Celebrating sustainability this World Tuna Day
©FAO/Manoj Nawoor
When the UN General Assembly adopted May 2 as World Tuna Day less than a decade ago, around 75 percent of tuna production came from sustainably fished stocks.
Today, between 90 to 95 percent of tuna landed at ports comes from stocks not overfished and where overfishing is not occurring.
These encouraging results have been achieved through the uptake by the five tuna regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOS) of management procedures otherwise known as harvest strategies.
These are where managers, fishing fleets and other interested parties, with advice from scientists, agree to the rules before nets or lines are cast.
Tuna RFMOs leading the way
The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) pioneered harvest strategies in tuna fisheries with its plan for southern bluefin recovery in 2011, when the species was in a critically overfished state.
“Our members work collaboratively to deliver the world-leading science and management that is critical to our shared objectives” said the CCSBT Executive Secretary Dominic Vallieres.
“This collaboration extends to our colleagues across the other tuna RFMOs with whom we share a geographic overlap in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans”
Two thirds of tuna catch comes from the Pacific Ocean and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has played a critical role in ensuring the sustainable management of the key commercial tuna species.
These include skipjack, yellowfin, albacore, bigeye and the southern bluefin tuna’s cousin, the Pacific Bluefin.
“The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s consensus-based approach ensures that management measures balance the needs of its diverse membership” said WCPFC Executive Director Rhea Moss-Christian.
“As a result, five of the six tuna stocks under WCPFC’s purview are being sustainably managed. The sixth, Pacific Bluefin tuna, is rebounding under a targeted rebuilding plan developed jointly by WCPFC and IATTC members.”
Tuna returns to the UK
ICCAT, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, has also overseen some encouraging turnarounds including the huge fish returning to UK and Irish waters after decades of absence.
“ICCAT’s approach to stock assessment and management is collaborative through its science advisory and management processes for the sustainable management of ten major tuna species, three major shark species, small tunas, and billfishes,” said ICCAT Executive Secretary Camille Manel.
In the Indian Ocean, where 23 percent of tuna is caught, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s (IOTC) adoption last month of catch limits for skipjack and bigeye, following the establishment of management procedures for these stocks, marked another advance towards an efficient, science-based management framework for tropical tunas.
“Collaborative action amongst our member states has been key to driving progress in tuna fisheries sustainability—through joint science, regional conservation measures, and strengthened compliance efforts,” said Paul DeBruyn, IOTC Executive Secretary.
Addressing climate change and bycatch challenges
There is still work to be done, however, to adapt to climate change and reduce the environmental footprint of tuna fisheries.
Bycatch can pose threats to marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and has economic and social implications, especially for communities that rely on sustainable fisheries for livelihoods and food security.
The FAO-led Common Oceans tuna project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and works with governments, scientists, RFMOs and non-governmental organizations to promote sustainable tuna fishing. It works to ensure that all major tuna stocks are fished at sustainable levels, that compliance with management measures is improved, and that biodiversity is preserved by reducing the negative impacts of tuna fisheries on marine ecosystems.
Partnership and collaboration are key to tackling complex challenges such as bycatch in tuna fisheries. All five tuna RFMO’s have signed agreements with the Agreement on the Conservation of Petrels and Albatrosses to step up bycatch mitigation work on these endangered seabirds.
Climate change poses a significant challenge by altering stock distribution, forcing tuna fishers to venture further into the high seas. This shift increases fuel and wage costs. Additionally, the impact on fish stocks requires further study.
“Collaboration at WCPFC extends beyond stock assessments,” said Moss-Christian. “In recent years, members have worked together to integrate climate-change considerations into decision-making, recognizing that shifting ocean conditions are already affecting tuna populations and that proactive management is essential for long-term resilience.”