During the Infofish World Tuna and Trade Conference in Bangkok, International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) revealed its latest effort to bring more sustainable management practices to global tuna fisheries - a new vessel register.
Susan Jackson, president of ISSF, spoke of the importance of a multilateral approach involving all stakeholders in the tuna industry and announced the creation of the ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) - an online database designed to recognise vessel owners that are taking steps to fish for tuna more responsibly.
Ms Jackson explained: "We are creating an integrated data network through the use of Apple iPads onboard vessels so that records are updated as a fishing trip ends, with little burden on the time of the captain and crew, once they have been trained to use the technology properly.”
She added: “A simple update in a matter of minutes from a skipper in any ocean region and we know more than we did yesterday. Multiply that by every vessel, every day at sea, and you’ve got a new type of database that has never existed in this industry and that has the power to completely change fisheries management.”
The PVR will identify which of more than 25 commitments each vessel has adopted, including implementing strategies to increase supply chain transparency, providing complete data to management bodies and continuing education in best practices that reduce fishing’s impact on the greater marine environment.
Vessels can apply to be listed on the PVR online. A small fee, based on vessel type and size, will fund ongoing monitoring and provide each listed vessel with an Apple iPad, which will come equipped with logging and educational applications.
