Indian Ocean Tuna Commission Archives - Page 4 of 4

ISSF Wants Concrete Progress on Harvest Strategies in the Indian Ocean

May 21, 2018 — WASHINGTON — The following was released by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation:

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) published its position statement in advance of the 22nd Session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) in Bangkok, Thailand, May 21-25. One of ISSF’s highest priority items for IOTC is to advance the region’s management strategy evaluations (MSE) for albacore, yellowfin and bigeye tuna, which have not been fully evaluated; adopt species-specific harvest strategies; and conduct a review of limit reference points to pave the way for the adoption of harvest control rules by 2019.

“ISSF is concerned that the Commission’s progress on harvest control rules (HCRs) for stocks that need stricter and more targeted management has slowed, based in part on a lack of resources for its critically important harvest strategy work,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson.

“The Commission has taken steps over the last three years to demonstrate its intention to implement carefully planned harvest strategies, but has made little progress on execution this year. It’s important that the Commission regains momentum at the upcoming Annual Session in Bangkok. That starts with considering the Science Committee endorsed MSE outcomes and taking other needed decisions in line with Resolution 15/10 that will lead to the adoption of HCRs next year.”

Observer Coverage and Electronic Monitoring

In the position statement, ISSF also advocates for intensified FAD management measures — including of supply and tender vessels; full implementation of a non-entangling Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) requirement; and regional support for projects that test biodegradable FADs.

Additionally, ISSF asks IOTC to:

Require 100 percent observer coverage on large-scale purse seine vessels
Increase longline observer coverage to 20 percent
Develop standards so that electronic monitoring can be used to ultimately achieve 100 percent observer coverage in both purse-seine and longline fisheries
Strengthen the IOTC compliance assessment process

ISSF urges IOTC to move forward with harvest strategies for all species within its purview. IOTC’s own science committee reports that:

Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna is overfished with 67.7 percent probability.
Billfish, such as black and striped marlin, in the Indian Ocean are overfished, with 80 percent and 60 percent probability, respectively.
Longtail tuna, a species critical to the region’s food security, is overfished with 67 percent probability.

Harvest Strategies, which include target and limit reference points (TRPs and LRPs) together with harvest control rules, provide pre-agreed rules for the management of fisheries resources and action to be taken in response to changes in stock status. Pre-agreed rules and strategies enable prompt management action to avoid overfishing or to rebuild stocks and reduce protracted negotiations that can lead to further declines in the stock.

Additional “asks” of IOTC from ISSF this year include:

Retain overall catch reductions contained in IOTC Resolution 17/01 to prevent overfishing of Indian Ocean yellowfin and other species, which requires the Commission to rigorously evaluate the resolution’s effectiveness when the results of the next stock assessment are available and ensure that all relevant parties comply with the resolution.
Like last year, ISSF advocates for strengthened monitoring, control and surveillance measures to support data collection and the implementation of harvest strategies.

Read the full position statement here.

ISSF and Fisheries Improvement

ISSF’s goal is to improve the sustainability of global tuna stocks by developing and implementing verifiable, science-based practices, commitments and international management measures that result in tuna fisheries meeting the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification standard without conditions.

ISSF’s appeals to IOTC — and RFMOs in all ocean regions — align with MSC performance indicators that comprise the principles of the MSC certification standard: Principle 1, Sustainable fish stocks; Principle 2, Minimizing environmental impacts; and Principle 3, Effective management.

About the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF)

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is a global coalition of scientists, the tuna industry and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) — the world’s leading conservation organization — promoting science-based initiatives for the long-term conservation and sustainable use of tuna stocks, reducing bycatch and promoting ecosystem health. Helping global tuna fisheries meet sustainability criteria to achieve the Marine Stewardship Council certification standard — without conditions — is ISSF’s ultimate objective. To learn more, visit https://iss-foundation.org/, and follow ISSF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

118 Organizations Make Sustainability Appeal for Critical Improvements in Global Tuna Fisheries

May 16, 2018 — The following was released by the NGO Tuna Forum:

A diverse, global group of 118 commercial and non-profit organizations have joined together to call for immediate action by tuna RFMOs to address critical tuna sustainability priorities. In a letter dated 7 May 2018, the signatories call for accelerated action on the following global tuna fishery priorities:

The development and implementation of comprehensive, precautionary harvest strategies
Effective monitoring and management of fish aggregating devices (FADs)
Strengthened monitoring, control and surveillance tools, including increased observer coverage in purse seine and longline fisheries, and of at-sea transshipment activity, through human observers and/or electronic monitoring
Greater focus on the implementation of bycatch mitigation best practices broadly, with an emphasis on longline fisheries

Tuna fisheries represent not only a high-value protein source but also an important economic driver for countries and communities around the globe. As a highly migratory, global species, the health of tuna stocks is of global concern – as witnessed by the breadth of signatories to this appeal.

The letter and outreach effort are being coordinated by leading NGOs working on tuna sustainability globally through the NGO Tuna Forum. The letter has been shared with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission in advance of its annual meeting later this month; it will also be sent to Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in advance of their 2018 general meetings.

While the signatories recognize that RFMOs have made progress to-date on some these priorities, accelerated action is required on all fronts to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna fisheries.

Specific actions that IOTC, IATTC, ICCAT and WCPFC are being asked to address in 2018 include:

Develop and implement comprehensive, precautionary harvest strategies with specific timelines for all tuna stocks, including the adoption and implementation of target and limit reference points, harvest control rules, monitoring strategies, operational objectives, performance indicators, and management strategy evaluation;
Adopt a 100% observer coverage requirement for purse seine vessels where it is not already required, and require the use of the best-available observer safety equipment, communications and procedures;
Increase compliance with mandatory minimum 5% longline observer coverage rates by identifying and sanctioning non-compliance, and adopt and implement a 100% observer coverage requirement – human and/or electronic – within five years for longline fisheries;
Adopt and implement a 100% observer coverage requirement for at-sea transshipment activities, as well as other measures that ensure transshipment activity is transparent and well- managed, and that all required data is fully collected and sent to the appropriate bodies in a timely manner;
Develop and implement science-based recommendations for the effective management of FADs, and integrate FAD-based information into stock assessments to reduce uncertainties;
Adopt effective measures for the use of non-entangling FAD designs as a precautionary measure to minimize the entanglement of sharks and other non-target species, and support research on biodegradable materials and transition to their use to mitigate marine debris;
More effectively implement, and ensure compliance with, existing RFMO bycatch requirements and take additional mitigation action, such as improving monitoring at sea, collecting and sharing operational-level, species-specific data, and adopting stronger compliance measures, including consequences for non-compliance for all gear types.

The organizations believe these measures are needed to positively impact the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks and the overall health of the marine ecosystem.

Read the full letter here.

Two conservation-focused organizations collaborate for outreach to the tuna industry in Bitung and Jakarta, Indonesia

October 19, 2017 — WASHINGTON — The following was released by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation:

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation will hold Tuna Processor Forums in Bitung, Indonesia (23 October) and Jakarta, Indonesia (24 October) with support from the Walton Family Foundation. The goals of the events are to build management support for Indonesia’s tuna fisheries and equip local companies with the knowledge and opportunities to engage in tuna sustainability efforts through market influence.

“With its location between the Pacific and Indian oceans, Indonesia plays an important role in the global seafood marketplace,” said Holly Koehler, Vice President of Policy and Outreach, ISSF. “Collaborating with the Government of Indonesia, local fleets and the processing industry, in partnership with other NGOs, is essential to addressing tuna sustainability challenges that will, in turn, directly impact the work of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) like the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC),”

“Indonesia’s tuna fishery is one of the country’s most economically important fisheries, and its fishers land more tuna than any other fishing nation in the world,” said Heather D’Agnes, Environment Program Officer, Walton Family Foundation. “Working with seafood companies is an important step in building a sustainable future for fishermen and fish alike.”

ISSF works with a variety of partners in the region, including the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, to strengthen the management of fisheries by collecting and compiling vessel data, helping vessels meet RFMO rules and improving traceability through the supply chain. ISSF and the Walton Family Foundation hope the forums will build on thesignificant progress the Ministry is making.

The aims of the Indonesia forums are multi-pronged, and both days include the following agenda:

Overview and update on Indonesia’s tuna fishing program including the rollout of the national tuna management plan from the Indonesian Government;

Introduction to opportunities to engage with IOTC and WCPFC, as well as updates on regional tuna management activities;

Overview of ISSF’s activities in support of sustainable tuna fisheries;

Information on tuna sourcing commitments from markets in Europe, North America and Australia and how these commitments intersect with ISSF Conservation Measures, ISSF Participating Companies and the ISSF ProActive Vessel Register (PVR); and

Information on the options and benefits of tuna company participation in ISSF.

ISSF has been involved with ongoing projects in the region since 2015, including:

The implementation of pilots that trial the PVR for small-scale vessels, particularly on handline and pole and line boats, as well as small longliners and very small purse seiners;
The development of a Pole and Line Skippers Guidebook to add to the suite of existing ISSF Purse Seine and Longline Skippers’ Guides;
Engagement on critical tuna fisheries issues pertaining to the two relevant RFMOs — IOTC and WCPFC.

About the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is a global coalition of scientists, the tuna industry and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) — the world’s leading conservation organization — promoting science-based initiatives for the long-term conservation and sustainable use of tuna stocks, reducing bycatch and promoting ecosystem health. To learn more, visit iss-foundation.org, and follow ISSF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@issf.official).

About the Walton Family Foundation

The Walton Family Foundation believes that conservation solutions that make economic sense stand the test of time. They work to achieve lasting change by creating new and unexpected partnerships among conservation, business and community interests to build durable solutions to important problems. Through its environment initiatives, the foundation is investing in two of the most important conservation issues of our time: restoring the health of the oceans through sustainable fisheries and preserving functioning rivers and the quality and availability of fresh water they provide. This work spans four initiatives: Oceans, Colorado River, Mississippi River and Coastal Gulf of Mexico. Learn more at: www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow @WaltonFamilyFdn.

Worldwide Industry, NGOs Advocate for Policy Changes in Tuna Fisheries in 2017

March 24, 2017 — SEAFOOD NEWS — A diverse, global group of commercial and non-profit organizations has joined the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation’s (ISSF) call for immediate improvements on tuna management, including developing harvest strategies, strengthening monitoring, control and surveillance tools, and improving the management of fish aggregating devices (FADs).

A March 21 outreach letter to four tuna Regional Fishing Management Organizations (RFMO) was co-signed by 83 nongovernment organizations, tuna processing companies, fleet associations, retailers, importers and food service operators. The RFMOs are IATTC (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission), ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas), IOTC (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission), and WCPFC (Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission).

These groups manage tuna fisheries in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. In 2015, more than 4.8 million tonnes of tuna were harvested, as reported in ISSF’s recent Status of the Stocks report.

Harvest strategies are based on science-based frameworks that include guidelines and limits for fishing vessels. The tools for monitoring, control, and surveillance include human observers, satellite vessel monitoring systems, electronic monitoring systems on vessels, and data collection and dissemination.

The ISSF-coordinated joint outreach letter urges the RFMOs to:

Develop precautionary harvest strategies, including specific timelines to adopt target reference points, harvest control rules and other elements
Where it is not already in place, require 100%observer coverage for all purse seine fishing vessels and all at-sea transshipment activities
Identify and sanction non-compliance with the existing mandatory 5% observer coverage requirement for longline vessels
Develop and adopt standards for electronic reporting and electronic monitoring, for all major fishing gear types, and modernize vessel monitoring systems
Develop science-based recommendations for managingFADs (fish aggregating devices), including for stock assessments
Adopt measures for using non-entangling FAD designs, to protect sharks and other non-target species

The letter requests that the above points are addressed in 2017.

The letter’s 83 signatories are:

Ahold Delhaize (Global)

Aldi North (Global)

Aldi South (Global)

American Albacore Fishing Association

American Bird Conservancy

American Tuna

ANABAC

Anova (US)

Anova Seafood, BV

AP2HI

Atunlo

Auchan Retail (Global)

BirdLife International

Bolton

Bumble Bee Seafoods

Carrefour (Global)

Casino (FR)

Caterers Choice (UK)

Chancerelle

Client Earth

Conservation International

Co-op (UK)

Coop Italia (IT)

Coop Trading (All Scandinavia)

Davigel

Edeka (DE)

Environmental Defense Fund

Eroski (ES)

Fishwise

Frinsa

Greencore (UK)

Grupo Conservas Garavilla (Isabel)

Grupo Maritimo Industrial (Grupomar)

Herdez del Fuerte

Horizon Fisheries

IPNLF

ISSF

IUCN SSC Tuna & Billfish Specialist Group

Jealsa

Kroger (USA)

Lidl (Global)

Loblaws Canada

M & J Seafood (UK)

Marks & Spencer (UK)

MDPI

Mercadona (ES)

Migros (CH)

MMP

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Morrisons (UK)

New England Seafood International (UK)

Ocean Brands

Ocean Harvesters Operative

OPAGAC

Orthongel

Pacific Alliance for Sustainable Tuna (PAST)

Pesca Azteca

Pick N Pay (South Africa)

Princes

Procesa

REWE GROUP (Global)

RS Cannery

Sainsbury’s (UK)

Salica

SEAPAC (a subsidiary of Kingfisher)

Sodexo (Global)

Spar (Austria)

Spar (South Africa)

Subway

Sustainable Fish Cities

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership

Tesco

Thai Union/COSI

Thai Union Europe

The Nature Conservancy

Thunnus Overseas Group/Conserveries des Cinq Océans

Tri Marine

Tunago Fishery, Ltd.

Warenverein (DE)

Wegman’s (USA)

Woolworths (South Africa)

Worldwise (UK)

WWF

This story originally appeared on Seafoodnews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

The Majority of the Tuna Catch Comes from Abundant Stocks, But Overfishing of Some Stocks Continues

September 22, 2016 — WASHINGTON — The following was released by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation:

The global commercial catch of tuna — a valuable, natural protein food source — reached 5 million tons in 2014, an increase from 4.6 million in 2013, according to the ISSF Tuna Stock Status Update – 2016 (Status of the World Fisheries for Tuna) report just published by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). The report can be downloaded from the ISSF Status of the Stocks page. Tuna accounts for approximately 6% of the world’s 81.5-million-ton marine catch.

The skipjack tuna species accounted for 57% of the tuna catch, followed by yellowfin (27%), bigeye (9%), albacore (6%) and bluefin (1%). Purse seine vessels harvested 64% of the tuna, followed by longline methods (12%), pole-and-line (9%), gillnets (4%) and miscellaneous fishing gear types (11%).

The ISSF report indicates that 77% of the total volume of tuna catch worldwide in 2014 was from stocks at a “healthy level of abundance.” Previous Tuna Stock Status Update reports showed 78% of tuna catch from healthy stocks in 2014 (from a preliminary report in February 2016), 87% in 2013, 86% in 2012, and 94% in 2011.

From a perspective of tuna stocks, 44% of tuna stocks globally are at a healthy level of abundance, and 39% are overfished. Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) bigeye tuna, for example, continues to be slightly overfished and was downgraded from a Green (healthy abundance) rating to a Yellow (intermediate) rating since the previous February 2016 report. Other overfished stocks were Western Pacific Ocean (WPO) bigeye, Atlantic Ocean (AO) bigeye, and Indian Ocean (IO) yellowfin.

Tuna Stock Status Update also reports on tuna management measures recently enacted by tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). Significant newly adopted measures covered in the report include the adoption by the IOTC (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission) of harvest control rules (HCRs) for skipjack tuna, as well as a plan for rebuilding the overfished IO yellowfin stock. The IATTC (Inter-American-Tropical-Tuna-Commission, in the EPO) also adopted an HCR for tropical tuna species.

“While 77% of the world’s tuna catch comes from healthy stocks, it is important to remember that there are four stocks — representing 13% of the catch — that are being overfished,” explains Dr. Victor Restrepo, ISSF Vice President, Science. “Even though there are management measures in place for them, these measures are proving to be insufficient to end overfishing — and a greater effort is required.”

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission Takes Important Steps for Skipjack Tuna, Falls Short on Yellowfin

June 3, 2016 — In the wake of the 20th session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission meeting, we join our fellow stakeholders in applauding the IOTC for adopting a harvest control rule (HCR) for skipjack tuna that is consistent with scientific advice. The adoption of this initial skipjack HCR is the culmination of significant work, investment and advocacy by many parties – nations, industry, NGOs, scientists and retailers – and it paves the way for refinement as the management strategy evaluation work continues. Harvest strategies, which include HCRs and reference points, are an essential component of modern, science-based fisheries management.

Unfortunately, there was limited political will to act to similarly protect yellowfin tuna and other stocks that are currently experiencing overfishing or that are overfished. While a reduced catch of yellowfin was adopted, scientific guidance indicates that the agreed catch reductions are insufficient. The new measure amounts to a reduction in catch of about 10%, just half of the IOTC Scientific Committee’s recommended 20% reduction and insufficient to arrest the current declining trend in stock status or rebuild the stocks to sustainable levels by 2024.

There is also a significant risk that, without further action, these measures that are effective 1 January 2017, could result in the fishery breaching the fishing mortality limit and the stock declining below the biomass limit established by the Commission. Finally, with delays of up to two years on reporting of data and the high levels of non-compliance by IOTC members, the new yellowfin measure may be largely unenforceable.

Continued efforts to develop harvest strategies for yellowfin, bigeye and albacore are essential, and we support the Commission’s workplan developed and adopted at its 2015 meeting to that end. ISSF and WWF will support this critical process so that all stocks are on par with the skipjack stock’s management status.

Read the full story at the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation

Priorities for Indian Ocean Tuna Fisheries Ahead of Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Meeting

May 19, 2016 — The following was released by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation:

WASHINGTON — The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has released its position statement in advance of the 20^thSession Meeting of IOTC in La Reunion, France on May 23-27.

At the top of the statement, ISSF urges IOTC to take additional steps beyond last year’s workshops to adopt reference points and harvest control rules (with particular attention to Indian Ocean yellowfin), create closed vessel registries to address fleet capacity issues and continue to improve the region’s management and data collection of fish aggregating devices (FADs).

“In collaboration with our NGO partners and participating companies, ISSF has issued strong appeals to IOTC – from the adoption of measures that will reduce catches of IO yellowfin tuna and rebuild the stock to the development of an integrated monitoring, control and surveillance strategy,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “IOTC delegates have received numerous outreach letters from ISSF participating companies as well as like-minded NGOs and industry colleagues prior to this meeting, and we hope that this unified call for action will be taken into account for the yellowfin issue, as well as other outstanding work that can and should be achieved in the region.”

Highlights from the ISSF position statement include:

Tuna Stocks

The IOTC Scientific Committee projected that a 20% reduction in catch could rebuild the yellowfin stock to the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) level with 50% probability by 2024 and recommended that a rebuilding plan for the stock should be driven by an agreed Management Procedure (Harvest Strategy), including Harvest Control Rules, and based on the agreed interim target and limit reference points.

ISSF therefore urges the IOTC to adopt measures to reduce the catches of yellowfin by longline, gillnet, handline and purse seine by at least 20% and supports the Scientific Committee’s recommendation regarding a rebuilding plan.

Harvest Strategies

In order to further progress the adoption of Harvest Strategies, ISSF urges the Commission to fully support the recommendation from the ongoing IOTC workshops promoting dialogue among scientists, managers and stakeholders related to the formulation of management objectives, and to provide assistance to developing members.

Fishing Capacity

ISSF urges the Commission to implement the recommendations of the second IOTC Performance Review on fishing capacity management and to consider the outcomes of the 2014 ISSF workshop. ISSF urges the Commission to amend Resolution 03/01 to create a comprehensive closed vessel registry.

FAD Management

ISSF encourages all fleets to implement, as soon as possible, provisions regarding the use of non-entangling FADs designs to reduce the incidental entanglement of non-target species, using biodegradable material as much as possible, based on the principles outlined in Resolution – a critical step in the reduction of shark mortality and reduction of other ecosystem impacts in the Indian Ocean.

Shark Management

ISSF endorses the Scientific Committee’s recommendations that the Commission develop mechanisms to encourage members to comply with their data-reporting requirement and adopt sufficient measures to limit fishing mortality on sharks.

Observer Coverage

ISSF strongly urges the adoption of 100% observer coverage on large-scale tropical tuna purse seine fleets. Where human onboard observers are not possible for certain fleets or vessel sizes, the Commission should immediately explore electronic monitoring systems and establish policies and guidelines for their use.