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Each year, we identify priority actions for tropical-tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) to take to improve fishery sustainability in their regions.

To shape RFMO discussion and decision-making, ISSF’s science and advocacy experts have outlined their concerns and advice below. Our position statements — which we disseminate ahead of RFMO annual meetings and special sessions — also explore these priority topics.

  • INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA COMMISSION

    2023 Priorities

    IATTC must accelerate adoption and implementation of comprehensive, precautionary harvest strategies for Eastern Pacific Ocean tuna stocks.


    HARVEST STRATEGIES:
    Accelerate adoption and implementation of comprehensive, precautionary harvest strategies.


    FAD MANAGEMENT:
    Strengthened FAD management provisions

    • Develop and implement science-based limits on FAD deployments and/or FAD sets
    • Require fully non-entangling FAD designs without netting or meshed materials
    • Establish timeline for transition to 100% biodegradable FADs
    • Develop and adopt fully transparent FAD-recovery policy
    • Develop and adopt FAD marking scheme, requiring marking of buoy and FAD structure
    • Adopt clearer rules for FAD ownership and stronger rules for FAD buoy activation and deactivation

    ELECTRONIC MONITORING/ELECTRONIC REPORTING & OBSERVER COVERAGE:
    More fully embrace use of these monitoring and compliance tools

    • Continue to develop EM program through EM Working Group and EMS Workplan
    • Adopt measures to: begin increasing observer coverage (human and/or electronic) on smaller scale purse seine vessels, and increase observer coverage (human and/or electronic) on longline vessels from 5% as progress toward 100% coverage in industrial tuna fisheries, including all vessels engaged in at-sea transshipment by 2024
    • In 2023, establish a fleet-wide observer program (human or electronic or a combination) for small purse seine vessels

  • INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC TUNAS

    2023 Priorities

    ICCAT must adopt a new tropical tuna conservation measure.

    Further improvements to the measure adopted in 2022 are needed because critical elements were not strengthened — the matter of total allowable catch (TAC) allocation among ICCAT members, for example. TACs must be completely allocated in order to identify non-compliance.

    • FAD Management: Strengthened FAD management measures and provisions
    • Electronic Monitoring/Electronic Reporting & Observer Coverage: Adopt electronic monitoring (EM) standards for implementation and fully embrace use of these monitoring and compliance tools
    • Harvest strategies: Accelerate work on and adoption of robust harvest strategies for all tropical tunas

    TROPICAL TUNA MEASURE:
    Further improvements to tropical tuna measure adopted in 2022

    • Ensure bigeye and yellowfin stocks are maintained at sustainable levels per ICCAT SCRS advice
    • Fully allocate the total allowable catch (TAC)
    • Adopt procedures to identify and address non-compliance with TAC allocations

    FAD MANAGEMENT:
    Strengthened FAD management provisions

    • Require fully non-entangling FAD designs without netting or meshed materials
    • Establish timeline for transition to 100% biodegradable FADs
    • Require timely provision of all FAD data necessary to confirm implementation, and assess the efficacy of, FAD closure before next ICCAT Annual Session
    • Require provision of near real-time FAD position and acoustic records data for broad scientific use
    • Develop and adopt fully transparent FAD-recovery policy, FAD marking scheme, clearer rules for FAD ownership, and stronger rules for FAD buoy activation and deactivation

    ELECTRONIC MONITORING/ELECTRONIC REPORTING & OBSERVER COVERAGE:
    M
    ore fully embrace use of these monitoring and compliance tools

    • In 2023, adopt minimum standards for EMS program and timeline for implementation of comprehensive EM by 2024
    • Adopt measures to increase observer coverage (human and/or electronic) on longline vessels from 10% as progress toward 100% coverage in industrial tuna fisheries, including support vessels and vessels engaged in at-sea transshipment by 2024

    HARVEST STRATEGIES:
    Accelerate work on and adoption of robust harvest strategies for all tropical tunas

    • Accelerate development of management strategy evaluation (MSE) for all tropical tuna stocks
    • Adopt a harvest strategy for western Atlantic skipjack

  • INDIAN OCEAN TUNA COMMISSION

    2023 Priorities

    IOTC must adopt an effective, enforceable rebuilding plan for yellowfin tuna that gives full effect to IOTC Scientific Committee advice. And for skipjack and bigeye, ensure that catches do not exceed the agreed annual limit.

    • FAD Management: Strengthened FAD management measures and provisions
    • Electronic Monitoring/Electronic Reporting & Observer Coverage: Adopt electronic monitoring (EM) standards for implementation and fully embrace use of these monitoring and compliance tools
    • Management Procedures: Accelerate adoption of robust management procedures, especially for skipjack and yellowfin


    TUNA STOCKS:
    Strengthened tuna conservation measure

    • Yellowfin – Adopt revisions to Res. 21/01 to give full effect to IOTC Scientific Committee advice. Ensure all IOTC countries abide.
    • Skipjack – Ensure catches in 2023 do not exceed the catch limit set by Res. 21/0
    • Bigeye – Ensure catches do not exceed the catch limit set by the Management Procedure adopted in Resolution 22/03.

    FAD MANAGEMENT:
    Strengthened FAD management provisions

    • Develop and implement science-based limits on FAD deployments and/or FAD sets, consistent with management objectives for tropical tunas
    • Allow IOTC Scientific Committee to use submitted FAD tracking data for scientific purposes
    • Require use of biodegradable materials in FAD construction
    • Establish timeline for transitioning to 100% biodegradable
    • Develop and adopt FAD marking guidelines, including requiring marking of buoy and FAD structure
    • Develop and adopt FAD tracking and recovery policies that consider utilizing supply vessels in FAD recovery efforts
    • Adopt clearer rules for FAD ownership and activation, and for FAD buoy deactivation

    ELECTRONIC MONITORING/ELECTRONIC REPORTING & OBSERVER COVERAGE:
    More fully embrace use of these monitoring and compliance tools

    • In 2023, adopt EM terms and definitions, EM Program Standards, and EM Data Standards as recommended by Scientific Committee
    • Adopt measures to: begin increasing observer coverage (human and/or electronic) from 5% as progress toward 100% coverage in industrial tuna fisheries, including all vessels engaged in at-sea transshipment by 2024
    • Adopt binding measure that ensures human observer safety, including observers on supply and carrier vessels

    MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES:
    Accelerate adoption of robust management procedures, especially for skipjack and yellowfin


  • WESTERN & CENTRAL PACIFIC FISHERIES COMMISSION

    2023 Priorities

    WCPFC must adopt a new tropical tuna conservation measure that includes improved FAD management provisions and outputs of the skipjack Management Procedure adopted last year.

    • Harvest Strategies: Build on progress made last year for more robust harvest strategies for all tunas, including reference points for yellowfin and bigeye
    • At-sea transshipment reforms: Amend current at-sea transshipment measure in line with best practices
    • Electronic Monitoring/Electronic Reporting & Observer Coverage:More fully embrace use of these monitoring and compliance tools

    NEW TROPICAL TUNA MEASURE AND IMPROVED FAD MANAGEMENT:
    A new, stronger measure for tuna conservation that includes and includes the outputs of the skipjack Management Procedure improved FAD management provisions

    • Limit fishing mortality for bigeye and yellowfin to interim Target Reference Points and include outputs of skipjack Management Procedure adopted in 2022
    • Remove ambiguities and exemptions
    • Include stronger FAD management measures, including:
      • Develop and implement science-based limits on FAD deployments and/or FAD sets
      • Timeline for transition to 100% biodegradable FADs
      • Require provision of near real-time FAD position and acoustic biomass records data for scientific use
      • Develop and adopt a fully transparent FAD-recovery policy
      • Develop and adopt a FAD marking scheme, including requiring the marking of the buoy and the FAD structure
      • Develop and adopt clear rules for FAD ownership and stronger rules for FAD buoy activation and deactivation 

    HARVEST STRATEGIES:
    Build on progress made last year for more robust harvest strategies for all tunas

    • Adopt Target Reference Points and continue to develop management procedures for bigeye and yellowfin
    • Accelerate development and adoption of updated skipjack management procedure that automatically implements the outcome of the harvest control rule adopted in management procedure
    • Accelerate development of harvest strategy for South Pacific albacore that considers entire South Pacific in operating models
    • Adopt management procedure for North Pacific Albacore 

    AT-SEA TRANSSHIPMENT REFORMS:
    Amend current at-sea transshipment measure in line with best practices

    • Develop electronic reporting standards for transshipment observers or providers through the EM/ER Working Group

    ELECTRONIC MONITORING/ELECTRONIC REPORTING & OBSERVER COVERAGE:
    M
    ore fully embrace use of these monitoring and compliance tools

    • Adopt EM Minimum Standards already developed by Working Group and implementation timeline
    • Adopt measures to increase observer coverage (human and/or electronic) on longline vessels from 5% as progress toward 100% coverage in industrial tuna fisheries, including all vessels engaged in at-sea transshipment by 2024

Tuna Catches by RFMO Region

Use our “Interactive Stock Status and Catch Tool” to visualize stock health trends, current tuna catch, and catch trends over time by ocean region.

Download the data in different file formats, and generate custom graphics to share via email, Twitter, or Facebook.

ISSF Advocacy

Learn how ISSF guides RFMOs and national governments in establishing more sustainable tuna-fishing policies.

Position Statements

ISSF position statements detail our sustainability recommendations to help tuna RFMOs make informed policy decisions.

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