The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has voted to repeal measures to protect yellowfin tuna, following updated scientific advice on the status of stocks in the Indian Ocean.
ISSF adopted Conservation Measure 1.3 in 2021 after assessments indicated the stock was overfished and experiencing overfishing, and amid limited management action from the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
The measure required participating companies to reduce sourcing of Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna by between 11% and 22% and to publicly report on implementation efforts.
However, a 2025 assessment and methodological review by the IOTC Scientific Committee determined the stock is no longer classified as overfished nor subject to overfishing.
“ISSF adopted CM 1.3 to support stock rebuilding at a time when scientific advice clearly indicated urgent action was needed and wasn’t being taken by the IOTC,” said Susan Jackson, president of ISSF.
“While stock recovery is driven by multiple factors, the actions taken by ISSF participating companies to follow the scientific advice at the time demonstrates how industry can contribute constructively when management processes are lacking.”
During the measure’s implementation, participating companies reduced sourcing of Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna by more than 30% compared to historical baselines, exceeding the original reduction targets.
ISSF said repeal of the measure does not alter its continued engagement with IOTC, where it will keep advocating for science-based management, including catch limits aligned with scientific advice.
The improved stock status is reflected in ISSF’s January 2026 Status of the Stocks report, which upgrades Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna from an uncertain (yellow) to healthy (green) rating and notes that no major commercial tuna stocks worldwide are currently classified as overfished.
