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In these reports, we share our research-based recommendations for sustainable tuna fisheries management, covering observer programs, transshipment, and many other key topics.

Best practices reports are authored by our fisheries policy experts and/or fisheries scientists. See also our companion “best practices snapshots” series and our scientific reports.

Best Practices Reports tagged with Bycatch Mitigation

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
2021 WCPFC Position Statement October 15, 2021 English WCPFC Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Compliance, FADs, Harvest Strategies, MCS, Sharks, Tuna, WCPFC Position Statements N/A Final October 15, 2021
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 IOTC Déclaration de Position (French) April 8, 2022 French IOTC Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Compliance, Electronic Monitoring & Reporting, FADs, Harvest Strategies, IOTC, Observer Coverage, Sharks, Supply Vessel, Transshipment, Tuna Position Statements, Translated N/A Final April 8, 2022
2022 IOTC Position Statement April 8, 2022 English IOTC Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Compliance, Electronic Monitoring & Reporting, FADs, Harvest Strategies, IOTC, Observer Coverage, Sharks, Supply Vessel, Transshipment, Tuna Position Statements N/A Final April 8, 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
2023 IOTC Déclaration de Position (French) March 28, 2023 French IOTC Bycatch Mitigation, Compliance, Electronic Monitoring & Reporting, FADs, Harvest Strategies, IOTC, Observer Coverage, Port State Measures, Sharks, Transshipment, Tuna, Vessel Monitoring System Position Statements N/A Final March 28, 2023
2023 IOTC Position Statement March 28, 2023 English IOTC Bycatch Mitigation, Compliance, Electronic Monitoring & Reporting, FADs, Harvest Strategies, IOTC, Observer Coverage, Port State Measures, Sharks, Transshipment, Tuna, Vessel Monitoring System Position Statements N/A Final March 28, 2023
Acoustic Discrimination Technology to Support Selective Fishing November 24, 2020 English N/A Acoustic Discrimination, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Purse Seine, Tuna Infographics N/A Final November 24, 2020
Acoustic Discrimination Timeline: Research and Publications April 20, 2021 English N/A Acoustic Discrimination, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Purse Seine, Tuna Infographics N/A Final April 20, 2021
Addressing FAD Ecological Impacts: Research & Best Practices to Reduce Bycatch and Ocean Debris December 10, 2018 English N/A Best Practices, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, science Infographics N/A Final December 10, 2018
Best Bycatch Release Practices in Tuna Purse Seiners March 7, 2018 English N/A Best Practices, Bycatch Mitigation, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Infographics N/A Final March 7, 2018
Bonnes Pratiques de Libération d’Espèces Accessoires sur le Pont March 7, 2018 French N/A Bycatch Mitigation, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Infographics, Translated N/A Final March 7, 2018
Buenas Prácticas de Liberación de Especies Accesorias en Cubierta March 7, 2018 Spanish N/A Bycatch Mitigation, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Infographics, Translated N/A Final March 7, 2018
Bycatch Mitigation Conservation Measures Category June 27, 2022 English N/A Bycatch Mitigation, Conservation Measures Bycatch, Conservation Measures, Infographics N/A Final June 27, 2022
Bycatch Mitigation Research Progress Report February 26, 2018 English N/A Bigeye Tuna, Bycatch Mitigation, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Strategic Plan Infographics, Strategic Plan N/A Final February 26, 2018
Bycatch Rates by Ocean and Set Type May 22, 2019 English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Purse Seine, Tuna Infographics N/A Final May 22, 2019
Improving Silky Shark Survival February 6, 2017 English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, FADs, Purse Seine, Sharks Bycatch, Infographics N/A Final February 6, 2017
ISSF #BycatchProject Overview January 11, 2015 English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, science Bycatch N/A N/A January 11, 2015
ISSF 2009-02: Bycatch in the World’s Tuna Fisheries: Measured Data, Programs and Progress Proposal. Jun 2009 June 1, 2009 ISSF English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report June 1, 2009
ISSF 2012-14: Chair’s Report of the ISSF Tuna-Dolphin Workshop. California, October 2012 October 26, 2012 Dr. Victor Restrepo English N/A Bycatch Mitigation Meeting Reports, Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Workshop Report October 26, 2012
ISSF 2012-16: Third Meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Bycatch Mitigation Project. Montpellier, Oct 2012 October 21, 2012 ISSF English N/A Bycatch Mitigation Meeting Reports, Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Meeting Report October 21, 2012
ISSF 2014-06: ISSF Skipper Workshops. Collaboration between Scientists and Fishing Industry to Mitigate Bycatch April 16, 2014 Dr. Jefferson Murua, Dr. Gala Moreno, Martin Hall, David Itano, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, Dr. Victor Restrepo English N/A Bycatch Mitigation, FADs, Jefferson Murua, Tuna Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report April 16, 2014
ISSF 2015-10: Global Comparison of Post Release Survival of Silky Sharks Caught by Tropical Tuna Purse Seiners July 22, 2015 J. Filmalter, Dr. Melanie Hutchinson, F. Poisson, W. Eddy, R. Brill, D. Bernal, David Itano, Jeff Muir, A.-L. Vernet, K. Holland, Dr. Laurent Dagorn English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Sharks Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report July 22, 2015
ISSF 2016-08: Advances in the Use of Entanglement-Reducing Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices in Tuna Purse Seiners April 28, 2016 Dr. Jefferson Murua, David Itano, Martin Hall, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, Dr. Gala Moreno, Dr. Victor Restrepo English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, FADs, Purse Seine, science Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report April 28, 2016
ISSF 2016-16: Implementation of Pilot Projects to Explore the Market Viability of Full-Retention of Non-Tuna Species in Purse Seine Fisheries November 15, 2016 A. O. Lewis English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Purse Seine Bycatch, Scientific Reports N/A Technical Report November 15, 2016
ISSF 2016-17: Mitigation of Silky Shark Bycatch in Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fisheries December 9, 2016 Dr. Victor Restrepo, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, Dr. Gala Moreno English N/A Bycatch Mitigation, Purse Seine, Sharks, Tuna Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report December 9, 2016
ISSF 2016-18A: Workshop on the Use of Biodegradable Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) December 18, 2016 Dr. Gala Moreno, Dr. Victor Restrepo, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, Martin Hall, Dr. Jefferson Murua, Igor Sancristobal, Maitane Grande, Sarah Le Couls, Dr. Josu Santiago English N/A Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch Mitigation, FADs, science, Skippers Workshops Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Workshop Report December 18, 2016
ISSF 2016-18B: Taller sobre el Uso de Dispositivos Concentradores de Peces Biodegradables (DCPs) December 19, 2016 Dr. Gala Moreno, Dr. Victor Restrepo, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, Martin Hall, Dr. Jefferson Murua, Igor Sancristobal, Maitane Grande, Sarah Le Couls, Dr. Josu Santiago Spanish N/A Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch Mitigation, FADs, science, Skippers Workshops Scientific Reports, Technical Reports, Translated N/A Workshop Report December 19, 2016
ISSF 2016-18C: Atelier sur l’utilisation de Dispositifs de concentration des poissons (DCP) biodégradables January 16, 2017 Dr. Gala Moreno, Dr. Victor Restrepo, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, Martin Hall, Dr. Jefferson Murua, Igor Sancristobal, Maitane Grande, Sarah Le Couls, Dr. Josu Santiago French N/A Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch Mitigation, FADs, science, Skippers Workshops Scientific Reports, Technical Reports, Translated N/A Workshop Report January 16, 2017
ISSF 2017-06: A Summary of Bycatch Issues and ISSF Mitigation Activities To Date in Purse-Seine Fisheries, with Emphasis on FADs* November 27, 2017 Dr. Victor Restrepo, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, David Itano, Ana Justel-Rubio, Dr. Gala Moreno English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, FADs, Justel-Rubio, Purse Seine, science Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report November 27, 2017
ISSF 2017-07: Towards Global Non-Entangling Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) Use in Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fisheries Through a Participatory Approach November 22, 2017 Dr. Jefferson Murua, Dr. Gala Moreno, Martin Hall, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, David Itano, Dr. Victor Restrepo English N/A Bycatch Mitigation, FADs, Ghost Fishing, Non-Entangling FADs, Purse Seine, Sharks, Tuna Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report November 22, 2017
ISSF 2018-20: Compendium of at-Sea Bycatch Mitigation Research Activities as of September 2018* October 2, 2018 Dr. Victor Restrepo, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, Dr. Gala Moreno, K. Schaefer, Fabien Forget, Igor Sancristobal, David Itano, Dr. Melanie Hutchinson English N/A Acoustic Discrimination, Bigeye Tuna, Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Purse Seine, Rays, science, Sea Turtles, Sharks Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report October 2, 2018
ISSF 2019-08: Report of the International Workshop on Mitigating Environmental Impacts of Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fisheries April 24, 2019 Dr. Victor Restrepo, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, Dr. Gala Moreno, Dr. Jefferson Murua, Fabien Forget, Ana Justel-Rubio English N/A Bigeye Tuna, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Purse Seine, Rays, science, Sharks, Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna Meeting Reports, Scientific Reports N/A Workshop Report April 24, 2019
ISSF 2020-01: ISSF Skippers Workshops Round 9* January 9, 2020 Dr. Jefferson Murua, Dr. Gala Moreno, David Itano, Martin Hall, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, Dr. Victor Restrepo English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, FADs, Purse Seine, Skippers Workshops Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report January 9, 2020
ISSF 2021-11: Questions and Answers About FADs and Bycatch* June 10, 2021 Dr. Hilario Murua, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, Dr. Gala Moreno, Ana Justel-Rubio, Dr. Victor Restrepo English N/A Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Purse Seine Bycatch, Scientific Reports, Technical Reports N/A Technical Report June 10, 2021
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 Scientific Research with Tuna Fleets, 2011-Present April 20, 2021 English N/A Acoustic Discrimination, Biodegradable FADs, Bycatch Mitigation, Electronic Monitoring & Reporting, FADs, ISSF, science, Sharks, Tuna Infographics N/A Final April 20, 2021
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-target Species Caught in Tuna Fisheries April 15, 2016 English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Gillnet, Longline, Pole and Line, Purse Seine, science, Sea Turtles, Sharks, Trolling Infographics N/A N/A April 15, 2016
Poster of Bycatch Best Practices (Chinese Translation) March 7, 2018 Simplified Chinese N/A Best Practices, Bycatch Mitigation, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Infographics, Translated N/A Final March 7, 2018
Poster of Bycatch Best Practices (Indonesian Translation) March 7, 2018 Indonesian N/A Best Practices, Bycatch Mitigation, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Infographics, Translated N/A Final March 7, 2018
Poster of Bycatch Best Practices (Korean Translation) March 7, 2018 Korean N/A Best Practices, Bycatch Mitigation, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Infographics, Translated N/A Final March 7, 2018
Poster of Bycatch Best Practices (Vietnamese Translation) September 6, 2018 Vietnamese N/A Best Practices, Bycatch Mitigation, Skippers Workshops Bycatch, Infographics, Translated N/A Final September 6, 2018
Presentations from International Workshop on Mitigating Environmental Impacts of Tropical Tuna Purse Seine Fisheries (2019) April 24, 2019 Dr. Gala Moreno, Dr. Jefferson Murua, Dr. Laurent Dagorn, Dr. Victor Restrepo, Ana Justel-Rubio English N/A Bigeye Tuna, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Ecosystem, FADs, Jefferson Murua, Justel-Rubio, science, Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna Meeting Reports, Scientific Reports N/A Workshop Report April 24, 2019
Protecting Sharks: Reducing Shark Bycatch in Purse Seine Fisheries September 27, 2016 English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Purse Seine, Sharks Bycatch, Infographics N/A Final September 27, 2016
Saving Sea Turtles Infographic (English version) August 24, 2016 English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Sea Turtles Infographics N/A N/A August 24, 2016
Saving Sea Turtles Infographic (Spanish Version) August 24, 2016 Spanish N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Sea Turtles Infographics, Translated N/A Final August 24, 2016
Saving the Mobula Rays Poster: Atlantic Ocean (English) January 3, 2022 English N/A Atlantic Ocean, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Mobula rays Infographics N/A Final January 3, 2022
Saving the Mobula Rays Poster: Atlantic Ocean (French) January 27, 2022 French N/A Atlantic Ocean, Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Mobula rays Infographics, Translated N/A Final January 27, 2022
Saving the Mobula Rays Poster: Eastern Pacific Ocean (English) January 3, 2022 English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Eastern Pacific Ocean, Mobula rays Infographics N/A Final January 3, 2022
Saving the Mobula Rays Poster: Eastern Pacific Ocean (Korean) January 3, 2022 Korean N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Eastern Pacific Ocean, Mobula rays Infographics, Translated N/A Final January 3, 2022
Saving the Mobula Rays Poster: Eastern Pacific Ocean (Spanish) January 3, 2022 Spanish N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Eastern Pacific Ocean, Mobula rays Infographics, Translated N/A Final January 3, 2022
Saving the Mobula Rays Poster: Eastern Pacific Ocean (Taiwanese) January 3, 2022 Taiwanese N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Eastern Pacific Ocean, Mobula rays Infographics, Translated N/A Final January 3, 2022
Saving the Mobula Rays Poster: Western & Central Pacific Ocean & Indian Ocean (Bahasa/Malay) January 27, 2022 Bahasa/Malay N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Indian Ocean, Mobula rays, Western & Central Pacific Ocean Infographics, Translated N/A Final January 27, 2022
Saving the Mobula Rays Poster: Western & Central Pacific Ocean & Indian Ocean (Chinese) January 27, 2022 Chinese N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Indian Ocean, Mobula rays, Western & Central Pacific Ocean Infographics, Translated N/A Final January 27, 2022
Saving the Mobula Rays Poster: Western & Central Pacific Ocean & Indian Ocean (English) January 3, 2022 English N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Indian Ocean, Mobula rays, Western & Central Pacific Ocean Infographics N/A Final January 3, 2022
Saving the Mobula Rays Poster: Western & Central Pacific Ocean & Indian Ocean (Tagalog) January 27, 2022 Tagalog N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Indian Ocean, Mobula rays, Western & Central Pacific Ocean Infographics, Translated N/A Final January 27, 2022
Saving the Mobula Rays Poster: Western & Central Pacific Ocean & Indian Ocean (Taiwanese) January 27, 2022 Taiwanese N/A Bycatch, Bycatch Mitigation, Indian Ocean, Mobula rays, Western & Central Pacific Ocean Infographics, Translated N/A Final January 27, 2022