Tuna fisheries management and conservation made significant progress in 2013, according to the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation’s (ISSF) annual report.
The report, Enabling Sustainability through Engagement and Advocacy, outlines the organisation’s goals and achievements in 2013, as well as highlights ISSF’s ongoing commitment to the continuous improvement of global tuna fisheries through collaboration and advocacy.
“ISSF’s mission is dependent upon the support and actions of many. While the group of stakeholders engaged on issues of tuna sustainability is broad and diverse, our many common goals make working together not only possible, but essential,” said Susan Jackson, ISSF president.
When ISSF created its five-year Strategic Plan last year, it began with a comprehensive planning process to define the role of the organisation and how best to drive meaningful, practical and implementable progress.
Overall, the ISSF aims to achieve sustainability of tuna stocks and their ecosystems, maintain and enhance credibility through improved transparency and compliance, and exercise market and policy influence in regions and fisheries where participating companies operate and harvest tuna.
“Moving forward, ISSF will focus more than ever on utilising science-based approaches to advance tuna stock sustainability that are both implementable by key stakeholders and that evolve as new best practices are defined,” said Juan Corrales, chairman.
ISSF says it will advocate for these approaches, encouraging stakeholders to play a role in the continuous improvement of tuna fisheries that best suit their abilities and perspective.
“We collaborate with those from all fields and backgrounds who are committed to working together to ensure the long-term sustainability of global tuna stocks and their ecosystem,” Mr Corrales added.
Although ISSF notes that national government and regional bodies have much work to do, it says Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) have come a long way in the past several years.
Now, it will continue to work towards achieving its goal of ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of global tuna stocks.
