A Sustainable Tuna Roundtable concluded on Monday in Brussels with agreement by participants that substantial improvements to regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) are needed to ensure global sustainability of commercial tuna fisheries, including the health of tuna stocks and the ecosystem effects of tuna fisheries (e.g., bycatch of sensitive species and of juvenile and undersized tunas).  Assessment, certification and eco-labeling programs were recognized as important market-based incentives to promote fisheries sustainability and to address worker conditions and product safety.

Tuna fishing companies recognize that the future of their businesses rely on the success of RFMOs. However, consensus-based decision-making has often prevented RFMOs from adopting measures that effectively curb the growth of tuna fleets, decrease fisheries-related tuna mortality and address bycatch. Low compliance with RFMO measures exacerbates the problem. “Therefore, the Sustainable Tuna Roundtable participants agreed to increase seafood retailer and tuna fishing industry participation in RFMO activities in order to push for the adoption of legally binding measures that implement the recommendations of the RFMO scientific committees and ensure compliance to them,” explained Kitty Simonds, Executive Director of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.

Participants also agreed that assessments, certification and eco-labeling programs provide strong market-driven incentives for sustainable tuna production, as well as for addressing issues related to worker conditions and seafood safety and quality. Independent, third-party (in some cases, peer-reviewed) verification of fishery management success provides the fishing industry with a tool to promote better management by their national governments and RFMOs. Ms. Simonds further explained, “The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries was identified as an appropriate set of standards to begin assessing the sustainability of individual wild-caught marine fisheries worldwide.” 

The Roundtable participants recognized that many assessment, certification and labeling programs for commercial tuna fisheries already exist and noted that improvements could be made to them. Their accuracy and scientific vigor, such as accounting for trends and forecasting, could be improved by through better communication of fishery data to those conducting these fishery assessments.  Improvements could also be made in how information is conveyed to the consumer.  Eric Gilman of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Roundtable lead organizer explained, “To this end, participants agreed to improve communication to consumers on improving the sustainability of tuna fisheries and the basis for tuna sourcing decisions.” 

IUCN and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council agreed to continue to facilitate communication between the retail industry and tuna fishing industries to improve the scientific basis for seafood sourcing policies and achieve sustainable tuna fisheries.  The Roundtable was co-hosted by IUCN (www.iucn.org/themes/marine) and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (www.wpcouncil.org). Sponsors included the Sea Fish Industry Authority, UK (www.seafish.org), Royal Caribbean International (www.royalcaribbean.com) and the Hawaii Longline Association (hawaiilongline.org).

Roundtable participants included the fishing industry: Hawaii Longline Association, Luen Thai Fishing Venture Ltd., National Fisheries Institute, Organización de Profesional de Grandes Atuneros Congeladores, Pacific Islands Industry Tuna Association, Western Fishboat Owners Association, World Tuna Purse Seine Organization and Organisation Des Producteurs de Thon Congele; retailers, buyers, exporters and processors: Lidl Stiftung & Company KG, Migros (MICARNA SA), Tesco Stores Ltd., Whole Foods Market, Connors Bros. (parent company of Bumble Bee Foods U.S. and Clover Leaf Seafoods, Canada), Atuna, New England Seafood International Ltd., Seachill (Division of Icelandic Group UK Ltd.), MW Brands, and Maldive Marine Products, and intergovernmental organizations, including RFMOs: IUCN, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, Sea Fish Industry Authority, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, and Standards Norway (ISO/TC 234 Secretary).