Strong demand for tuna brings economic benefits, food and jobs to millions of people, but also puts a lot of pressure on tuna stocks. The Common Oceans Tuna project aims to ensure that tunas are fished more sustainably by mobilizing a global partnership in support of responsible tuna fisheries management and the conservation of biodiversity in the ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ).

Tuna and tuna like species account for 20 percent of the entire value of the world’s marine capture fisheries. The total amount generated by these fish is estimated at over USD 10 billion annually, which supports the livelihoods of thousands of communities worldwide. Tunas travel vast distances, passing through both exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of coastal developing states and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the so called “high seas”, also known as areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The strong demand for tuna, combined with excessive fishing, is one of the reasons that have caused stocks to decline and have left fisheries unable to reach optimal catches. This creates a challenge for the 85 countries that fish for tuna and jointly manage these fisheries through tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (t RFMOs). The main objective of this project one of four projects making up the Global Environment Facility financed Program on Global Sustainable Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation in ABNJ was to achieve sustainable and efficient tuna fisheries production and biodiversity conservation in the ABNJ by targeting three specific issues: ( i ) declines in tuna fisheries resources due to insufficient use of robust conservation and management measures; (ii) illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing undermining the effectiveness of measures; and (iii) negative impacts from tuna fishing on ecosystems and biological diversity.

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing is a serious threat to sustainable fisheries, marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of legitimate fishers globally. To address this threat, the Common Oceans ABNJ Tuna Project is exploring new ways to strengthen and harmonize the use of monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) tools, and combat IUU fishing in tuna fisheries across the marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). One of the MCS tools that the Project has explored extensively, is the use of Electronic Monitoring Systems (EMS) to monitor individual vessel operations at sea. To test the best way to incorporate this new monitoring technology to the MCS toolbox available, two pilot activities were set up in Fiji and Ghana were EMS equipment was deployed aboard tuna fishing vessels. In summary, results and experiences have demonstrated that the transfer of new technologies can be done effectively when there is consideration of the context in which the new technology will be deployed. This includes the strengthening of the national institutions involved, establishing key partnerships, developing the required legal frameworks, and building the human resources necessary for the effective operation of the new technology. 

En mars 2017, le Réseau conformité thon (TCN) a été mis en place pour faciliter la communication et la coopération entre les responsables de l’application et les experts en Suivi, contrôle et surveillance (SCS). Son principal objectif est de mettre en commun les meilleures pratiques d’application de MCG associées principalement aux ORGP thonières afin de contribuer à la lutte contre la pêche illégale, non déclarée et non réglementée (INN) dans les pêcheries thonières. 

La Red de cumplimiento sobre los túnidos (Tuna Compliance Network o TCN, en inglés) se creó en marzo de 2017 con el fin de facilitar la comunicación y la cooperación entre los oficiales responsables de cumplimiento así como con expertos en Seguimiento, Control y Vigilancia (MCV). Su objetivo principal es favorecer el intercambio de información sobre mejores prácticas en los procedimientos de control del cumplimiento principalmente en las OROP de túnidos, y de esta manera contribuir a la lucha contra la pesca ilegal, no declarada y no reglamentada (INDNR) en las pesquerías del atún.