Saving Seafood

NGOs urge rebuilding plan for overfished yellowfin tuna stocks ahead of IOTC meeting

May 24, 2021 — Non-governmental organizations are calling on the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) to adopt a plan for rebuilding the Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna stock and improve the management of fish aggregating devices (FADs) to reduce catches of juvenile tropical tunas.

The Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) and the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF), in a statement last week, said that these measures should be adopted during the upcoming virtual IOTC session, scheduled to take place 7 to 11 June, 2021.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Third Indonesia tuna fishery achieves MSC certified sustainable status

January 29, 2021 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

The Indonesia pole-and-line and handline, skipjack and yellowfin tuna of Western and Central Pacific archipelagic waters is the third tuna fishery in Indonesia to meet the globally recognized standard for sustainable fishing, set by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an environmental non-profit.

The certification signals an encouraging result for the Indonesian Pole and Line and Handline Tuna Fisheries Association (AP2HI) and the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) that manage the fishery and have committed to ensuring all Indonesian tuna fisheries become sustainable.

To be MSC certified, a fishery must show the stock it catches is healthy, that it minimizes its impact on the environment and has effective management in place.

Around 60% of the total 11,000 tons caught by the certificate holders is yellowfin tuna, distributed as loin, poke (pronounced poh-keh) and saku, while the certified skipjack will be sold as frozen product to export markets in the U.S and UK.

Eight fisheries are involved, consisting of 380 fishing vessels, scattered throughout the Indonesian archipelago from North Sulawesi and North Maluku to the Banda Sea, and East and West Flores.

Independent assessors, NSF International, determined the fishery should be certified following detailed assessments and stakeholder consultations with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) – the regional body responsible for 60% of the world’s tuna catch – as well as national and provincial government.

As MSC fisheries are expected to meet a high bar for sustainable fishing, the association has eight goals it must meet within five years to retain its certificate, relating to harvest strategies and stock management.

The MSC is working with the fishing industry in Indonesia, to help more fisheries to achieve sustainable fishing.

Members of Indonesian Pole and Line and Handline Tuna Fisheries Association (AP2HI) have been in a fishery improvement project since 2014 and have been in part supported through MSC’s Fish for Good project.

In 2019, the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and the MSC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), affirming a joint commitment to strengthening collaboration on sustainable fishing. In May 2020, the North Buru and Maluku Fair Trade Fishing Associations, Indonesian Handline Yellowfin Tuna was certified to the MSC Standards, the second fishery in Indonesia, demonstrating the success of the MoU.

Asia Pacific Director at the Marine Stewardship Council, Patrick Caleo, stated: “We extend our congratulations to AP2HI for their hard work and success in progressing another tuna fishery to achieve MSC certification. Managing various fisheries with different specifications for assessment needs a rigorous strategy and clear implementation.”

Acting Director General of Capture Fisheries, the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Ir. Muhammad Zaini, M.M. said: “Again, we have successfully shown the world our commitment towards sustainable tuna fishing in Indonesia. As the one of the largest tuna producers in the world, it is vital we enable the certification journey through a fisheries improvement project in order to sustainably grow while remaining viable for future livelihoods. Support from stakeholders to our small-scale tuna fisheries which help accelerate progress towards sustainability, is pivotal to this goal. Indonesia is proud to have our third tuna fishery meet the highest global fisheries sustainability standard.”

Chairwoman of the Pole & Line and Handline Fishery Association, Janti Djuari said: “Working together towards sustainable fisheries has been our commitment since 2012. Certification owned by the association is a synergy of collective industry with support from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, local government, business, IPNLF and other stakeholders – and provides value added to the sustainable skipjack and yellowfin tuna stock. Even though 2020 was colored by the pandemic impacting the tuna business in Indonesia, this certification is a new start. We are confident that this certification will encourage our members in the association to develop a more sustainable and traceable fishing practice.

Director of IPNLF Southeast Asia, Jeremy Crawford, said: “We are pleased to be part of this important process of building value in the local one-by-one tuna supply chains. Together with our local partners, and with the support of the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), IPNLF has been able to realize significant improvements in fishery operations, governance, and in securing livelihoods. Members of IPNLF and supply chain partners, such as AP2HI, play an important role in securing the sustainability pillars – environmental, social and economic benefits – which is our first priority. This is the only way to ensure that vulnerable communities are securing access to food security and economic well-being for the long term.”

Decisive action on yellowfin stock rebuilding needed in new year, IPNLF says

December 22, 2020 — Urgent action is needed from members of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) before and during its special session meeting planned for March to discuss the rebuilding of the overfished Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna stock, according to the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF).

One of the world’s most economically important fishing area, spanning 70 million square kilometers, the Indian Ocean is responsible for up to 20 percent of the global production of tuna, IPNLF said. However, concerns have grown over the long-term sustainability of the Indian Ocean’s tuna stocks, particularly its yellowfin resource, which has been classified as overfished since 2015 and has been part of a rebuilding plan since 2016.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

California’s Seafood Imports commits to IPNLF and responsible tuna sourcing

September 30, 2019 — San Diego, California, U.S.A.-based importer and distributor Seafood Imports has been inducted into the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) as its latest member, the non-profit association announced on 30 September.

Seafood Imports, which was founded in 1997, is a provider of specialty seafood products to the international foodservice industry, with direct sourcing from South Africa and Asia. Among the company’s offerings are private label sashimi-grade JAVA and JAVA Kosher tuna products, which contain wild, one-by-one caught tuna sourced from the Indian Ocean courtesy of Indonesia. Exclusively packaged for Seafood Imports, the JAVA and JAVA Kosher tuna products are sold to U.S. customers.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Sharing best-practice: IPNLF & ISSF launch first practical reference guide for pole-and-line fishing

July 16, 2019 — The following was released by the International Pole & Line Foundation & International Seafood Sustainability Foundation:

A new guidebook detailing science-based best-practices for maximising catch value and also minimising the environmental impacts of these fisheries is today jointly published by and the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF) and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF).

The Skippers’ Guidebook to Pole-and-Line Fishing Best Practices has been written by fishers, marine scientists and pole-and-line experts. Aimed at one-by-one fishers and fishery stakeholders, the Guidebook offers practical advice on conducting these artisanal tuna fishing operations — from capture to handling and storage methods.

As highlighted in the Guidebook, pole-and-line fishing has gained attention as a responsible method of harvesting tuna. With the growing consumer awareness about the sustainability of seafood resources, this Guidebook is well placed to provide a resource for fishers globally to optimise the efficiency of their operations, maximise catch quality and recognise and address the environmental impacts of their activities in order to reach the increasing demand for pole-and-line caught products.

Topics covered by the guidebook include:

  • Tuna species targeted by pole-and-line fisheries
  • Fishing operations in pole-and-line tuna fishing
  • Tuna catch handling and storage
  • Baitfish catch methods, management, and utilisation in pole-and-line fisheries

The chapters include a comprehensive series of examples and recommendations to help pole-and-line fishers understand and implement best-practise guidance.

Dr. Victor Restrepo, Vice President of Science at ISSF, says: “ISSF is committed to the long-term conservation and sustainable use of global tuna fisheries. That commitment drives the publication of the ISSF Skippers Guidebook series for longline and purse seine vessel fishers, as well as our observer guidebook — sharing best practices with those stakeholders on the front lines of the collaborative work toward sustainable fisheries. Having expert advisors on our respective science committees in common, ISSF is pleased to partner with the International Pole and Line Foundation in expanding such science-based guidance to the pole-and-line sector.”

Martin Purves, Managing Director of IPNLF, adds: “We believe the Skippers’ Guidebook will prove an important, practical resource not only for the many thousands of pole-and-line fishers around the world, but also for all those many more people connected to these supply chains. The profile of pole-and-line fishing has reached new levels, not only due to the low environmental impacts of these fisheries, but increasingly also because of the social benefits that they bring to the coastal communities connected to them. Like any catch method there is significant scope for further improvements in the sustainability aspects of these fisheries, providing markets with higher quality, more responsibly sourced tuna. There’s no question that this is what today’s consumers are looking for.”

The Skippers’ Guidebook to Pole-and-Line Fishing Best Practices is available online on the ISSF and IPNLF websites.

http://ipnlf.org/resources/ipnlf-documents/document/pole-line-skippers-guidebook

https://iss-foundation.org/download-monitor-demo/download-info/issf-ipnlf-skippers-guidebook-to-pole-and-line-fishing-best-practices/

PNA Tuna Fishery Receives MSC Recertification After IPNLF Objections

March 29, 2018 — SEAFOOD NEWS — The PNA tuna fishery has received their MSC recertification following concerns raised by the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF).

As we reported earlier this month, an independent adjudicator confirmed that the PNA skipjack tuna fishery continued to meet the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) standard for sustainable fishing. This inspection came after IPNLF presented 24 objections against the sustainable fishery, including that the fishery was involved in shark finning, a practice that the MSC had banned in 2013.

“This highlights the strength of the MSC process,” MSC Science and Standards Director Dr. David Agnew said in a press release following the Independent Adjudicator’s findings. “As a result of this objection, more information is now in the public domain about the PNA fishery, adding to the information in the published assessment report, and improving the transparency of the fishery’s management. This confirms that the PNA skipjack tuna fishery is a sustainable and well-managed fishery that has made considerable improvements over the course of its first MSC certificate. People buying labeled PNA tuna can be confident that their purchase is making a positive difference to the sustainability of our oceans.”

The MSC certificate is good for five years and confirms that the PNA free-school fishery meets the “robust criteria of the MSC.” In addition, free-school tuna caught in the Exclusive Economic Zone off Tokelau is now eligible for MSC certification under the new MSC certificate.

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