Developing a blueprint for ecosystem-based management in tuna fisheries
Experts from regional fisheries management organizations discuss implementation of the ecosystem approach in tuna fisheries management
24 January 2025
Rome – Fisheries managers, scientists, industry and civil society representatives met in Rome to discuss how best to advance implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in tuna fisheries at an FAO workshop hosted by the Commons Oceans Tuna Project with support of its partner International Seafood Sustainability Foundation.
“Integrating ecosystem considerations into fisheries management is at the heart of FAO’s Blue Transformation strategy,” said Manuel Barange, FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, adding: “This gathering is a milestone in collective effort to continue advancing ecosystem-based management in tuna fisheries.”
The three-day workshop aimed at developing a blueprint for the implementation of an ecosystem approach by the regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) with a mandate of promoting responsible tuna fisheries.
The meeting brought together around 30 tuna fisheries managers and scientists, as well as industry and civil society representatives. They discussed some complex remaining challenges - how to make sure that ecosystem considerations inform decision-making, for example? Or, what is the impact of climate change, or the economic and social consequences of conservation and management measures?
“Ecosystems support our fisheries,” said Keith Sainsbury, a lead expert in marine ecosystems, adding: “If we don't have a healthy ecosystem, fisheries won't be sustainable, and our children won't have the same opportunities to enjoy the ocean as we have.”
Bringing ecosystem considerations into tuna fisheries management is important for several reasons, Sainsbury added. With landed catches estimated at over 5 million tons in 2019, tuna fishing is a big industry. It is essential to understand and mitigate, if necessary, any impacts on the environment. Reducing bycatch, for example, has had a lot of attention.
In turn, changes in the ocean have an impact on tuna fisheries. Climate change-related increases in water temperatures are changing the behavior of a highly migratory species like tuna, the consequences of which are of growing concern of stakeholders, including the tuna-RFMOs.
Concerns over the health of the oceans and the sustainability of fisheries date back to the 1960s and 1970s, Sainsbury explained. As a result, guidelines for an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) were developed and agreed by members of FAO.
Building on progress made in previous meetings held in 2016 and 2019, the workshop looked at the drivers, challenges and benefits of an ecosystem approach to identify key elements for inclusion in planning, including actions currently being implemented, and to consider approaches to guiding future implementation in tuna-RFMOs.
“This meeting offered a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge with experts from the world’s tuna-RFMOs,” said Hilario Murua, Senior Scientist with ISSF that has been instrumental in promoting the ecosystem approach. “Exploring progress and challenges together allows us to identify the next steps for operationalizing the implementation of EAFM across global tuna fisheries.”
About the Common Oceans Tuna project
The Common Oceans Tuna project is a global partnership that aims to advance responsible tuna fisheries management and biodiversity conservation in the ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by FAO, it works in collaboration with the five regional tuna fisheries management organizations, intergovernmental organizations, national governments, civil society, and the private sector.
About ISSF
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) — a global coalition of seafood companies, fisheries experts, scientific and environmental organizations, and the vessel community — promotes science-based initiatives for long-term tuna conservation, FAD management, bycatch mitigation, marine ecosystem health, capacity management, and illegal fishing prevention. Helping global tuna fisheries meet and maintain sustainability criteria to achieve the Marine Stewardship Council certification standard is ISSF's ultimate objective.