, 2022 English N/A Conservation Measures, RFMOs Conservation Measures, Infographics N/A Final June 27, 2022