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Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook

ContentS

Executive summary 4 Responsible and Sustainable Sourcing Claims: A UK Case Study 42 Introductory message 6 Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) 44 The MSC Fisheries Standard 8 Global tuna market data 46 How does the scoring process work? 9 MSC certified tuna fisheries – The Chain of Custody Standard 10 case studies 54 Do I need Chain of Custody certification? 11 AAFA & WFOA North & South Tuna species 12 Pacific albacore 56 The tuna challenge: international Australian Eastern Tuna and Billfish tuna governance and management 14 fishery, albacore, yellowfin, bigeye and swordfish 58 Tuna fishing gears 16 Cook Islands, Micronesia and Marshall Fishing methods: Fish Aggregating Islands longline fisheries 60 Devices and free-school fishing 20 Eastern Atlantic bluefin 62 Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) 22 Echebastar Indian Ocean skipjack 64 FADs explained 24 Indonesia pole-and-line and handline, Fishing methods: Longline fishing 26 skipjack and yellowfin tuna of Western and Central Pacific archipelagic waters 66 Considerations in sourcing tuna 28 Maldivian skipjack 68 Stock status 28 North Atlantic albacore artisanal fishery 70 Harvest Control Rules 30 PNA skipjack and yellowfin 72 Bycatch and Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) Species 32 PT Citraraja Ampat, Sorong, skipjack and yellowfin 74 Shark finning 34 Solomon Islands albacore, Illegal fishing 36 skipjack and yellowfin 76 Transshipment 37 Tri Marine Western & Central Forced labour 38 Pacific skipjack and yellowfin 78 Traceability 40 Summary of conditions 80 Mislabelling 40 Why should I choose MSC certified tuna? 81 Unit of Assessment 41 Consumer Insights 82 Conclusion 84 References 86

2 All data correct as of 28 February 2021 unless otherwise specified Stribley / Dallas Images © Getty cover Front / MSC Serious and © Nice Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook

nature of the global tuna supply chain, coupled with However, please note that this handbook is not an increase from pressure groups on the sourcing a guide to FIPs, nor a FIP sourcing handbook. Executive Summary of both non-certified and MSC certified tuna, further information would benefit those operating within While it takes time to advance fisheries to the Welcome to the MSC Sustainable Tuna Handbook. This handbook aims to discuss some of the the tuna supply chain to help provide greater clarity MSC Standard, there is reassuringly ample variety complexities of sustainable tuna fishing and increase the reader’s understanding of global tuna and knowledge on the global tuna landscape. and diversity in the commercial range of MSC fisheries and the global tuna supply chain. It explains how MSC certified tuna fisheries have achieved certified fisheries to start to satisfy the demand a high bar of sustainability, defined by the MSC Fisheries Standard. In addition to examining fishing gears and methods, for sustainable, certified tuna. But there is always species, impacts and issues, this handbook also room for improvement. While around 49% of all This handbook comes at a critical time: with the global sourcing policies. It is aimed at anyone involved with profiles a range of MSC certified tuna fisheries commercially important tuna fisheries are already demand for tuna increasing over recent decades, the sourcing sustainable tuna as a reference guide for the illustrating how different types of fisheries can engaged with the MSC program (by landed volume) pressure on local populations and ecosystems has various aspects of tuna sourcing. meet the MSC Standard, even with varied gear and an additional 20% in a FIP (by landed volume), also intensified. At the same time, the diversity in types, fishing methods, species and management nearly a third are left without any measure for the sector has fuelled questions related to gear type Sixty-five percent of consumers believe that to approaches. It examines how these fisheries gained how they are performing or verification of their and fishing methods, species, sustainability, and save the oceans we should consume seafood their sustainability credentials, including the actions sustainability. environmental impact, to name a few. only from sustainable sources1. The supply chain they have taken over time, to achieve and maintain needs to respond to this demand and ensure their certification. Common themes include: Our vision is to see more fisheries enter MSC For tuna populations to thrive, the sector requires that environmental and social threats related to • Improved observer coverage assessment at a level at which they can achieve robust and coordinated management, effective tuna fishing are minimised through sourcing from certification. Those already certified to the MSC • Improving management to protect tuna stocks enforcement, elimination of forced labour and illegal verifiably sustainable fisheries. Standard are leading the way and have made – often in the long term fishing, reduction in mislabelling, and reductions in considerable – changes to achieve their certification. catches of Endangered, Threatened and Protected The blue MSC label can help fulfil these commitments • Minimising fishery impacts on other species, These leaders are helping support global tuna (ETP) species. These issues are prevalent in many by ensuring sustainability against a rigorous and including overfished stocks and Endangered, sustainability. Your support in this movement, tuna fisheries and present sourcing risks that can demanding standard and providing traceability from Threatened and Protected (ETP) species and action at the national and international level, prove challenging. Furthermore, a lack of information ocean to plate. It is an opportunity to deliver on is crucial to ensure these fisheries are protected available on tuna fisheries, conflicting sustainability sustainable sourcing commitments and to ensure a While the MSC Standard sets the bar for sustainability for future generations. By sourcing MSC certified credentials, and powerful NGO campaign messaging sustainable supply for these iconic species. of fisheries, it is important to recognise Fishery tuna, you are not only investing in ensuring stable combine to further complicate sourcing decisions. Improvement Projects (FIPs) as an important aspect supplies of fish for the future with secure supply This handbook hopes to bring clarity to these issues While MSC certification provides a solution to of the path to sustainability. As such, this handbook chains, but also incentivizing healthy oceans and and demonstrate how MSC certification can help sustainable seafood sourcing requirements, we also provides an example of a successful FIP that coastal communities. This handbook will help you mitigate these risks, essential to fulfilling sustainable recognise that due to the complex and diverse has progressed to become an MSC certified fishery. navigate this complex and fascinating world. © Janos / Adobe Stock / Adobe © Janos

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Introduction to Sustainable Tuna Sourcing

Healthy Stocks Bill Holden, MSC Senior With increased demand for tuna comes increased Sourcing from overfished stocks, or from fisheries Tuna Fisheries Outreach pressure on tuna stocks and associated that have significant bycatch of non-target species Manager ecosystems. At the moment, most tuna stocks or environmental impacts, creates business and are at healthy levels4, but there are significant supply chain risks. Businesses therefore have Tuna are some of the variations and stocks can change. Retailers a vested interest in helping to ensure strong world’s most popular seeking to buy from tuna with healthy stocks can conservation measures are adopted. fish, sold in nearly every rely on MSC certified tuna fisheries, which ensure country in the world. From the tuna sandwiches that the stocks are healthy or are in a robust and Labour I grew up with, to the sushi I love today, we see demonstrably credible rebuilding plan. In addition to these environmental issues, there the global tuna market segmented into different are also concerns about the scale of forced labour areas based on species, food preferences and Environmental Impacts and human rights issues in tuna supply chains. culture. But change is constant: one of the Tuna fisheries can be associated with significant The MSC condemns forced labour and although we biggest trends in the past few years has been the bycatch problems, catching and entangling were built as an environmental standard, we have growth of the fresh and frozen market in North seabirds, sharks and marine mammals. Different taken steps to keeping forced labour out of the America and in Western Europe, while canned fisheries have vastly different impacts depending MSC certified supply chain (see page 38). tuna is gaining ground even in the Middle East on how the fishing gears are used (see page 16) – not exactly a traditional tuna market. and where the tuna is fished. Reducing Risk The best way for tuna buyers to significantly Retail buyers play a pivotal role in reducing these The global tuna market reached a value of reduce exposure to the above risks is to choose 2 impacts by sourcing sustainable tuna. Some US$11.6 billion in 2018, driven by increasing MSC certified tuna. A certified fishery ensures environmental groups have pressured buyers to demand for processed/ready to cook tuna, that the stocks are healthy or are in a robust and source from pole and line fisheries because the rising disposable incomes and increasing per demonstratively credible rebuilding plan, the bycatch of non-tuna species from this fishing gear is capita consumption. impact on the ecosystem is minimal and the fishery considered minimal. However, focussing on a single is well-managed. What is more, by choosing MSC, attribute, such as fishing gear, is too simplistic: Once tuna is canned or frozen, it becomes a you are incentivizing global fisheries to become tuna stocks may still be overfished or poorly- shelf-stable and easily traded commodity3. more sustainable, thereby safeguarding livelihoods managed and particular fisheries, irrespective of But there are complex issues in tuna fisheries, and healthy oceans for the future. gear type, may face other challenges such as the due to the impacts of gears used to harvest catch of juvenile tuna. tuna and their highly-migratory nature. Management Over the past ten years, the MSC has built up Tuna are managed at the international level by a wealth of experience in tuna fisheries, their Regional Fisheries Management Organisations supply chains and their unique challenges. (RFMOs) (see page 14), but management at this This handbook is a distillation of some of that level, involving as many as fifty member countries, experience and I hope it will help retailers can be slow. Retailers can support sustainable and other commercial interests navigate tuna by backing strong conservation measures the complex, and fascinating world of this through the adoption of measures such as Harvest remarkable fish. Strategies and Harvest Control Rules (HCRs), by RFMOs (see case study on page 31). © Anthony J Rayburn © Anthony

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The MSC Fisheries Standard How does the scoring process work? The MSC Fisheries Standard brings together over 20 years of collaboration with scientists, the fishing industry There are 28 performance indicators in the Fisheries Standard that sit under the three principles. and conservation groups. It reflects internationally accepted fisheries science and best practice management. Your fishery is assigned a score for each performance indicator where 60 is the minimum acceptable performance, 80 is global best practice and 100 is near perfect performance. The three principles of the MSC Fisheries Standard To be certified, your fishery must score: Principle 1: Sustainability Principle 2: Ecosystem impacts: Principle 3: Effective of the stock: Fisheries must Fishing operations need to be management: All fisheries need • At least 60 for each of the 28 performance indicators operate in a way that allows to meet all local, national and managed to maintain the structure, • An average score of 80 across all performance indicators under each of the three principles fishing to continue indefinitely, productivity, function and diversity international laws and have an without over exploiting of the ecosystem upon which the effective management system If your fishery scores between 60 and 79 for any performance indicator, you are required to improve the resource. fishery depends, including other in place. your fishery’s performance against that indicator so that it scores 80 or above within five years. species and habitats. This improvement is called a condition.

P State of the art: 100 Performance indicator pass with no conditions Best practice: 80 P Performance indicator pass with conditions Minimum acceptable: 60

P Fail

P P P P P P S E E

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The Chain of Do I need Chain of Custody Certification? Custody Standard: Principle 1: Companies must purchase The Chain of Custody Standard is a traceability and segregation standard that is Default Version certified product from a applicable to the full supply chain – from a certified fishery or farm, to final sale. certified supplier has five principles

Principle 2: Examples of businesses eligible for Chain of Custody certification: Certified products are • A fishmonger serving final consumers and caterers ASC - C - 000 7 clearly identifiable MSC - C - 000 9 • A seafood company with a trading office, processing facility and storage unit

Principle 3: Certified products are When Chain of Custody certification is not needed: separated from non-certified • Your company buys pre-packed, labelled certified products that will be sold to the end consumer without being opened, re-packed or re-labelled. Such items are known as consumer-ready tamper-proof products. Retail packages of frozen fish fingers or tins of smoked mackerel fillets are examples of consumer-ready tamper-proof products • Your company buys certified products but does not wish to sell these on as certified. In this case the chain of custody is broken and your customers may not make any claims about the product being certified Principle 4: • Your company does not take legal ownership of certified seafood. This may be the case if your company Certified products are provides contracted services for certified companies and therefore can be covered by your customer’s traceable, and volumes Chain of Custody certificate as a subcontractor are recorded

Businesses not eligible for Chain of Custody certification: Principle 5: • A company that has been successfully prosecuted for a forced or child labour violation in the last two years Your management system • A company whose certificate was withdrawn for a breach of Chain of Custody in the last two years addresses the requirements of the Chain of Custody Standard • A company whose certificate was suspended in the last six months • Enhanced fishery or farm operations that are out of scope of the MSC Fisheries Standard or the ASC Farm Standard

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Tuna species

Worldwide there are 23 stocks of the major commercial tuna species: 5 skipjack, 4 yellowfin, 4 bluefin, Bluefin tuna 6 albacore, and 4 bigeye stocks. A recent report from the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation There are three bluefin species in four stocks: Western Atlantic, (ISSF) showed that 65% of tuna stocks were at healthy levels, 13% were overfished and 22% were at Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (Thunnus thynnus), Pacific T.( 4 an intermediate level . This page shows important differences between the five major commercial tuna orientalis), and Southern (T. maccoyii). Atlantic bluefin is the largest species (in alphabetical order). Their differences not only impact their susceptibility to overfishing, tuna species, and they take a long time to grow and reproduce. but also their taste, price and availability. Eastern Atlantic bluefin are thought to be 100% mature by the age of five, while those from the Western Atlantic stock are about nine years old before they reach adulthood75. Bluefin represent just 1% of the world’s tuna catch4. Due to their higher fat content, they are normally eaten as sashimi6. Bluefin are highly-prized and regularly set new sales records in Japanese auctions – one fish sold for 333.6 million Yen (over 3 million US dollars) in Tokyo’s fish market in early 20197.

Albacore tuna Skipjack tuna Albacore (Thunnus alalunga) grows more slowly than other tunas such Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) is the smallest and most abundant of as skipjack and yellowfin and matures later at around 5 years. It is the commercial tuna species. They reproduce quickly and are highly typically caught in deeper waters, around 400m deep and is found in productive, maturing around 1-2 years of age. Skipjack are caught in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans, the Mediterranean and even in the tropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans5. UK waters5.

Albacore represents 4% of the world’s tuna catch and is also known as It is the most popular and generally the most affordable of the tuna 4 ‘white tuna’ due to its light flesh4. It is ideal for canning, due to its dryer species, representing 60% of the world’s tuna catch . Its small size texture but is also sold as fresh steak or in jars with olive oil. Albacore provides small loins and chunks, which make them a popular fish 6 is significantly more expensive than skipjack. for canning .

Bigeye tuna Yellowfin tuna Bigeye (Thunnus obesus) is a large tuna that also grows more slowly Yellowfin Thunnus( albacares) are a similar sized tuna to bigeye than yellowfin or skipjack, but matures relatively young, around but mature at around 2 years old4. They reproduce throughout the three years. It is found in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and year making them highly productive. They are found throughout represents 7% of the world’s tuna catch4. Because bigeye typically live the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans5 and represent 28% of the at deeper depths, compared to yellowfin and skipjack, they have a world’s tuna catch4. Yellowfin meat is firm with a mild taste and can thick layer of fat to insulate them from the colder water. This fat adds be canned or sold as fresh or frozen fillets6. moisture, that makes bigeye attractive for sashimi markets.

Fish paintings © Scandanavian Fishing Year Book

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when stocks are perceived as healthy, so any Along with our partners, the MSC is pushing for management action can be applied quickly when stronger action from RFMOs including coordinating The Tuna Challenge: International tuna needed. For example, if a stock falls below a certain timelines for certification conditions. The adoption level, the total allowable catch can be reduced by of robust, well defined HCRs is a requirement governance and management a pre-defined amount to ensure future harvests are for the ongoing certification of MSC certified set at sustainable limits. tuna fisheries. Therefore, as more fisheries have become MSC certified, increasingly, RFMOs Tuna are highly-migratory fish and swim thousands of miles each year between multiple jurisdictions. To date, four of the five tuna RFMOs have agreed are being encouraged to adopt and implement Their culinary popularity, and decades of exploitation by multiple nationalities, have created high pressure on HCRs for particular tuna stocks: responsive harvest strategies that include well- these valuable stocks and – despite their overall healthy status – caused some tuna populations to decline. • In 2016, the IOTC agreed a landmark HCR for defined HCRs. Retailers can help RFMOs to adopt skipjack (see case study on page 31) HCRs by encouraging the member delegations to • The IATTC has agreed on an HCR for yellowfin support their adoption in RFMO meetings. and bigeye in the Eastern Pacific Ocean • The CCSBT agreed an HCR for southern bluefin • In 2018, ICCAT adopted an HCR for North Atlantic albacore MSC requires the adoption of HCRs Movement towards HCRs on other stocks remains slow, but most RFMOs have plans to deliver these to move from ‘generally understood’ important management measures within the next HCRs to ‘well defined’ HCRs. five years.

Source: Pew Charitable Trusts Harvest Control Rules

To prevent overfishing, the MSC program requires the In an effort to bring coordinated international The need for consensus makes decision-making adoption of Harvest Control Rules (HCRs), moving from management to tuna stocks and ensure sustainable slow and tends to lower the bar to the lowest level ‘generally understood’ HCRs to ‘well defined’ HCRs, fisheries, five tuna Regional Fisheries Management of management accepted by all members8. This can within an agreed timeframe. HCRs are a set of pre-agreed, well-defined actions used to determine how much fishing Organisations (RFMOs)5 were established be especially problematic when there is an urgent can occur, based on the health of a tuna stock. When stock around the world in the 1990s and 2000s. These need to reduce fishing pressure on a tuna stock that levels reach certain thresholds, the HCR would inform organisations each comprise between 21 and is being overexploited. Management by consensus the RFMO response to prevent overfishing, before the 50 member countries, which are the countries can, at times, provide a veto to any individual population declines further. Agreeing ‘well defined’ HCRs historically involved in catching the tuna and those member state. in advance is considered best practice as it allows the in whose waters the tuna live. management bodies to avoid overfishing by acting in a One way to ensure an appropriate response timely and agreed way. In early 2019, the HCR conditions While RFMOs were designed so that member to declining tuna stocks is the agreement, for all MSC certified tuna fisheries were aligned, so that states could jointly develop and set sustainable multiple certified fisheries in the same region can work to implementation and enforcement of robust Harvest the same timeframes and can coordinate their efforts for management measures to prevent overfishing of Control Rules (HCRs). HCRs are pre-agreed actions the adoption of robust harvest strategies supported by tuna, in many cases these bodies have struggled in response to changes of stock status. Agreeing well-defined HCRs. to deliver on their sustainability commitments. HCRs is politically challenging given the varied See pages 30 and 31 on Harvest Control Rules and to A key reason is that most decisions in RFMOs perspectives and priorities of the participating read about how the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission require consensus. Finding agreement amongst coastal states. However, consensus can be

agreed to implement HCRs. J Rayburn © Anthony as many as 50 member states – with conflicting achieved more readily when stocks are healthy, priorities and interests – is incredibly challenging. so it is important to have HCRs in place even

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Tuna fishing gears The various gear types used to catch tuna have different impacts and impacts are also specific to individual regions. The impacts depend on the species, habitats and the natural environment of a given area and how the fishing gears and fishing operations are modified to reduce their impacts. Even gear types that are seemingly benign can have negative impacts on the environment.

Due to the varied nature of tuna fisheries, every location. The impact of a fishing gear should be fishery needs to be individually assessed, taking based on evidence for that specific fishery, rather into account fishing gear impacts on the ecosystem, than its perceived challenges or benefits. The only stock status and management practices. The MSC exceptions are fishing with explosives or poisons, Fisheries Standard requires rigorous monitoring which are excluded from the MSC program. and management programs for certified fisheries, to ensure both the target stock and the ecosystem Tuna are caught by a variety of gear types and remain healthy. fishing methods (see page 18). Purse seine, gillnet, and pole and line are used to catch tuna near the In line with United Nations Food and Agriculture surface e.g. skipjack and small yellowfin, albacore Organization (UNFAO) guidelines, the MSC program and bluefin. Deep-set longlines are used to catch is open to all types of wild-capture fisheries tuna in deeper waters e.g. larger bluefin, bigeye, regardless of their size, fishing technique or yellowfin and albacore9.

global Proportion of tuna catch caught by gear type

Purse seine Longline 12.8% Pole and line Miscellaneous Gillnets 3.7% Miscellaneous* Gillnets 7.8% Pole & line 65.7% 10% Purse seine Longline

*Miscellaneous gears are not fully defined but include handlines, midwater trawling and tuna traps. © istock.com / Aleksander Kamasi / Aleksander © istock.com Source: 4

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Purse seine Pole & line In pole and line fishing, fishermen locate a school Fishermen locate a school of tuna and set a of tuna, then may scatter small live bait fish and net around it in a circle. The bottom of the spray water onto the sea surface. This creates net is pulled closed – like a purse – and the the illusion of an active school of prey, sending fish are brought on board. Purse seines can the tuna into a feeding frenzy, where they will be used to catch fish congregating around bite anything they see. Fishermen then line up, fish aggregating devices (FADs)10 or on ‘free equipped with hand-held poles with barbless schools’ of tuna (see page 20-25). Purse seine hooks. Once a tuna bites, the fisherman flicks it up fishing represents 66% of global tuna catches over their head and onto the deck16. Like in purse but they are used for catching 95% of Eastern seine fishing, pole and line fishing can also be Pacific yellowfin and 79% of Western and used to catch fish that congregate around FADs, or Central Pacific skipjack4. on ‘free schools’ of tuna (see page 20-25). Pole and line fishing represents 8% of global tuna catches but they are used for catching 29% of North Pacific albacore and 19% of Indian Ocean skipjack4. Longline Longline fisheries trail a main line behind a boat. Baited hooks are attached at regular intervals to attract the target species13. The line can be between 1 and 30 miles long, Trolling Trolling is a type of handline fishing. A slow- with up to 3,000 hooks per line14. Longline moving boat tows multiple (10 to 20) fishing fishing represents 10% of global tuna lines that are baited with hooks used to lure catches but they are used for catching 34% of in the fish. The lines can be hauled in by hand Eastern Pacific Ocean bigeye and 96% or mechanically. Whilst trolling represents of South Pacific Ocean albacore4. less than 12% of tuna catches worldwide, it is used to catch 16% of Atlantic Ocean northern albacore and 19% of North Pacific albacore4.

Gillnets A gillnet is a ‘curtain’ of netting that hangs in the water15. Fish swim into the net and get caught by their gills. Gillnets represent just 4% of global tuna catches but they are used for catching 19% of Indian Ocean skipjack “Different fisheries have vastly different impacts depending 4 and 20% of Indian Ocean yellowfin . on how the fishing gears are used and where the tuna is fished.” Bill Holden, MSC Senior Tuna Fisheries Outreach Manager

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Fishing methods: Fish Aggregating Devices and free-school fishing

Tuna are highly migratory, ranging over thousands of miles. Some fishermen track tuna or follow these migrations to catch the tuna schools, this is called ‘free school’ fishing. Other fishermen use objects to help them locate and catch the tuna more easily, called Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). This section discusses both of these methods and any associated environmental impacts.

Purse seine nets and poles and lines are set and deployed on free-swimming schools of tuna, which are not associated with floating objects or other marine life. This can result in lower bycatch, but also smaller catches, compared to nets or lines that are set on schools of tuna associated with FADs17.

The following graph shows differences in average bycatch rates found between the FAD and free-school tuna fisheries. Data is not available on the differences in bycatch rates for specific gear types.

FADS and Free-school bycatch IN PURSE SEINE FISHERIES .% FAD catch bycatch Free-school .% bycatch rate

.%

.%

.%

.% Atlantic Eastern Pacic Indian Western & Central Ocean Ocean Ocean Pacic Ocean

Source: 18

Various environmental NGOs, including Greenpeace, • There is no internationally-accepted distance After consulting the industry, environmental NGOs entering assessment for the first time from 25 have campaigned to support free-school fishing that a fishing boat has to be from a FAD to count and fishing experts, the MSC recently updated September 2020. The MSC is already working with because of the lower levels of bycatch. While as ‘free-school’ fishing, but distances can range its requirements so that from March 2023 purse the International Sustainable Seafood Foundation free-school sets do have a range of benefits, from 1 to 5 nautical miles. This could result in seine tuna fisheries catching free-school tuna and (ISSF), tuna fisheries and scientists to support there are also some drawbacks, including: fishing being conducted on a FAD-associated tuna associated with fish aggregating devices these fisheries to improve the use and management school of tuna even though the fishery purports (FADs) will need to seek certification for their entire of FADs to meet the high bar for sustainable fishing • Given the time needed to find the tuna schools, to be fishing using free-school methods catch (see page 41 Unit of Assessment). The new set by the MSC Standard. it is expensive, so fishing boats typically also certification process will take effect for fisheries fish using FADs on the same trip © Juan Vilata © / Shutterstock.com Juan Vilata

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Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs)

Due to their highly-migratory nature, it can Other issues with drifting FADs include their 40% of the world’s be extremely difficult for fishermen to locate potential effects on tuna migration and the skipjack is caught a tuna school. materials they are made from: if a FAD becomes lost or derelict, it can damage corals or contribute using FADs Many fish species including tuna, are attracted to ocean plastic. This is problematic because there to, and aggregate around, floating objects in are an estimated 90,000-120,000 FADs worldwide20 the ocean. Firstly, small fish are attracted to the so their cumulative impact can be damaging if not There are an estimated structure of the FAD, and in turn, this attracts bigger managed effectively. 90,000-120,000 FADs pelagic fish such as tuna. As a result of this natural in the oceans today behaviour, the fishing industry developed Fish FAD Improvements Aggregating Devices (FADs) to make finding and Some segments of the tuna fishing industry – fishing tuna easier. in partnership with research institutions – are developing measures to reduce the impact of FADs FADs are modified natural or man-made floating through technological improvements in FAD design, objects, often floating wooden structures with which have advanced considerably over recent hanging nets, used to attract fish18. Once the fish are years. For example, some fisheries are adopting the aggregated, the fishermen deploy nets or cast fishing use of biodegradable and non-entangling drifting lines close to FADs to catch the tuna. FADs can be FADs to reduce their persistence in the marine drifting or anchored, entangling or non-entangling, environment and reduce the entanglement of and can be made from biodegradable materials. non-target species. All have different impacts on the environment depending on where and how they are used. FADs These efforts, combined with improved tracking and are used in 65% of purse seine sets18 and in 40% of data collection, licensing and registration of FADs, the world’s skipjack catch19. monitoring and retrieval of old FADs, and purse seine gear modifications, have enabled fisheries Impacts of FAD Use using FADs to reduce their non-target bycatch to levels at which MSC certification is a possibility. FADs, particularly those that are left to drift on the high seas, are highly controversial because of their These improvements led to the first tuna fishery using potential impact on the marine environment. This drifting FADs to achieve MSC certification in 2018. poses a risk to the sustainability of tuna fisheries Working with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission because marine life can become entangled in the and Seychelles authorities, the Echebastar purse nets that are attached to some designs of FADs. seine tuna fishery has actively sought to reduce bycatch of non-target species by reducing numbers The aggregation of species other than tuna beneath of FADs, deploying only non-entangling FADs and With advances in FAD design, monitoring and FADs also makes them more likely to be caught ensuring the rapid release of non-target species. management, and new requirements for a purse as bycatch in the same nets or lines used to catch These efforts demonstrate leadership within the tuna seine tuna fishery’s entire catch to be MSC certified, tuna. This causes concern among NGOs, creates fishing industry. Now certified, this fishery will also be we expect to see more tuna fisheries using FADs to apprehension about sourcing from fisheries that required, as a condition of its certification, to invest in achieve MSC certification in the next few years. The use FADs and therefore requires greater assurances research and practices to further reduce the potential MSC is working with fisheries and other organisations of the sustainability of tuna caught in association impacts of FADs and better understand their impacts to help them to understand what needs to happen to with FADs. (see case study, page 64). ensure the long-term sustainability of these fisheries. © ISSF / Nando Rivero © ISSF

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FADs explained

MSC certification is based on comprehensive assessment of the impacts of a fishery and the environment within which it operates. Following UNFAO guidelines any fishing gear, except explosives and poisons, is eligible to be assessed under the MSC program. Therefore, the MSC does not explicitly exclude fishing vessels that set on FADs from being certified. However, any fishery with high non-target bycatch or impacts from lost FADs will need to make improvements to meet the MSC Standard’s minimum criteria for environmental impact (Principle 2) and achieve certification. Drifting FADs ( FADs)

Natural FADs Anchored FADs Non-entangling dFADs Entangling dFADs Some tuna fisheries target natural structures The FAD is a raft – often made of bamboo – fixed Non-entangling dFADs drift with ocean currents and Entangling dFADs have nets that hang in the water or floating objects, including free-floating logs to an anchored buoy, usually in coastal waters. winds. Non-entangling dFADs use ropes or rolled column from a floating structure. up nets to avoid entangling marine creatures. Each (tree trunks) and large marine animals, such Anchored FADs (often referred to as aFADs) can be Risks: The nets serve to attract a greater variety dFAD has a buoy with a reference number and a GPS as whale sharks, around which fish congregate. either non-entangling or entangling. They are used of animals and can result in them being caught. unit so the fishermen can find them22. This is referred to as ‘natural-associated’ or by both commercial and subsistence fisheries and The dFADs can be constructed using a variety of 17 ‘object-associated’ fishing . are most commonly associated with pole and line Risks: Evidence is still needed to fully determine materials. The ones that have open nets hanging fishing. The FAD stays in the same position and Risks: Because gear set on natural FADs may the impact of lost dFADs. from the raft tend to have the highest rates of doesn’t drift, reducing the risk of it getting lost or entanglement22. be close to large marine animals, it can result Mitigation: Non-entangling dFADs can be designed damaging reefs. in their bycatch. to reduce the risk of entangling animals22. The first Mitigation: Entangling dFADs can be modified Risks: These FADs can be anchored in vulnerable Mitigation: Due to the impact on whale sharks in certified fishery to use dFADs in 2018 uses 100% e.g. by rolling the nets up into ‘sausages’, habitats, such as corals and can be associated with the Parties to the Nauru Agreement tuna fishery non-entangling dFADs. to reduce the risk of entangling other animals. catching juvenile yellowfin. Some anchored FADs (see case study on page 72), the fishery banned Used in: MSC certified Echebastar purse seine also include entangling nets which can result in setting purse seine nets on whale sharks in skipjack fishery. non-target species being caught in the FAD nets. 201221. Other fisheries require a set distance between the natural FAD and where fishing gear Mitigation: Anchoring in vulnerable habitats can be can be deployed. avoided. Fishermen can relocate their fishing if too many juveniles are being caught in a particular area. Biodegradable FADs Used In: No MSC certified fisheries set on Several companies have begun using non-entangling, biodegradable FADs to reduce the impact of discarded FADs whale sharks. Used in: MSC certified fisheries in the Maldives, the on coral reefs and to reduce the rate of plastics entering the ocean. Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

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Fishing methods: Longline Fishing

Roughly 10% of the world’s tuna catch is harvested using longlines4. Of the 63 tuna fisheries currently engaged in the MSC program, 25 use longlines. These include the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Islands longline fisheries (see page 60) and the Australian Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (see page 58).

As the name suggests, longline tuna fisheries set a measures include the use of tori-lines which scare Circle hooks monitoring methods. For example, the Australian longline behind a boat in the midwater or pelagic away seabirds, prohibiting the use of shark gear and Eastern Tuna and Billfish fishery (see page 58) has The Australian Eastern Tuna and Billfish fishery (see zone. Baited hooks are attached to the lines at wire leaders to reduce the catch of sharks and rays, page 58) is one of many certified longline fisheries 100% electronic monitoring on all vessels. intervals to attract tuna. Longlines are ideal for and circle hooks to prevent the incidental capture that uses circle hooks to reduce sea turtle capture. catching tuna species that inhabit deeper waters, such of sea turtles. MSC certified longline tuna fisheries Circle hooks can prevent sea turtles from becoming New technologies as albacore, bigeye and yellowfin. have introduced a range of mitigation measures to captured if they eat bait from the longline76. Instead of minimise their interactions with non-target species. Certified fisheries are required to regularly review the a J-shaped hook, the sharp tip of a circle hook points Without careful management, longline fisheries can ETP mitigation measures that they have in place to see inwards like a capital letter G creating a flat surface have unintended interactions with non-target fish, Tori lines and bycatch release if improvements can be made or if newer technologies that is still effective at catching target species but seabirds, and other marine life. In order to become are available. For example, the SATHOAN longline Fiji’s longline albacore, yellowfin and bigeye first prevents turtles from becoming captured. certified, fisheries are required to demonstrate that became certified in 2012. To meet the requirements bluefin tuna fishery (see page 62) is developing an impacts on non-target species are low. Once certified, of MSC certification, the fishery introduced tori lines As a requirement of certification, the fishery has also app to monitor interactions with ETP species, and is fisheries are often required to make improvements to scare seabirds away from the lines, as well as introduced tori lines and weighted lines to prevent working to develop pingers that deter sharks to their monitoring programs, and to implement turtle release gear. The fishery also trained all of its interactions with seabirds as well as prohibiting the and rays from their longline gear, minimising measures that further mitigate interactions with non- onboard crew in the use of dehooking devices and discharge of offal during setting and hauling to reduce incidental mortalities. target species. other methods for bycatch release. As a condition incidental sea bird captures. of certification, an onboard bycatch monitoring Mitigation measures system was put in place, along with greater observer Increased observer coverage Bycatch mitigation measures minimise interactions coverage. As a result of mitigation measures, In addition to mitigation measures, MSC certified between fishing gear and non-target species such interactions with ETP species are very low in tuna fisheries have made improvements to their as seabirds, turtles and sharks. In longline fisheries, this fishery. understanding of ETP interactions by improving their © Wolfgang Pölzer / Alamy Pölzer Wolfgang ©

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Considerations in sourcing tuna The health of tuna stocks around the world4

Southern Indian Ocean Atlantic Ocean Western-Central Eastern Pacific Species Hemisphere (IOTC) (ICCAT) Pacific (WCPFC) (IATTC) Stock status (CCSBT) Skipjack East and West ◊ n/a Worldwide there are 23 stocks of the major What is MSY? commercial tuna species (6 albacore, 4 bigeye, Yellowfin n/a In population ecology MSY is the largest average 4 bluefin, 5 skipjack and 4 yellowfin stocks). A recent Bigeye n/a yield (catch) that can theoretically be taken from report from the ISSF shows that 65% of tuna stocks a species’ stock over an indefinite period under North and are at a healthy level of abundance, 13% are South Atlantic 4 constant environmental conditions. It is usually Albacore North and South Pacific n/a overfished and 22% are at an intermediate level . 23 measured in tonnes . To have a viable and thriving Mediterranean How MSC certification addresses fishing sector, the size of fish stocks must be at, or above, levels where they can produce the maximum Bluefin stock challenges n/a East and West Pacific Bluefin sustainable yield over an indefinite timeframe. (three species) Principle 1 of the MSC Fisheries Standard asks: Source: 4 Are enough mature fish left in the ocean to breed? The state of stocks in MSC Fishing must be managed at a level that ensures it certified fisheries Stock is at or Stock below BMSY but it has been stable, Stock is below BMSY can continue indefinitely and the fish population An analysis of stock data from nine regions of the above BMSY* increasing, or fluctuating around and it has not been can remain productive and healthy. For those stocks world shows that MSC certified fisheries target stocks SSBMSY** because the stock is being stable, increasing that are depleted, fishing must be conducted in a with healthy biomass. In nearly all regions, stocks manner that demonstrably leads to their recovery. managed at FMSY***. Yellow is also used or fluctuating targeted by certified fisheries have higher biomass in in the absence of a stock assessment around BMSY 24 One of the six questions in Principle 1 looks at the years following certification . the size of the total fish stock. For a fishery to be ◊ The Eastern Pacific skipjack stock status is subject to high uncertainty. The last stock assessment A smaller group of stocks targeted by certified certified without conditions, the target fish stock was in 2012 and this species is managed through the measures in place for bigeye and yellowfin. fisheries were below the MSY level, but above – the amount of mature fish in the stock – must the biological limit for recovery, i.e. the minimum be at (or around) a level consistent with Maximum amount of fish needed for a stock to be able to Sustainable Yield (MSY). rebuild to healthy levels. Fisheries on these stocks According to ISSF, skipjack stocks, which make up total tuna catch comes from stocks where fishing is are required to show that stocks are rebuilding in more than half of global catches, are generally healthy. not well managed. order to remain MSC certified. The Pacific bluefin stock is overfished, with evidence of recovery existing for the Southern bluefin. For both Global catch of tuna has tended to increase For example, the North Atlantic albacore stock eastern and western stocks of Atlantic bluefin, while consistently, from less than 0.6 million tonnes reduced catches by setting a conservative Total there is uncertainty on the status of the two stocks in 1950, to more than 6 million tonnes today Allowable Catch to rebuild the stock back toward there is evidence of a strong recovery and overfishing (UN FAO). With these trends continuing there is sustainable levels. Following the rebuilding, the is not occurring. Albacore stocks are generally an urgent need not only to reduce fishing pressure stock now has a well-defined HCR in place to healthy, with uncertainty in the Mediterranean stock on those stocks already overfished, but to protect maintain it at a sustainable level, consistent assessment resulting in a yellow rating, but some and effectively manage those currently in a with MSY. yellowfin stocks are declining or overfished. 15% of the healthy state.

* B MSY is the biomass associated with the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY), where the biomass is simply the body weight of all the fish of one specific stock in the water. Biomass is measured in tonnes. MSY is the largest yield of fish that can be caught from a specific fish stock over an indefinite period under constant environmental conditions. ** SSBMSY is the Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) associated with the MSY. *** FMSY is the fishing mortality rate consistent with achieving the MSY.

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Harvest Control Rules

Harvest strategies and Harvest Control Rules (HCRs) each situation independently. This is particularly To date, four of the five tuna RFMOs have agreed HCRs (see previous page). Therefore, as more define how catches should be reduced if a fish stock important with tuna and other highly migratory HCRs for particular tuna stocks. Other tuna fisheries fisheries become MSC certified, increasingly, declines. HCRs are recognized as best practice in stocks managed by RFMOs since the decision- in the MSC program aligned their HCR conditions RFMOs are being encouraged to adopt HCRs. fisheries management. They are tied to scientifically making body is made up of many independent in spring 2019, accelerating some, and extending derived reference points and are incorporated in the states, and a consensus is needed. This situation others, so that multiple certified fisheries in the Along with our partners, the MSC is pushing MSC Fisheries Standard. can delay decision making by many years, and same region could coordinate their efforts. for stronger action from RFMOs. Retailers can when fish stocks start to drop, delays in adopting encourage RFMOs to adopt harvest strategies and A fish stock usually declines because the number of conservation measures almost always lead to At present, the majority of MSC certified tuna HCRs by encouraging the member delegations from young fish coming into the population has been low further decline. fisheries have a condition to adopt well-defined each country to support them in RFMO meetings. or catches have been too high. This is like a business that finds itself with lower sales than expected, The assessments of most tuna fisheries to the or higher expenditures. Either circumstance can MSC Fisheries Standard have identified the need damage the company’s balance sheet and put it at for improvements to, or adoption of, well-defined risk. If the board of a business does not react rapidly, harvest strategies and HCRs. the business can go bankrupt. The business needs to CASE STUDY: ADOPTING HCRs FOR SKIPJACK IN THE respond quickly to save the business, and likewise, Responding to the need for well-defined HCRs, and RFMOs need to respond quickly when stocks decline. pressure from some fisheries wishing to achieve or INDIAN OCEAN TUNA COMMISSION (IOTC) maintain MSC certification, RFMOs are intensifying HCRs that are pre-agreed, well defined and their efforts to develop HCRs for many stocks. The Maldives pole & line skipjack tuna fishery These actions resulted in a final resolution that scientifically tested can be triggered much As a result, all tuna RFMOs now have the delivery became MSC certified in 2012 with key conditions was passed by all but one of the IOTC members, faster, and with more reliable effect, than simply of HCRs and harvest strategies for most stocks that the fishery would have effective HCRs by the demonstrating their collective commitment to asking the management authority to consider set within their work plans by the early 2020s. fourth annual audit in 2016. To make this happen, tuna sustainability. Adoption of the HCR is a core the HCRs had to be developed and passed through component of maintaining the fishery’s certificate consensus by the IOTC. To aid this process, the and ensuring long-term sustainability. Maldivian Government proposed the development of interim Harvest Control Rules for adoption at the Tuna stocks with HCRs and stocks where MSC certified 2014 Commission meeting. Dr David Agnew, then MSC Science fisheries have committed to delivering HCRs There followed months of meetings and collaboration and Standards Director said: among fishers, industry groups, NGOs and retailers “The MSC’s requirements for to gain support for HCRs in between IOTC meetings. Indian Ocean Atlantic Ocean Western-Central Eastern Pacific Species well-defined harvest control rules (IOTC) I (ICCAT) II Pacific (WCPFC) III (IATTC) IV The IPNLF hosted a workshop, supported by the have been a catalyst for this MSC, WWF, the International Seafood Sustainability Managed by the HCR Skipjack HCR in place 2022 2022 Foundation (ISSF), Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer decision. We applaud the efforts of of YFT and BET and World Wise Foods, helping to build support for the Maldivian fishers who, along Yellowfin 2022 HCR in place the Maldivian proposal. In the months before the 2016 IOTC commission meeting, retailers and brands with the IPNLF and other industry Bigeye HCR in place also added their voice to calls for the HCR. Their and NGO groups, have shown strong 2022 commitment to sustainably sourced tuna provided leadership in finding a consensus (South Pacific stock) further incentive for international agreement on the Albacore HCR in place 2023 2023 protection of tuna stocks for the future. on this vitally important issue.” (North Pacific stock)

Bluefin 2024 I Indian Ocean Tuna Commission II International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas Empty cells are those stocks where there is no HCR. III Western Central Pacific Tuna Commission IV Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission

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Bycatch and Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) Species

Fish live in multi-species communities, so wherever considered valuable (either for commercial reasons, demonstrate it was having no impacts on turtle and These fisheries provide example of the MSC’s there is fishing it is always possible there could be or for subsistence). Either way, it is important that all shark populations, and the Usufuku bluefin tuna Theory of Change, where even certified fisheries some incidental capture of non-target species i.e. species, including non-target species, are managed fishery changed the bait it used to avoid depleting are required to continue making improvements those species that the fishery did not intend to catch. effectively and there is good information about their squid populations. to address conditions identified during the population status and impacts. assessment process. The MSC certification process It is also common for fisheries to target more than A fishery’s impact on ETP species should always be promotes the adoption of best practice measures to one species at a time due to market demands, MSC certified fisheries are required to investigate and minimised. Catching these species should be avoided reduce interactions with ETP species. profitability and the availability of different species. minimise bycatch wherever possible. This is especially (by implementing measures to minimise the chance This is especially common in mixed fisheries, true for interactions with Endangered, Threatened and of their capture). When they are accidentally caught, A new requirement was added to the most recent Protected (ETP) species, such as turtles and some where many species are caught in one area or handling practices should be implemented to ensure version of the MSC Fisheries Standard (version shark and seabird species. type of fishery e.g. trap fisheries. their safe release and to maximise their chance of 2.0, effective from 2015) for fisheries to regularly survival. Certified fisheries have made improvements review alternative bycatch mitigation measures and To be MSC certified, fishing activity must not have To date, 22 conditions set for MSC certified tuna to train crew in species identification as well as implement them wherever appropriate. a long-term detrimental impact on the population fisheries have been met, resulting in significant of any marine species. reductions to the level of bycatch and interactions improving handling and release protocols to maximise with ETP species. For example, the Fiji albacore tuna survival of released bycatch including turtles (e.g. Non-target species that are caught may be considered fishery has implemented measures to reduce bycatch Fiji’s longline albacore, yellowfin and bigeye), rays as ‘bycatch’ (because they are not the main target of sharks; the Australian Eastern Tuna and Billfish (e.g. Talleys New Zealand skipjack tuna purse seine)

species), but they may still be retained if they are fishery conducted an ecological risk assessment to and sharks (e.g. Cook Islands, see page 60). / istock.com Searsie ©

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Shark Finning

Shark finning is the practice of removing any of into the MSC Standard in 2013. We have seen a This strengthens the MSC’s commitment that certified Fins Naturally Attached policies have been adopted the fins of a shark (including the tail) while at sea dramatic decline in incidents of shark finning fisheries are not engaged in shark finning whilst and if the MSC’s requirements need to change in and discarding the remainder of the shark at sea within MSC certified tuna fisheries. For example, ensuring that a whole fleet does not lose its MSC order to continue to reflect global best practice. (MSC-MSCI Vocabulary v1.3 (2020)). It is prohibited the MSC certified PNA purse seine skipjack fishery certification because of the actions of one member. within MSC certified fisheries. achieved a 99% reduction between 2013 and 201926 The Review will conclude in 2022, following Shark finning is also being considered as part of (see case study on page 72). stakeholder consultation and impact testing of Because sharks are slow-growing, long-living fish the Fisheries Standard Review. This will look at the possible changes to the MSC Fisheries Standard. that usually produce few offspring, many species Our current requirements mean the vessel of any measures that fisheries have in place to ensure that are at high risk of overfishing. It is estimated that 97 company or fisher convicted of shark finning will not shark finning is not occurring, including how widely to 100 million sharks25 are killed every year for the be eligible for MSC certification for at least two years. shark market, with many of these ending up in the If evidence of shark finning is detected during an audit shark fin trade. or assessment, the fishery faces suspension unless it Requirements to demonstrate that shark finning is can show the offending vessel has been expelled from Find out more and contribute to the not taking place in a certified fishery were introduced the certificate. MSC Fisheries Standard Review at msc.org/fsr © Martin Hristov / shutterstock.com © Martin Hristov © Lano Lan / shutterstock.com

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IUU fishing: Illegal fishing • Depletes fish stocks Transshipment • Destroys habitats Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) Transshipment is the transfer of seafood catch documented throughout the supply chain (at-sea • Disadvantages honest and legitimate fishermen fishing is where fishing is conducted counter to between a fishing vessel and a carrier vessel at and in port), collecting data on the catch, the catch the management measures in that jurisdiction. • Weakens coastal communities (particularly in sea or in port. Transshipment is an important part method and information about the transshipment. It includes vessels fishing without a licence for a developing countries) of fishing supply chains, enabling fishing vessels Whilst these documents are usually found to be particular area, vessels with a licence but fishing • Undermines legal markets and reinforces illegal to spend their time fishing at sea, rather than available when the fish are landed directly into ports, in excess of their established quotas or using ones (IUU is estimated to be worth US$10-23.5 transporting fish to what may be distant ports, the documents are often found to be less precise 27 prohibited gear types or fishing methods. billion annually) allowing the fishing activity to be more efficient29. or incomplete when the fish are transshipped, particularly in long supply chains. These data gaps As part of the MSC’s commitment to the UN Tuna species are vulnerable to IUU fishing: tuna can Since tuna account for around 61% of the total can complicate sustainable sourcing decisions and, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the MSC be an extremely highly-prized and valuable species, high seas catch (by volume)30 and they are one therefore, the MSC requires that certified seafood is is committed to eliminating IUU fishing in certified caught in high seas where they are difficult to monitor. of the more popular species for transshipping on traceable in all steps of the supply chain33. fisheries to the point where: it is non-existent, or Once tuna enters international trade it is essentially the high seas31, a considerable proportion of tuna where IUU does exist, it is at such a low level that a commodity, and illegally-caught fish can be easily may undergo transshipment. Longlines are one The MSC’s requirements for traceability both at 28 the fishery management, including assessments concealed if traceability systems are not in place . of the gear types more likely to be involved sea and on land and in relation to IUU fishing help and the estimation of IUU impacts on harvested Of course, there are huge variations in monitoring and in transshipment, as the vessels often lack to mitigate these issues. MSC certified fisheries species and the ecosystem, can maintain affected visibility and the risk of IUU fishing varies enormously the deep-freezing facilities to maintain the must not be involved IUU fishing, certified catch populations at sustainable levels. by flag state and even by fishing gear. high-quality products32. must be clearly documented and segregated However, transshipment can be associated with IUU from non-certified catch and certified fish must fishing, as it can be a means of concealing the true not be purchased from or carried on vessels that origin of catches. It is estimated that in the Western have been blacklisted by international fisheries and Central Pacific Ocean alone, at least US$142 management bodies for engaging in IUU fishing. million worth of tuna and tuna-like species are Many NGOs have also expressed concern that, by moved in illegal transshipments each year33. removing the need for fishing vessels to return to To prevent this, some RFMOs have restricted tuna land, transshipment increases the risk of forced and transshipment to ports or have prohibited certain bonded labour violations. Since 2014 any organisation vessels from transshipping33 and there are controls prosecuted for forced labour violations in the last two required for high seas fisheries e.g. observers years has been ineligible for MSC certification, and on vessels, agreed transshipment locations and since 2018 all certified fisheries have been required controls by flag states. However, to prevent illegal to detail measures on their actions to mitigate the transshipments, the transfer of tuna needs to be presence of forced or child labour. © Gordon Warlow / Shutterstock / Warlow © Gordon

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Forced Labour

“Around the world, more than 150 As of August 2019 all fisheries in the MSC program are required to complete a template detailing the million children and 25 million measures they have in place to mitigate the presence adults are involved in forced of forced or child labour. These declarations are labour. We recognise the urgency in publically available on MSC’s website to buyers, governments and NGOs looking for further information addressing forced and child labour of worker welfare within responsibly managed fisheries. violations and have put measures In September 2019, new auditing requirements came in place to tackle this issue in the into place for all Chain of Custody certificate holders. supply chain for certified seafood.” All MSC Chain of Custody certificate holders will now be required to undergo an independent labour audit Dr Yemi Oloruntuyi, MSC Head of Accessibility unless they can demonstrate that they are at ‘lower Labour abuse in the seafood supply chain has risk’ of practising forced or child labour. become an increasing area of focus with media To determine if a labour audit is necessary, auditors reports exposing exploitative labour practices, will assess supply chain companies to see what including slavery and human trafficking34. Forced level of risk there is of labour violations occurring labour is a particular concern in the catching sector, during processing, packing or repacking, and where vessels and their crews can spend long manual offloading in the country or countries they periods at sea, beyond the reach of enforcement operate in. If a country is considered ‘lower risk’, agencies, without the applicable worker protection according to two or more of the following indicators, legislation and where crew members have limited then the site does not require a labour audit: access to communication methods and external support34. This is an industry-wide issue with no • Country Risk Assessment Process for SA8000 quick or easy solution. • International Trade Union Confederation Global Rights Index The MSC condemns the use of forced or child labour. • Ratification of five or more UN conventions on While our focus is on environmental sustainability, forced or child labour, human trafficking or we recognise concern for this issue and have seafood/fishing worked with other organisations focused on this • US Department of Labor List of Goods produced problem to help develop practical solutions. by forced or child labour In 2014, the MSC Board made a commitment These indicators are globally recognised, transparent to include a clear policy on forced labour and and commonly used in the seafood industry and entities prosecuted for forced labour violations were carefully selected through a multi-stakeholder in the previous two years were excluded from the consultation process. MSC program. The MSC went on to hold multi- stakeholder consultations with more than 300 Where required, labour audits must be on-site, organisations on this topic between 2016-2018. conducted by an independent third-party social auditor and use one of three labour audit programs The MSC has since introduced further measures recognised by the MSC: amorfi BSCI audit; to its Chain of Custody and Fisheries Standards to SEDEX – Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit; and provide greater assurance on labour conditions SA8000 Certification from Social Accountability within the MSC certified supply chain, and to International. Certified companies that fail to contribute to improved understanding of this address identified labour violations within 30 © Eak Moto / Shutterstock.com / Moto © Eak complex issue. days will have their MSC certificates suspended.

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Traceability Mislabelling Unit of Assessment

Traceability goes hand-in-hand with sustainability: a Mislabelling is where incorrect information is applied In an MSC assessment, a unit of assessment is sustainability of a fishery, particularly in relation to traceability system is the best method to prevent fraud to a product. Mislabelled seafood may involve the defined by the target stock, fishing method and purse seine tuna fisheries catching both MSC certified and illegal products from entering the supply chain as substitution of other species, including lower-value practice, vessel type or gear and fishing fleet. It free school tuna and non-certified tuna around dFADs. certified product35. It helps protect consumers and or even endangered species37. defines the catch that will be assessed and that may Listening to these concerns, the MSC recently reviewed the efforts of everyone working hard to keep our subsequently enter the supply chain as MSC certified. its requirements relating to compartmentalisation. oceans healthy36. Higher rates of mislabelling have been identified among premium foods (where the potential gains are The MSC’s current requirements, valid until Following consultation with fisheries, NGOs and A traceable supply chain is key to delivering the higher) and in restaurants or take-away outlets 25 September 2020, allow fishing vessels to catch conformity assessment bodies, in March 2020, the MSC’s vision of healthy oceans and providing its (where labelling on the final product may be sparse36). both certified and uncertified catch of the same MSC announced a change to its definition of a unit of 24 consumers with sustainable seafood they can trust . species during the same fishing trip, provided assessment, resolving this issue. The terms ‘fishing Of the tuna species, mislabelling is highest for catches are carefully separated, documented and practice’ and ‘fishing method’ have been removed from The MSC program is the only certification program bluefin (between 50% and 100% is mislabelled), 39 the definition. This means that all individual fishing 37 verified – known as ‘compartmentalisation’ . of its kind to offer ocean-to-plate traceability due to its high value . In the UK, for example, practices or methods using the same gear type will now through supply chain certification. The MSC Chain mislabelled skipjack has been recorded as being Most market-based programs allow need to be assessed as part of the unit of assessment. of Custody Standard requires that MSC certified substituted with yellowfin and bigeye, to hide compartmentalisation with the intent that over time, Purse seine tuna fisheries catching free-school tuna and 37 seafood is kept separate from other seafood, and illegally-caught fish . DNA testing has revealed market demand for sustainable products will result tuna associated with fish aggregating devices (FADs) can be traced through the entire supply chain, that MSC labelled seafood has almost no cases in producers favouring certified production, will need to seek certification for their entire catch. The 35 38 thereby ensuring its certified sustainable origin . of species mislabelling . making improvements to their overall operations. new requirements apply for all new fishery assessments from 25 September 2020, and from 25 March 2023 for However, stakeholders expressed concerns that already certified fisheries and assessments that started these requirements could undermine the overall before 25 September 2020.

DNA test results showing mislabelling in seafood 30% average across global seafood studies 7% for studies of canned skipjack tuna 0.4% MSC labelled seafood

T A Source: Figure produced from information in 38. U C U A

40 41 42 Claims: AUK Case Study Responsible and Sustainable Sourcing MSC. They donot require thesame self-completed certification to athird-party standard, such as Sustainable sourcing claims are backed upby completed, can aresponsible sourcing claim be made. the source fishery. Only whenthis process has been rating andwhetherimprovements are neededwithin decisions needto bemade according to therisk species andfishery. From there, sourcing and claiming determines alow, mediumorhigh-risk rating of the practices andwider environmental impacts. This fishing operations, status of the stock, management the risk profile of the species including: legality of purchaser, to trace thefish to its origins and establish sourcing requires assessments to beconducted by the sustainable are not thesame thing. Responsible According to these codes, responsible and are indevelopment inotherpartsof theworld. and to create common definitions. Similar schemes sourcing andlabelling to alignsourcing requirements UK produced guidelines andcodes of conduct for Sustainable Seafood Coalition (SSC) based inthe strategies more robust, organisations such as the and sustainable sourcing, andto make sourcing To show thedifference between responsible different definitions and frameworks behindthem, creating aninconsistent consumer message. For example, in theUK terms such as ‘sustainably sourced’ and‘responsibly sourced’ have beenused with ‘sustainability’ usingmeasured different metrics, which has resulted ininconsistent consumer-facing claims. be difficult forthe buyers to understand and investigate all potential risks. Supply chain organisations have environmental impacts of thefishery. However, with the variety of challenges and complexity infisheries, it can from based onacomprehensive assessment of all aspects of thesustainability, management andpotential Buyers can minimise risks intheirsupply chain by examining individual fisheries and choosing fisheries tosource Sustainable TunaHandbook out by the SSC sourcing codes of conduct. that source andit fishery meets key criteria as laid so long as arisk assessment has beenconducted of is sourced from aFishery Improvement Project (FIP), responsible sourcing, where for example theproduct The SSC code of conduct also allows for claims of described as sustainable. independently audited chain of custody cannot be this is MSC certified product. Products without an claim aproduct is ‘sustainable’. Most commonly and that fully audited traceability is inplace to independent third-party audit orcertification place. Ineffect that means it requires eitheran is anindependently audited chain of custody in of arecognised international standard andthere product is sustainable if it meets theprinciples conduct, members can only claim awild-caught members of the SSC. Underthe SSC codes of In theUK,majority of theretailers are made onthefinal product. in place, thensustainably sourced claims can be Providing that traceability orchain of custody is demonstrated andbeencertified as sustainable. risk assessment, as thesource fishery has already Sustainable TunaHandbook 43 © David Loftus Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook

The MSC has provided a definition Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) of a credible FIP and a toolkit for FIPs that Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) are a vital step towards sustainability. They are aimed at assessing and incorporates these principles. Find out improving a fishery’s sustainability and potentially achieving MSC certification using the MSC Fisheries Standard more about FIPs at msc.org/fips as a performance benchmark. With a growing demand for sustainable seafood and a need to ensure our oceans are healthy, the MSC recognises this important contribution and the role FIPs play in improving fisheries’ health.

FIP MSC Certification

Working towards sustainability Meets best practice in sustainability criteria

Less robust process of assessment – self-reporting Independently assessed through an open process

No specific traceability system Traceability assured along the supply chain

Many seafood companies choose to source from However, the effectiveness of FIPs can vary and when fisheries in FIPs when buying tuna and are also sourcing fish from a FIP, it is important to ensure directly involved to help improve the sustainability of that they meet minimum criteria: that their actions the fishery. Fisheries in FIPs are not MSC certified and are transparent, that they clearly show improvement seafood sourced from these fisheries must not make in fishery performance, and that these fisheries MSC claims or use the MSC ecolabel. Significant ultimately demonstrate this through a robust, support and investment for these fisheries have independent assessment process. encouraged the use of better management practices and data collection. Much of the investment has also been focused on delivering practical improvements in fisheries, such as modifications in fishing gear, operating procedures to reduce unwanted catch, and Tracking FIPs observer coverage programs to provide reliable data. FisheryProgress (fisheryprogress.org) is an excellent way of tracking active FIPs, rating them according to Recognising the need for long-term sustainability their progress and providing transparency. in these fisheries, some retailers have now included sourcing from FIPs in their tuna purchasing Comprehensive FIPs strategies to incentivise sustainable tuna fishing FisheryProgress defines Comprehensive FIPs as and meet responsible sourcing commitments. FIPS that “…aim to address all of the fishery’s The MSC welcomes these commitments and has environmental challenges necessary to achieve provided tools and guidance to support fisheries a level of performance consistent with an unconditional pass of the Marine Stewardship making real progress and improvements on their Council Fisheries Standard. Comprehensive FIPs journey to MSC certification. engage a party experienced with applying the MSC Standard to complete an MSC pre-assessment to Comprehensive FIPs (see box) with action plans understand the challenges in the fishery and must often still have significant sustainability challenges have independent, in-person audits of progress to overcome and can provide a route for fisheries to against the MSC Standard every three years.” overcome these. For example, through significant The MSC’s Chain of Custody certification does not investment as part of a FIP, the Cook Islands albacore apply to FIPs. Therefore, any claims that tuna has and yellowfin longline fishery subsequently became been sourced from a FIP will need some form of

MSC certified in 2015 (see page 56). alternative verification. / MSC / Coopzeitung Andrea XYannick ©

44 45 Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook

4.6% 1.0% Global Tuna Market Data Albacore Bluen Species landingsv Global tuna catch Global tuna market expected to reach expected to reach estimated at valued at 8.2% 7.3 US$ US$ Bigeye 5.2 11.59 14.40 57.5% million tonnes million tonnes i ii billion billion Skipjack in 2018 by 2024 iii (landed weight) in 2018 (landed value) by 2024iv 28.7% Yellown Some 29% of the world’s tuna catch is MSC certied. This means the state of the stock, environmental impacts and the management of the shery have been rigorously assessed.

Imports 104,888 tonnes Imports 99,891 tonnes

Imports 208,625 tonnes Imports 129,187 tonnes Imports 128,117 tonnes

Exports 108,512 tonnes Global tuna Exports 105,794 tonnes consumptionvii

Japan Exports 514,272 tonnes Exports 134,990 tonnes €‚.ƒ% Exports 222,299 tonnes Europe € .†% United States ˆ€. %

Top 5 importers and exporters Key Imports Exports Rest of the World of tuna 2018vi

ŒŒ.†% i Gomez-Hall Associates, Fisheries, Trade & Environmental Consultants estimate ii, iii, iv, v & vii Marc report: Tuna Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2019-2024 and Gomez-Hall 46 Associates, Fisheries, Trade & Environmental Consultants estimate. 47 vi https://www.atuna.com/pages/trade-statistics Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook Utilization of World Tuna Catch according to Market Destination 2018

80% 80% FOR CANNI D SASHI LD NG RL MI R ( O M O W Direct into canning Japan W A h R W K o l E e T mt

459,932mt S F 2,592,345 r

o

z

e

n

T

11% u

62% n 20%

20% a

)

Rest of the World WORLD ‰.‹ Cooked tuna loins mt 574,915mt mt 648,086mt 114,983 TUNA 3,240,432 * million CATCH mt

30% 30%

(tuna flakes) USA market D TUNA M Katsuobushi LLE A I RK H E ER PROCE C T TH SS mt 156,795mt & S O & 266,552

H U S S E E S R

F

D 20%

50% L

R

O W EU & UK markets 10% 17% Smoked & dried 261,325mt 177,701mt 522,650mt 888,505mt 20% 50% Rest of the World Local consumption 104,530mt 444,253mt

Source: Gomez-Hall Associates, Fisheries, Trade & Environmental Consultants estimate. Using 2018 catch data from Tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations: IATTC. ICCAT, WCPFC. IOTC, and CCSBT. Market allocation based on multiple trade sources such as Globefish, Infofish, Atuna, and other industry sources. 48 49 *Includes Major Market Species: Albacore, Bluefin, Yellowfin, Bigeye and Skipjack tunas. Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook msc certified tuna globally

28.89% of global tuna catch is MSC certi ed*

of global tuna catch is currently in 20.40% assessment to the MSC Standard**

of global tuna catch is currently in a FIP 19.54% (basic or comprehensive)***

of global tuna catch is neither MSC certi ed, 31.17% in assessment or in a FIP****

* 63 certified tuna fisheries ** 35 tuna fisheries in assessment *** Based on all Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) solely targeting tuna listed on Fishery Progress **** Data as of 31 March, 2021

Volume of Tuna in the Distribution of MSC tuna volume sold MSC Program or in a FIP in 20/21 by region*

9% 1,666,512 Asia metric tonnes Certified Paci c

13% 1,176,925 North America 78% metric tonnes in Assessment Europe, Africa & Middle 1,126,850 East

metric tonnes in FIPs * 20/21 figures include year-end forecast data

As of 31 March 2021. FIP data MSC and Line Foundation/ Pole © International from Fishery Pr ogress

50 51 Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook

MSC Labelled Tuna In 2020... Products Globally  ­ brands sold ƒ ­ brands sold brands sold Volume of MSC labelled tuna sold Top 6 markets for MSC labelled MSC labelled MSC labelled by species global MSC labelled tuna skipjack tuna yellow
n tuna albacore tuna products (tonnes) up from 49 up from 1 up from 76 120,000 in 2015 in 2015 in 2015 100,503 in 2020/21** 100,000 DACH 72,938 (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) 80,000 Volume of MSC labelled tuna sold by species America Volume of MSC labelled tuna sold by species Asia-Pacific 53,515 ”“,“ƒ£ (tonnes) (tonnes) 60,000 48,234 Tonnes 39,484 Southern Europe 14,000 16,000 14,000 40,000 (Spain, France, Italy, Portugal) 12,000 10,000 12,000 ˜,‰­” 10,000 20,000 8,000 8,000 6,000 US & Canada 6,000 0 4,000 4,000 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21** ˜,’“” 2,000 2,000 0 0 Tuna (skipjack) Tuna (yellow
n) Tuna (albacore) Benelux 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21** 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21** Tuna (mixed species*) Tuna (bigeye) (Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands) Tuna (albacore) Tuna (mixes species*) Tuna (albacore) Tuna (mixes species*) ’,“’” Tuna (skipjack) Tuna (yellowfin) Tuna (skipjack) Tuna (yellowfin) MSC labelled tuna by format in tonnes (2020/21**) Oceania Volume MSC labelled tuna sold North & Central Europe Volume of MSC labelled tuna sold Southern Europe & AMESA (tonnes) (25 countries) (tonnes) (10 countries) ƒ,‰‰ 70,000 16,000 60,000 14,000 12,000 UK & Ireland 50,000 10,000 40,000 Chilled Frozen Pet food ­,‰£‰ 8,000 30,000 6,000 4,149 3,233 1,688 20,000 4,000 10,000 2,000 0 0 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21** 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21** Tuna (albacore) Tuna (mixes species*) Tuna (albacore) Tuna (mixes species*) Tuna (skipjack) Tuna (yellowfin) Tuna (skipjack) Tuna (yellowfin)

Retail food to go/ Preserved Foodservice Ready meals 22,266 68,916 250 * Mixed species includes products with multiple species, such as pet food, pates, pastes. ** 20/21 figures include year-end forecast data

52 53 Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook

MSC certified tuna fisheries – Case Studies

The following case studies demonstrate the diversity of MSC certified tuna fisheries.

They comprise a mixture of tuna species and gear types and demonstrate a range of issues faced by tuna fisheries. Each example illustrates how the fishery has overcome its main challenges and how the fishery plans to keep improving through its certification.

The case studies are: • AAFA & WFOA North & South Pacific albacore MSC scoring systems • Australian Eastern Tuna and Billfish fishery, When a fishery is assessed against the albacore, yellowfin, bigeye and swordfish MSC Fisheries Standard, it receives a score • Cook Islands, Micronesia and Marshall Islands for each of 28 sustainability indicators. longline fisheries • Eastern Atlantic bluefin • Echebastar Indian Ocean skipjack Scores of 100 = Near-perfect • Indonesia pole-and-line and handline, skipjack and yellowfin tuna of Western and Central Pacific Scores of 80-99 = Global best practice archipelagic waters • Maldivian skipjack Scores of 60-79 = Acceptable performance • North Atlantic albacore artisanal fishery • PNA skipjack and yellowfin Scores of below 60 = Fail • PT Citraraja Ampat, Sorong, skipjack and yellowfin If a fishery scores 60-79 for any indicator, it must • Solomon Islands albacore, skipjack improve its performance within a specified time and yellowfin frame – normally the five-year duration of the • Tri Marine Western & Central Pacific skipjack certificate – in order to retain certification. Certified and yellowfin fisheries must score an average of at least 80 for These fisheries represent a subset of those indicators within each of the three Principles of the found in the MSC program and a full list of MSC Fisheries Standard. all MSC certified tuna fisheries is available at fisheries.msc.org © David Loftus © David

54 55 Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Case StudY Environment Both the North and South Pacific albacore fisheries AAFA & WFOA North & South Pacific albacore score highly because of their low impact on the environment: the fishery operates multiple measures Gear type: Pole and line or troll and jig | Tonnage: North Pacific: 7,738 tonnes; to protect non-target and Endangered Threatened South Pacific: 332 tonnes (2018) | First certified: 12th July 2016 and Protected (ETP) species, such as marine mammals, turtles or seabirds. For example, the gear types used are very selective and they use barbless hooks for quick and safe release of any bycatch (see picture below). As such, the amount of unwanted catch is low (<0.5%) and interactions between ETP species and the fishery are deemed ‘highly unlikely’.

Management MSC Assessment scores Throughout its initial certification, the fisheries have implemented both domestic and international Principle (P) AAFA WFOA management policies for albacore, with robust short- and long-term objectives. Going forward, P1 – Target species status 85 83 the South Pacific fishery will need to demonstrate that the WCPFC decision-making processes respond P2 – Environmental impact 98 98 to the state of the albacore stock through an P3 – Management 88 87 appropriate harvest strategy (condition 3). © WFOA

Background Selected conditions and improvements The American Albacore Fishing Association (AAFA) The AAFA and WFOA fisheries have adopted a was the first tuna fishery to be certified in 2007. number of major improvements and addressed They started sharing certificates with the Western conditions to ensure long-term sustainability. Fishboat Owners Association (WFOA) in 2014. Stock Status They are non-profit associations and many of the Through its original certification, AAFA and WFOA vessels have been operated by the same families have established robust monitoring programs and 39 for generations . management measures to protect the albacore stock e.g. by setting a tuna catch limit annually and There are distinct stocks of albacore in the North carrying out monitoring and research programs to and South Pacific and these associations fish address areas of uncertainty. both stocks40. © Carey Schumacher © Carey However, neither of the fishery’s Regional Fisheries The fisheries use both trolling and pole and line Management Organisations have yet adopted fishing gears. Both methods are very selective as appropriate Harvest Control Rules to ensure they catch the tuna one-by-one and monitor catches the long-term health of the stocks, and this is a The hooks are specifically designed in real-time, so catch of non-target species is very condition of certification. The fishery is on-track to reduce bycatch. Hooks are low (less than 0.5% in both fisheries). The fisheries for achieving this and will pursue the adoption of monitor their bycatch and implement management HCRs over the coming years. In addition, the South un-baited and barbless, enabling measures to reduce it. For example, if the fishermen Pacific fishery is required to implement a harvest the quick and safe release of bycatch are catching too many juveniles in a particular area, strategy at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries and vulnerable species. Schumacher © Carey they move fishing location41. Commission (WCPFC) over the certification period.

56 57 Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Case StudY The latest stock assessments for these target species in the Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) shows Australian Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery stocks are healthy and being fished at a sustainable Tuna Australia rate. However, in order to ensure that the fishery can Gear type: Hooks and Lines – Longlines | Tonnage: 4,563 (2018) respond to any future changes in the health of these increases volume of First certified: 27th August 2015 | Re-certified: 24th August 2020 tuna stocks, certification is conditional upon the adoption of harvest strategies including harvest control certified Australian rules by all member states of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) by 2022. tuna by a factor of five

Environment The fishery was originally certified in August 2015 The fishery’s original assessment revealed a lack for longline caught albacore tuna, yellowfin tuna, and swordfish, with a single operator – Walker of data around the impact of the fishery on ETP Seafoods – as the certificate holder. species including turtles and mako sharks, leading to two conditions. However, an ecological risk However the recertification in 2020 saw Tuna assessment conducted in 2019 demonstrated that Australia become the certificate holder, adding bigeye tuna and the wider Tuna Australian the impact of the fishery on these species was low member fleet to the certification. The change risk, meaning that populations of these species increased the volume of Australian tuna catch were highly unlikely to be impacted by the fishery. eligible to carry the MSC blue ecolabel by a factor Both conditions were subsequently closed. of five. MSC Assessment scores Management The project to pursue MSC certification across Principle (P) Albacore Yellowfin Bigeye Swordfish the wider Australian tuna fleet was funded by the The fishery met the one original condition around Australian Government’s Our Marine Parks grant management by demonstrating that processes P1 – Target species status 83 81 86 83 program which supports Commonwealth efforts to were in place to respond to declining catch rates maintain a sustainable seafood industry. P2 – Environmental impact 86 86 86 98 of South Pacific Albacore, in a transparent, timely and adaptive manner. No further management “Over the 12 months leading up to the certification, we worked with fishery managers P3 – Management 97 97 97 87 conditions were set during recertification. from the Australian Fisheries Management

© Millstream Productions © Millstream Authority (AFMA), environmental NGOs, producers, processors and exporters to Background demonstrate the sustainability of our tuna fishing operations.” said David Ellis, CEO of Tuna higher proportion of sashimi-grade tuna domestically The Australia Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF) Australia. “The certification demonstrates the spans the entire eastern seaboard of Australia, from through retail, including a partnership with Coles sustainability of the ETBF fishery, proves our food the top of Cape York to the South Australian-Victorian Supermarket. producers are stewards of ocean sustainability border. Its fleet of 34 vessels use pelagic longlines and offers consumers a much larger supply of certified tuna.”

to target four species: yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, Selected conditions and improvements Productions © Millstream albacore tuna and broadbill swordfish. The expansion of the certificate means 46% of Stock Status Australia’s marine wild catch by volume is now Product is predominantly exported to premium The fishery is managed using a quota system based on certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard. markets overseas, primarily the USA, Japan, and a very conservatively set Total Allowable Commercial Europe. Lesser volumes are also sold direct to catch (TACC). This TACC is informed by a number of consumers in port towns along the East Coast, management processes, consultative forums, scientific through wholesalers to restaurants, food service stock assessments and research projects. As these outlets and supermarkets and fish shops across stocks are highly migratory through the Western Australia. Due to the COVID pandemic in 2020 and Central Pacific, the fishery is also subject to leading to the closure of many restaurants, some relevant WCPFC catch allocations and Conservation components of the fishery recently pivoted to sell a Management Measures.

58 59 Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Case StudY Cook Islands, Micronesia and Marshall Islands longline fisheries Gear type: Longline | Tonnage: 7,885 (2018) | First certified: 9th June 2015 (Cook Is); 5th October 2018 (FSM); 7th October 2019 (RMI)

MSC Assessment scores

Cook Islands Micronesia Marshall Islands © Bill Holden / MSC Holden © Bill

Principle (P) Yellowfin Albacore Bigeye Yellowfin Bigeye Yellowfin Bigeye

P1 – Target 81 83 87 81 87 81 87 species status Selected conditions and improvements P2 – Environmental 84 84 84 83 83 85 84 All these fisheries achieved certification as the The Marshall Islands’ observer coverage and impact result of fishery improvement projects and had information demonstrated that the fishery does not P3 – Management 86 86 86 90 90 89 89 already implemented a number of improvements have significant impacts on any of the ecosystem components considered. In the Cook Islands, © Bill Holden / MSC Holden © Bill prior to certification. As part of their certification, they will be making further progress to address significant improvements have been made in the Background specific conditions. reporting of interactions with ETP species, and the FSM fishery is working towards a similar condition. The Cook Island’s longline fishery for yellowfin yellowfin and bigeye fisheries in the Federated Stock Status An electronic monitoring system is being trialled on and albacore was first registered as a Fishery States of Micronesia (FSM) in 2018, and in the The most recent stock assessments show that stocks several boats. Improvement Project (FIP) on Fishery Progress in July Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) in 2019 are at or above the MSY level. The certifications 2013. It initially scored poorly on several attributes, (through the Marshall Islands Fishing Venture, are all conditional upon the adoption of harvest Management particularly for its impact on the populations of a subsidiary of SZLC), and have now added bigeye strategies including HCRs, by all member states of The fishery is managed internationally through the target stocks and of other species. The fishery to the recertification process in the Cook Islands. the WCPO by 2021. These certifications therefore the WCPFC and nationally in each EEZ. In FSM, worked hard over the following years to determine The Micronesia fishery was the first time that provide significant momentum for members to the robust management framework with clearly the health of the stocks, developed practices to bigeye had been certified to the MSC Standard, support the adoption of such measures, which are defined roles and responsibilities at national and prevent impacts on Endangered Threatened and representing a turning-point for this previously under development. There are effort constraining regional level was regarded as a key strength. The Protected (ETP) species and implemented data 42 overfished species . To maintain the certification, measures in place throughout the WCPFC area. Cook Islands’ fishery is on track to meet conditions collection programs for non-target species. The important management measures will need to around decision-making processes to ensure they fishery was MSC certified in 2015 and since then has be agreed to safeguard bigeye tuna stocks – Environment are effective, transparent, inclusive and responsive, addressed several of the conditions of certification. as a result, this certification could influence The fishery uses circle hooks to minimise bycatch and take into account stakeholder concerns. The The SZLC CSFC and FZLC fishing companies from the the sustainability of bigeye fishing across the of ETP species such as sharks and turtles, and Marshall Islands is working towards strengthening Cook Islands fishery then went on to certify their entire WCPO. ‘shark lines’ and wire leaders are banned. its dockside inspection activities.

60 61 Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Case StudY eastern atlantic bluefin tuna Gear type: Longline (both) and handline (Sathoan) | Tonnage: 246 (Sathoan); 57 (Usufuku) (2017) | First certified: 23 Oct 2020 (Sathoan); 10 Aug 2020 (Usufuku)

MSC Assessment scores Principle (P) Sathoan Usufuku Selected conditions P1 – Target species status 82 82 Stock Status the depletion of the squid stock. They also use circle P2 – Environmental impact 81 88 The Usufuku fishery went through a two-year hooks and tori lines to minimise interactions with assessment process that required it to resolve ETP species such as seabirds, sharks and sea turtles. P3 – Management 84 80 formal objections from environmental NGOs. Issues The French SATHOAN bluefin fishery has already largely related to how the stock is managed by implemented several measures to limit its © iStockphoo / DeepAqua © iStockphoo ICCAT. The NGOs argued, among other things, that interactions with other species in the ecosystem. it was premature to certify the stock and that it They include a reduced area of operation, spatial Background risked the long-term recovery of bluefin. However, monitoring of each vessel’s activity, quotas, In August 2020, the Japanese Usufuku Honten tuna each year. Aside from one handline vessel, the independent adjudicator found that this had minimum catch sizes and release protocols to been adequately addressed through a set of actions limit accidental catch of rays, sharks, swordfish or Northeast Atlantic longline bluefin tuna fishery its fleet of 24 small-scale vessels use longlines to the fishery and ICCAT must complete by 2025. seabirds. The fishery is also developing an app to became the first bluefin tuna fishery in the world harvest bluefin tuna from the Mediterranean. to achieve MSC certification. Its certification will monitor interaction with ETP species and is working Those actions include working with the Japanese allow Japanese consumers to purchase sustainable to develop pingers to deter sharks and rays from Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna’s path to certification Fishery Agency to ensure that Eastern stocks of bluefin tuna as top-quality sashimi, however the fishing gear. is all the more significant as its future was in doubt bluefin tuna are maintained around MSY as well overall volume available will be relatively small as just 15 years ago. A multi-year recovery plan led as promoting the improvement of management As conditions of certification, both fisheries are the fishery entered just a single longline vessel for by the regional fishery management organisation, measures and harvest strategy within the required to continue monitoring interactions with the certification assessment. Based in the Canary ETP species to ensure that the actions that they are ICCAT, and backed by conservationists, agreed certification period. Islands, Spain, the fishery caught just 55 tonnes of implementing are effective, to demonstrate thorough on a reduction in the number of tuna caught and Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna in 2018 - out of 28,200 Ecosystem management recording by crews and to review whether existing tonnes of total allowable catch that year for the area. greater scrutiny and reporting of catches which put The assessments identified improvements both bycatch mitigation measures could be improved. the Eastern Atlantic bluefin population on a path fisheries must meet within the next five years, such Just a few months later in October 2020, the French to recovery. By 2014, ICCAT scientists found that as managing impacts on ETP species, like blue shark Mediterranean Bluefin tuna artisanal longline and Management bluefin tuna numbers were increasing more quickly and stingrays. handline fishery, gathering members of the SATHOAN Both fisheries scored well for their management fishermen's cooperative, was the second ever than expected; by 2017 assessments indicated The Usufuku fishery has already taken steps to protocols and collaboration efforts with ICCAT. The bluefin tuna fishery to receive MSC certification. The the Eastern Atlantic stock was no longer being minimise impact on non-target species. For example, fishery scored especially well for its collaboration fishery, based in Séte in the South of France, catches overfished; and in 2018, the recovery plan was they have stopped using Japanese flying squid efforts at the ICCAT, and have no conditions related (Todarodes pacificus) as bait due to concerns over between 200 to 300 tonnes of Eastern Atlantic bluefin changed to a management plan. to management. Photo Stock / Alamy Oliveira Paulo

62 63 64

© Pesqueras Echebastar Echebastar Indian Ocean skipjack Tonnage: 30,682tonnes (2019) | First certified: 9thNovember 2018 Gear type: Purse seine(bothnon-entangling drifting FAD andfree-school) Echebastar fishery worked with theIndian Ocean to 3%and0.38% of catches, respectively Endangered, Threatened andProtected (ETP)species reduced catches of non-tuna species andof the Echebastar certified fishery has substantially fisheries to achieve MSC certification. However, are attracted to theFADs, making it harder for these this can result inthebycatch of otherspecies that fishing efficiency, keeping operational costs low, but on non-entangling dFADs. Drifting FADs increase purse seinenets that are set onfree schools, and The Echebastar fishery catches skipjack using Ocean including newFAD regulations. following management improvements intheIndian certification. It was onits secondcertified attempt Aggregating Device (dFAD) fishery toachieve MSC The Echebastar fishery was thefirst drifting Fish Background Sustainable TunaHandbook Case StudY 43 The The

P3 –Management P2 –Environmental impact P1 – Target species status Principle (P) reduce bycatch by Tuna Commission and Seychelles authorities to leadership within thetuna fishing industry. it is safe to doso. These efforts demonstrate to maintaining 100%observercoverage when coverage recently, thefishery remains committed pandemic has made it challenging to ensure 100% and certification requirements. While the Covid-19 andensuringfishery compliance with regulations coverage, providing high-quality data about the increase survival rates. It also has 100% observer any unwanted catch directly back to thesea to belts to three of its five vessels to rapidly release The fishery has also added second conveyor • • • Ensuring therapid release of non-target species Using only non-entangling FADs Reducing numbers of FADs over thelast 3 years 44 : MSC Assessment scores

Skipjack 82 87 81 • to allow environmental impacts to bemeasured: also committed to addressing conditions further number andimpact of its FADs (seebox) andhas The Echebastar fishery has already reduced the high level of assurance of compliance anddata quality. implemented 100%observercoverage, providing a Before theirfirst assessment, thefishery had Environment strategy andensure catch limits are not exceeded. latest surveillance report to strengthen theharvest management. Newconditions were raised inthe stock assessments are regularly conducted to inform Selected conditions andimprovements in place to ensure its future sustainability stock is at ahealthy level with Harvest Control Rules status andmonitoring. The Indian Ocean skipjack The Echebastar fishery received top scores for stock Stock Status or ahead of target. surveillance audit,all conditions were eitherontarget to ensure long-term sustainability. Following thefirst and committed to deliver conditions of certification The Echebastar fishery has made major improvements ecosystems, to sufficiently measure theirimpacts FADs onETPspecies andon vulnerable marine Collecting evidence further about theimpact of

45 , and , and

explained andavailable for stakeholders. including private agreements are appropriately mustfishery ensure that any management decisions Therefore, through condition 8,theEchebastar decision-making for private deals inthefishery. there is alack of transparency for actions and performancefishery’s and management actions, measures. While information is available onthe the IOTC, EUmanagement and Seychelles national There is astrong basis for management through Management • •

harm point where there would beserious orirreversible reduce structure andfunction of coral reefs to a and demonstrate that dFADs are highly unlikely to there would beserious orirreversible harm function of thecoral reefs to apoint where derelict dFADs could reduce structure and strategy to ensure that it is highly unlikely that Using this evidence to establish aprecautionary observer data andmakes it publicly available improving theefficiency, quality andquantity of • • skipjack. The fishery has a FAD Management Plan the ecosystem, while maintaining highcatches of whenitfishery comes to reducing its impacts on The Echebastar fishery is apioneering dFAD • • and has implemented thefollowing measures: on thetiming andlocation of use of thefishing gear information onthespatial extent of interaction and dFADs oncoral reefs, andensuring there is reliable identification of the main impacts of derelict Collecting sufficient evidence to allow for derelict FADs through theFAD Watch program Cooperating with stakeholders to recover damage to corals by derelict FADs biodegradable FADs to reduce the risk of Actively working to test anddeploy improve impacts fishery when using FADs and implemented aGoodPractices Manual to significantly reducing therisk to marine life, FADs, which use ropes (rather than nets), From 2015,implemented 100% non-entangling vessel deployed at onetimeto amaximum of 300per Reduced thenumberof FADs that may be 46 . The fishery is already making progress on Sustainable TunaHandbook 46 46

65 ©c XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxPesqueras Echebastar 66

© AP2HI Indonesia pole and line and handline First 2021 certified: 26January Gear type: Handlines andpole-lines (hand-operated) | East and West Flores. The client group is the Sulawesi Maluku andNorth to theBanda Sea, and throughout theIndonesian archipelago from North consisting of 380fishing vessels, scattered Eight fisheries make upthe MSC certificate, MSC Fisheries Standard injust over three years. tuna inIndonesia fishery to be againstcertified the Central Pacific archipelagic waters became the third handline, skipjack and yellowfin tuna of Western and 2021,In January theIndonesia pole-and-line and collaboration onsustainable fishing inthe country. their joint commitment to strengthening Marine Affairs andFisheries (MMAF)demonstrating Understanding (MoU)with theIndonesian Ministry of In 2019, theMSC signed aMemorandum of Background Sustainable TunaHandbook Case StudY P2 –Environmental impact P1 – Target species status Principle (P) P3 –Management Pole andline Skipjack

86 83 87 export markets intheUK and US. block), while thecertified skipjack will besold to loin, poke (pronounced poh-keh) and saku (sushi certificate holders is yellowfin tuna, distributed as Around 60%of the11,000tonnes caught by the MSC certification as theend goal. fishing companies to theprocessing industry with processing chain inIndonesia, from fishermenand includes theentire pole andlinecaught tuna AP2HI was established in2012andmembership supported through theMSC’s Fish for Good project. improvementa fishery project since 2014, in part Line Foundation (IPNLF)whohave implemented Association (AP2HI)andtheInternational Pole and Indonesia Pole andLineHandline Tuna Fisheries Pole andline 83 87 81 Yellowfin Tonnage: 11,894 (2019) MSC Assessment scores Handline 86 83 81

© Pacific Alliance for Sustainable Tuna (PAST) method is highly selective for the target species barbless, unweighted, andunbaited meaning the Pole andlineoperations use hooks which are Environment target level andberobust to uncertainties. that is expected to keep stock fluctuating at oraround exploitation rate is reduced as PRIis approached and a set of harvest control rules that ensure that the to thestate of thestock as well as implementing isresponsive that strategy harvest a place in has put it certification periodthefishery must demonstrate that impacted by fishing activity. However, over the selective andthat thestock is not being adversely provide strong confidence that fishing is highly Recent observeranddock-side monitoring data levels, fluctuating around Maximum Sustainable Yield. assessments showing bothstocks are at healthy Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) with recent Science Service Provider for the Western andCentral are subject to regular stock assessments by the The tuna stocks being targeted by thefishery Stock status as well as two recommendations. must bemet within five years to retain the certificate, to harvest strategies andstock management that The fishery was withcertified six conditions relating Selected conditions andimprovements

responsive to thestate of thestock. Harvest Strategy andHarvest Control Rules which are to encourage andsupport thedevelopment of a other members of WCPFC andother stakeholders APH2I andIPNLF will continue to work with MMAF, including TACs.and vessels, capacity limits (numberof licensed vessels) spatial/temporal closures, vessel day limits for larger catch need oreffort to belimited such as FAD limits, as priorities when it is determined. These include management measures which should beconsidered an interim stage. The strategy sets out five potential Archipelagic Waters tuna Harvest Strategy is still at Western andCentral Pacific Ocean. TheIndonesian Control Rules for skipjack and yellowfin tuna inthe the lack of afinalised Harvest Strategy andHarvest Management conditions intheassessment relate to Management or soinfrequent as to benegligible. species can beconsidered to beeithernon-existent region, interactions between pole andlineETP MSC assessments of pole andlinefisheries inthe samplingand port data andinformation from other Based ontheinformation available from observer ETP species anddonot interact with wider habitats. and as such is highly unlikely to adversely impact

Sustainable TunaHandbook 67 © AP2HI Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Case StudY Selected conditions and improvements The Maldives fishery has implemented major fishermen to report bait use; and carrying observers Maldivian skipjack improvements to ensure long-term sustainability. to corroborate fishermen’s logbook data. Gear type: Pole and line | Tonnage: 99,886 (2018) The fishery fulfilled all the conditions required Management under its initial certification. Under its current First certified: 29th November 2012 | Re-certified: 16th November 2017 The Maldives’ initial certification was criticized by certification, it only has one condition. WWF in 2012 because they felt the IOTC did not have Stock Status adequate HCRs to pass an MSC assessment. The The skipjack population is healthy and is subject to fishery had committed to achieving well-defined research, monitoring and stock assessments on a HCRs at the IOTC. The Maldives, supported by other regular basis. An HCR is in place through the IOTC – Indian Ocean coastal states and the International there are no conditions. Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF), led the efforts to ensure that a framework was put in place for improved Environment management of skipjack stocks. This commitment, Using pole and line, fishers can target specific combined with intervention by the retail sector, species and only land those that they actively seek MSC Assessment scores encouraged the IOTC to adopt formal HCRs for skipjack to catch, avoiding unwanted bycatch – interactions in 2016. This was a significant success for both the Principle (P) Skipjack with ETP species are negligible. The bait species Maldives fishery and the MSC program. By adopting used by pole and line fisheries need to be properly this measure, the IOTC protects the health of the P1 – Target species status 87 managed. In 2013, the Maldives fishery addressed Indian Ocean skipjack stock for the future. conditions from its initial certification to ensure that Logbooks are an important part of data collection, baitfish fisheries are sustainable through a live bait P2 – Environmental impact 89 showing population trends for tuna, bycatch, bait management plan, which included: objectives on and endangered species. The Maldives fishery has P3 – Management 85 bait use; strengthening data capture – training the committed to improving compliance with logbook © Nice and Serious / MSC Serious and © Nice returns, which are now mandatory and must be provided prior to catch being landed52. As a result, Background the fishery is ahead of target on its only condition. Fishing is central to the Maldivian culture, economy The fishery is highly selective, yielding very low levels and heritage: the country celebrates its fishing of non-target bycatch (0.65%)49, 50. However, the fishery heritage each year on 10th December, the National increasingly required more bait per trip as pole and line Fishermen’s Day. Tuna are the Maldives’ primary vessels became larger and trips started to last longer export and support 30,000 livelihoods47. than the traditional one day. To ensure that bait stocks remain at a healthy level the Maldives have successfully Fishing began on masdhonis, wooden boats – implemented a management plan to ensure bait powered by sails and oars – with an open deck to species are monitored and sustainably managed. land the fish and carry live bait. Mechanisation of The Maldives skipjack fishery was re-certified in the fleet started in 1974, when a single masdhoni 2017 after the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) / MSC Serious and © Nice was equipped with a small diesel engine. By implemented Harvest Control Rules (HCRs). The 1981, over 800 masdhonis were mechanised and certification covers 100% of Maldivian pole and line accounted for 92% of the masdhonis tuna catch. skipjack tuna, representing a strong commitment to To go tuna fishing, around 10-18 fishermen48 leave the sustainable fishing on a national level. port in Malé (or from any one of 200 or so inhabited The certification previously covered both the skipjack islands) on an overnight trip. The fishermen use and yellowfin fisheries, but the yellowfin certification the centuries-old pole and line technique, which is was suspended in December 2017 after Indian Ocean believed to have been invented in the Maldives49 populations fell below sustainable levels due to and contributes more than 70% of the total tuna overexploitation by other gear types. Unlike skipjack landings in the Maldives. there is no HCR in place yet to protect them51.

68 69 70

© AZTI / MSC North Atlantic albacore artisanal fishery Gear type: Pole andlineortroll | Asturias in Spain, are involved in thefishery. regions of Cantabria, Guipuzcoa, Vizcaya and conditions for thetroll unit of certification.number A conditions for both gear types, andtwo additional The initial assessment of thefishery raised three Selected conditions andimprovements fleets in2019. 167 vessels certification subsequently extended to additional The fishery was first in2016,andthe certified almost nobycatch. that keep thefishin good condition and result in fishing techniques. These are traditional methods and adjacent waters using pole andlinetrolling The fishery targets albacore inthe Bay of Biscay Background Sustainable TunaHandbook Case StudY P3 –Management P2 –Environmental impact P1 – Target species status Principle (P) 53 , fishing from the Tonnage: 11,266(2020) |First certified: 7thJune 2016 over 80and noconditions were set. upgrading audit inwhich everyindicator scored two conditions. This was reflected inthe recent P1 ICCAT, andhas fully implemented them,addressing adoption of aregional set of harvest control rules by proactively contributed to thedevelopment and in 2015was above theMSY level. The fishery been improving inrecent years. The stock biomass Sea. The stock status is assessed by ICCAT, andhas throughout theAtlantic Ocean andMediterranean Albacore is atemperate tuna widely distributed Stock status practice inseveral areas. these conditions demonstrates andthefishery best of improvements have beenmade onthebasis of 91 (P1upgrade) Pole &line 86 90 MSC Assessment scores 91 (P1upgrade) Troll 86 89 been recorded by observers very low levels of interaction with ETPspecies have of(98% catches are of thetarget species) andnoor surveillance audit. The fishery is highly selective conditions have beenalso resolved inthe4th unacceptable impacts onthese species. These Protected (ETP)species are highly unlikely to create of onany thefishery Endangered, Threatened and improve information to ensure that thedirect effects Two conditions were established for thetroll fleet to Environment re-certification process. in February 2021 andis now facing the improvement at the4thsurveillance audit The fishery closed all the conditions of ensure theirsafe release andmaximise survival. of interactions with cetaceans, birds orturtles to conduct that sets out actionto betaken inthecase the future. The certified fleet has adopted a code of which will ensure thestock status is maintained in In 2017, ICCAT adopted aninterim HCRfor albacore, introduced that establish objectives for thefishery. and newfishery-specific regulations have been Compliance within thefishery is very strong Management 54 .

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assessments are regularly carried out and there is an extensive programme of research. The PNA will need to ensure its harvest strategy is responsive to both Challenges Case StudY stocks’ status (conditions 1 and 3) and will need to Compartmentalisation demonstrate that well-defined Harvest Control Rules Like other free-school purse seine fisheries, boats are in place (conditions 2 and 4) through the Western fish both on free-school tuna and FADs and fish PNA skipjack and yellowfin and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). within and outside the certified EEZ area. The MSC- eligible fish are kept separate on-board and 100% Gear type: Purse seine free-school | Tonnage: 1,031,497 tonnes (2019) observer coverage ensures they are not mixed. Environment The fishery has implemented satellite tracking and First certified: 21st December 2011; re-certified: 23rd March 2017 The PNA fishery has delivered on its goals to reduce batch coding (ensuring traceability)64. Only the unwanted bycatch and Endangered, Threatened and MSC-eligible free-school tuna is MSC certified on Protected (ETP) species catch: many PNA members landing. PNA uses the MSC premium as an economic incentive to compliment other measures to limit banned shark finning (see box) and setting purse seine FAD sets and promote sustainability. This has been 21 nets on whale sharks in 2012 . The fishery has minimal described as “the MSC theory of change in practice”. bycatch – 98.5% of the catch is of the target species. Following concerns raised by stakeholders about the sustainability of fishing activities which carry out The fishery adopted 100% observer coverage and a both certified and uncertified fishing practices in a Good Practice Guide for handling ETP species. single trip, the MSC is introducing changes which will require all fishing practices used within the Going forward, the fishery will implement a strategy fishery (both free-school and FAD-associated purse to ensure the fishery does not hinder the recovery of seine sets) to be certified by March 2023 (see page MSC Assessment scores manta rays and devil rays (conditions 5 and 6). 39). The MSC is working with the PNA fishery and others to support the more sustainable use of FADs. Principle (P) Skipjack Yellowfin Additionally, the retention of Silky and Oceanic white tip sharks is prohibited. Shark finning P1 – Target species status 86 83 Shark finning has historically taken place in the Management PNA fishery. On average around 185 incidents were 21 P2 – Environmental impact 92 92 The PNA has implemented a fishery-specific reported per year in 2012 and 2013 . Since 2013, the management system with effective decision-making MSC Fisheries Standard has required fisheries to demonstrate the likelihood that shark finning is not processes21. The fishery scored especially well for P3 – Management 88 88 taking place at the point that they are first certified, its collaboration efforts at the WCPFC, and has or recertified. Ahead of this requirement, the PNA © Pacifcal no conditions related to management. There is a governments were already taking robust action to comprehensive monitoring, control and surveillance ban shark finning. The WCPFC also has conservation Background system in place. and management measures in place to prevent shark finning. Following these regulations, shark finning has The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) are a group their waters, ensuring sustainable fisheries and using been virtually eliminated from the fishery, with just 3 of eight island countries in the Pacific (see map above). a geographic indicator through the Pacifical platform, instances reported in 2017 (0.05% of the total catch)65. they have been able to sell their product with the MSC Following new requirements for shark finning effective They formed The Nauru Agreement in 1982 to ecolabel, giving a significant economic boost to these from September 2020, the fishery will need to take 63 further steps to remove any organisation or company harmonise fisheries management in their Exclusive small island states . found to have undertaken shark finning Economic Zones. The first agreement mandated from its certificate (see page 34). In December 2020, PNA announced that it would be members to implement minimum fisheries seeking to extend the scope of the fishery to include management measures. This has developed over bigeye as well as to cover all set types (FAD and time. They now limit the number of days that vessels non-FAD sets). The assessment process is currently Number of incidents  can fish and they have negotiated agreements with ongoing. other nations including the United States.
 Selected conditions and improvements PNA successfully restricted and reduced tuna
 The PNA fishery has implemented significant exploitation, enabling the fishery to achieve improvements to ensure its long-term sustainability.  MSC certification in 2011. It is the world's largest  independently certified tuna supplier. A quarter of the Stock Status world’s tuna and half the global population of skipjack Both tuna stocks are healthy and the PNA has  62 live in PNA waters . By taking collective control of developed thresholds for further protection. Stock © Pacifical

Number of shark nning incidents shark of Number  2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

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Case StudY Selected conditions and improvements The fishery has implemented a number of PT Citraraja Ampat, Sorong, improvements to ensure long-term sustainability. Reducing illegal Stock Status fishing is not enough skipjack and yellowfin Both stocks are healthy and are subject to regular stock assessments. The fishery will work with the WCPFC to Legal fishing needs to be well-managed to ensure Gear type: Pole and line | Tonnage: 2,186 tonnes (2019) ensure that the harvest strategies are responsive to the sustainability. Illegal fishing represents over 30% of the total catch of the WCPFC, costing Indonesia First certified: 22nd November 2018 state of both stocks and well-defined Harvest Control US$4 billion in profits every year68. To tackle Rules (HCRs) are implemented. illegal fishing, Indonesia’s Government seized and sank 488 (mostly foreign) illegal vessels between Environment October 2014 and August 201869, and as well as There are no conditions relating to environment: banning foreign fishing in their EEZ, leading to the fishery is very selective, using barbless, a 30% reduction in vessel numbers. However, unweighted and un-baited hooks; there is 100% Indonesia’s future skipjack yields do not just rely observer coverage; and there is a National Plan on reducing illegal fishing, but also on effective to ensure no shark finning occurs. management of legal fishing. If illegal fishing is reduced, but management is open access, Management both the harvest and profits will decrease in the MSC Assessment scores future. Conversely, with appropriate management, National and international laws are in place stable and improved future harvests and profits Principle (P) Skipjack Yellowfin to protect the stocks and decision making, are projected. Therefore, regional cooperation consultation and compliance at a local level are and effective management in Indonesia’s tuna P1 – Target species status 87 83 good. Indonesia cooperates with the WCPFC, fisheries have an opportunity to play a crucial role however, both parties need to work together to in its future sustainable development61. P2 – Environmental impact 86 87 implement harvest strategies with HCRs, and P3 – Management 81 81 Indonesia needs stronger management objectives to deliver outcomes and consistently implement © Shane Gross © Shane / Shutterstock Gross RFMO requirements at the national level. ILLEGAL FISHING

Background MODELLED AGAINST This was the first fishery in Indonesia to become MSC Tuna is integral to Indonesia’s fishing economy and MANAGEMENT OPTIONS 66 certified – a significant development since Indonesia illegal fishing costs Indonesia US$4 billion in lost 6 is the world’s leading tuna producer and second profits each year, harming the health of Indonesia’s largest seafood producer. The skipjack and yellowfin seas and food security. Indonesia’s Government stocks in the Western Central Pacific Fisheries has demonstrated a clear commitment to end Commission (WCPFC) represent 60% of the world’s illegal fishing by sinking illegal fishing boats. While 4 tuna catch67. The fishery is also important for the local successful in severely reducing the yields of illegal economy, employing 750 local fishermen60. fleets, destroying vessels does not alone achieve sustainability. Crucially, sustainable fishing requires PT Citraraja Ampat Canning (PT CRA) is a fish effective management (see box). packing, processing and exporting company, based To catch the tuna, anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (10 ⁵ MT) Harvest 2 in Indonesia and founded in 1992. One of its main (aFADs) and live bait first attract tuna to the boat. products is canned Indonesian tuna, which it sources IUU policy + MSY Fishermen use poles and lines to catch the tuna IUU policy + open access from pole and line fisheries. one by one60. Tuna are then swung on board and Open access It works with local traditional pole and line fishermen immediately put into holds on ice. The fishery catches 0 in Sorong, who use the centuries-old tradition of pole virtually no Endangered, Threatened or Protected 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 60 and line fishing. species, and any unwanted catch is released safely . Halim / shutterstock.com © Antoni

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Case StudY Background Environment In 2014, the fishery implemented a policy to retain The Solomon Islands tuna fisheries target skipjack, Solomon Islands Albacore, all its catch. This went beyond the compliance yellowfin and albacore in the Solomon Islands’ requirements of the WCPFC. Although non-target Exclusive Economic Zone and archipelagic waters. skipjack and yellowfin species form a very small part of the catch, they These certified tuna fisheries are extremely provide an important protein source for the local Gear type: Purse seine (anchored FAD and free school), pole and line, longline important to the economy, employing over 2,000 population and landing them improves data collection 71. The fisheries follow regulations to Tonnage: 28,812 (2018/19) | First certified: 12th July 2016 Solomon Islanders, and are one of the country’s in the fishery protect Endangered, Threatened and Protected largest private sector employers70. (ETP) species, including prohibiting shark finning64, Pole and line fishing is very selective with minimal avoiding fishing near marine mammals, and safely bycatch. Pole and line fishing uses baitfish, and handling any caught sea turtles. To corroborate the fishery monitors its bait use. However, most information from logbooks, the fishery operates 100% 64 of the tuna from this area is caught using purse observer coverage on purse seine trips and their seines deployed on free-schools and anchored compliance rates are proven to be high. Fish Aggregating Device (FADs) (see pages 18-25). The Solomon Islands’ anchored FAD fishery scores Unwanted bycatch is discouraged as the fishery particularly highly in relation to habitats. The retains everything they catch. fishery tries to recover old and lost FADs to reduce MSC Assessment scores marine debris64, anchors FADs away from reefs to Having certified its purse seine and pole and protect corals and is developing an anchored FAD Principle (P) Skipjack Yellowfin Albacore line tuna fleets in 2016, National Fisheries management plan. Development in the Solomon Islands went on to aFAD FS/PS P&L aFAD FS/PS P&L LL LL achieve certification for its longline fleet as well, The recently-certified longline fishery will be working providing coverage of all the main tuna gear types towards meeting conditions on information on P1 – Target species status 87 87 87 84 84 84 81 84 in its waters. the bait used in the fishery and levels of observer coverage to ensure ETP species are being protected. P2 – Environmental impact 87 91 91 87 91 91 87 87 Selected conditions and improvements Management The Solomon Islands’ fishery has adopted major P3 – Management 86 86 86 86 86 86 82 82 Since its certification, the fishery has achieved improvements and addressed conditions to ensure one of its main conditions, to make decision- long-term sustainability. © Tri Marine © Tri aFAD = Purse seine on anchored FAD; FS/PS = Free-school purse seine; P&L = Pole and line; LL = Longline making more transparent. It has achieved this Stock Status through increased participation and appropriate The stocks are healthy and regular stock representation in meetings and increased liaison Certified Solomon Islands fishery catch data for albacore, 64 assessments are carried out. The Solomon with Government departments . The fishery is skipjack AND yellowfin, 2018* Islands, as part of the WCPFC, has no formal also limited by the number of days fishing allowed 20000 Harvest Control Rules (HCRs) in place for skipjack, annually, and there is a baitfish management plan 18000 yellowfin or albacore. Therefore, the fishery has in place as well as monitoring, compliance and surveillance requirements. Effort limitation was 16000 been working with the Western Central Pacific introduced for longline vessels in 2016. 14000 Skipjack Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to develop harvest Yellown strategies and HCRs (conditions 1-4). The fisheries “This is the first time that all three major gear 12000 Albacore are on target to achieve these conditions for types for tuna have been certified in the same 10000 *Data for longline are from 2017 skipjack and yellowfin. The recent certification of fishing grounds, demonstrating a rare example 8000 the longline fleet means HCRs will also be pursued of well-balanced management.” Bill Holden, 6000 for albacore. MSC Senior Tuna Fisheries Outreach Manager 4000

2000 Marine © Tri

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Case StudY Tri Marine Western & Central Pacific skipjack and yellowfin Gear type: Purse seine (free school) | Tonnage: 9,939 tonnes (2019) First certified: 2nd June 2016

MSC Assessment scores

Principle (P) Skipjack Yellowfin Shutterstock / © enciktat

P1 – Target species status 86 (P1 upgrade) 83 (P1 upgrade) P2 – Environmental impact 87 87 Stock Status measures to reduce the impact of Fish Aggregating The WCPFC has been slow to implement Harvest Device (FADs) on the environment. The fleet P3 – Management 86 86 Control Rules for both stocks but has committed complies with WCPO-mandated FAD closures i.e. © Aymeric Bein / Shutterstock / Bein © Aymeric to implement these over the coming years65. three-month closure in the entire WCPO Convention However, the fishery, through the WCPFC, has Area, plus an additional two-month FAD closure in developed reference points for skipjack and limits the high seas. Non-entangling FAD designs have Background for the number of days that vessels can fish. been employed and the fleet is in the process of The Tri Marine fishery was first certified in 2016. The In September 2020 the fishery announced that it testing biodegradable FADs. The revision of the MSC fishery covers a wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean, was seeking to extend the scope of its certificate. Environment requirements in relation to compartmentalisation extending beyond the waters of the Parties to the While the initial certification only covered US A key achievement is the introduction of 100% (see page 41) means that in the future the fishery Nauru Agreement area to include the waters of the vessels owned by Tri Marine, a total of fourteen observer coverage in the fishery to provide assurance will need to seek certification for their entire catch. United States’ territorial waters, several Pacific Units of Assessment (UoAs) are now in assessment. around shark finning claims. Observer records have Islands Forum Fisheries Agency member countries, This includes FAD UOAs and all vessels licensed by demonstrated that there have been zero shark finning Management and the high seas, within the Convention Area of the USA, select vessels licensed to Chinese Taipei, incidents from 2013-2018. The efficacy of observer The Tri Marine fishery has developed transparent the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Cook coverage is currently being tested by installing non-compliance procedures – including charges, (WCPFC) RFMO. Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia cameras on vessels. Shark finning is prohibited under penalties and enforcement decisions – to deal (FSM) using purse-seine gear (all set types). United States legislation and the fishery complies with fishing infringements. The working group on The certified part of the fishery targets free- compliance reviews and recommends compliance with the Shark Conservation Act (requiring that any swimming schools of mature tuna, which helps to 73 measures in the fishery using data supplied Selected conditions and improvements sharks are landed with fins naturally attached) . By reduce the incidental bycatch of non-target species. committing to all these measures, the fishery has through logbooks, licences, vessel monitoring Skipjack and yellowfin comprise almost 100% of The Tri Marine fishery has implemented major successfully addressed condition 5 of its certification. systems and observer reports. By adopting these the total catch so there is virtually no unwanted improvements and addressed conditions, procedures, the fishery has addressed condition 6, bycatch72. to ensure long-term sustainability. The fishery has implemented management ahead of schedule.

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Summary of Conditions Why should I choose MSC certified tuna? February 2021 Buy with confidence Meeting global commitments Traceability from ocean to plate, preventing Certified fisheries support global food Indonesia N Atl  Performance AAFA & Australian Cook, FSM Tri Marine Echebastar pole-and- Maldives albacore PNA Sorong SATHAON Solomon Usufuku Indicator WFOA ETBF & RMI WCPO illegal fishing and mislabelling. security, contributing to the UN Sustainable line artisanal Development Goals. Stock status Assurance Stock rebuilding/ Independent certification bodies regularly reference points  Fish for the future check the fishery against the MSC Standard, Sustainability based on science; strong Harvest strategy which is developed by experts and with management and good governance helps Harvest Control Stock Status Stock Rules and tools international consultation. to ensure supplies of tuna for the future.

Information and monitoring Safeguarding livelihoods Being innovative Retained/primary species outcome Tell the stories of people involved in fisheries; Research and innovation in sustainable Retained/primary certified tuna supports livelihoods for the future. fishing, driving improvements in species management global fishing. Retained/primary species information Protecting our Blue Planet Bycatch/secondary Certified fisheries support healthy ecosystems, species outcome Availability with low levels of non-target catch. Around 29% of the global tuna catch is Bycatch/secondary species management MSC certified. Bycatch/secondary species information Recognising the importance of

ETP species outcome transparent, comprehensive FIPs Drive change A global network of NGOs and tuna supply More fisheries want to become sustainable. Environment  ETP species management chain representatives driving tuna fisheries Support them in their journey. ETP species towards sustainability by taking a collaborative information partnership approach helping lay the foundation Performance Indicators with Conditions with Indicators Performance Habitats outcome for future MSC certified fisheries. Habitats management

Habitats information

Ecosystem information

Legal and customary framework

Consultation, roles and responsibilities

Long-term objectives

Fishery-specific objectives

Decision making Management process Performance Indicators with Conditions Compliance and enforcement Condition that the fishery is working towards Monitoring and management Condition which has been addressed by the fishery

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As the world’s most recognised seafood labelling and certi€cation program, consumers are positive that the MSC, and the thousands of organisations committed Consumer Insights to using the blue MSC label, are contributing to the health of the world’s oceans.

Over 25,000 consumers (20,876 seafood consumers) in 23 countries took part in the research, which ensured a statistically representative sample in each country. % of consumers rate the of those surveyed% said there is a need for MSC highly for helping to brands and supermarkets to independently ensure seafood verify their claims about sustainability availability for future (up from 68% in 2016). generations

of seafood consumers% say they’d like to hear more from companies about the sustainability of their seafood products. % agree that the MSC label helps to identify sustainable seafood quickly and easily
% of seafood consumers recognise the blue MSC label. % of seafood consumers agree that in order to % % save the ocean, we have to consume seafood only believe that seafood of seafood consumers who from sustainable sources. needs to be protected for recognise the MSC logo future generations. say they trust the claims of Data from: GlobeScan. 2020. Demand for independent labelling of seafood is increasing globally. Consumers surveyed were in Australia, Austria, Belgium, the organisation Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, 82 (up from 69% in 2018). Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA. China was surveyed for the first time in 2018. Available at: https://www.msc.org/understanding-seafood-consumers. 83 Sustainable Tuna Handbook Sustainable Tuna Handbook

Conclusion Key Actions Tuna are among the most commercially valuable The best way to reduce risk and ensure tuna is • For confidence in the sustainability and traceability • Share your sustainability credentials with your fish on the planet. To ensure their productive and sustainable is to source from MSC certified tuna of tuna, choose tuna from MSC certified fisheries customers, whether they are supermarkets or a consumer stable future supply, tuna need to be responsibly fisheries. The MSC has developed a universal • Retailers, NGOs and fishing companies need to managed and sustainably fished. This handbook seafood certification standard that is recognised work together to influence RFMOs to adopt the • Join the following groups that are supporting comes at an important time. It aims to unpack as the most credible and robust standard for measures needed to maintain MSC certification. improvements in tuna fisheries: Global Tuna the complex and diverse nature of the global environmentally sustainable fisheries. It assures Contact your Fisheries Minister or RFMO delegation Alliance, International Seafood Sustainability tuna supply chain by providing information on that the stocks are healthy, the impact on the in the coastal state where you source your tuna, and Foundation (ISSF), RFMO working groups or encourage them to support the adoption of Harvest scientific committees, Seafood Business for issues related to tuna fishing such as gear types, ecosystem is minimised and the fishery is well- Control Rules at the RFMO meetings Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS), NGO Tuna Forum, fishing methods, species, sustainability, and managed, driving improvements over time. Coupled Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), environmental impact. Retailers and buyers can with the Chain of Custody Standard for traceability, • Exercise caution over the use of single-issue claims ProActive Vessel Register help support sustainable tuna fishing by ensuring this provides credible assurance for buyers and such as FAD-free, particularly when they are not backed by traceability programs • Ask your supplier questions about the fishery you they source from certified sustainable fisheries and retailers that the tuna they are sourcing originates are sourcing from, for example, regarding catches by encouraging fisheries to make improvements to from a sustainable fishery. • Stay up-to-date and take part in our consultation of non-target species in the fishery. There is always safeguard their sustainability. processes: we are continually developing our room for improvement to ensure sustainability MSC certified fisheries are helping to secure healthy Standard to ensure that it tackles key issues in within tuna fisheries Tuna fisheries can be associated with major tuna stocks around the world, which are essential for fisheries and continues to reflect widely accepted international best practice supply chain risks such as overfishing, the the health of the marine environment and global fishing bycatch of threatened and endangered species, economies. The MSC program is also helping to meet shark finning and forced labour practices. the UN Sustainable Development Goals for global food Minimising these risks requires rigorous and security and equality including SDGs 2, 8, 12, 14 and 17. regular checks on compliance at every point along the supply chain. As highlighted in this Consumers’ appetite for MSC certified seafood is handbook, simple approaches, such as sourcing increasing. Consumers believe that safeguarding our from or avoiding particular fishing methods, do seas is vital for our future, and across 21 countries, not sufficiently reduce the full range of potential consumers rate sustainability more highly than price environmental impacts associated with tuna and brand74. fishing, and importantly, do not necessarily prevent overfishing of stocks. The MSC is helping satisfy this demand by delivering sustainable, healthy and tasty solutions to our partners Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) are a vital and consumers. Nearly 29% of global tuna is now MSC step towards delivering sustainable tuna fisheries. certified and 76% of consumers who know the MSC Comprehensive FIPs that operate transparently brand, say they trust it1. By sourcing MSC certified tuna, and that are making measurable progress are a you are not only investing in ensuring stable supplies crucial tool to help fisheries work towards becoming of fish for the future, but also incentivizing healthy sustainable and achieving MSC certification. oceans and coastal communities.

of global tuna is of consumers who know the 29% now MSC certified 76% MSC brand, say they trust it1. © Nice and Serious / MSC Serious and © Nice

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References

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86 87 MSC Global Headquarters and UK Office Lead authors: Seth McCurry, Dr Lucy Anderson (consultant), Suzannah Walmsley (ABPmer), Bill Holden. Marine House Contributing authors: Dr Adrian Gutteridge, Alberto Martin, Beverley O’Kane 1 Snow Hill, (ABPmer), David Schley, Erin Priddle, George Clark, James Simpson, Jim London EC1A 2DH Humphries, Jo Miller, Laura Rodriguez, Matt Bamping, Dr Oluyemisi Oloruntuyi, Dr Steve Rocliffe (consultant). Tel +44 (0) 20 7246 8900 Fax +44 (0) 20 7246 8901 With thanks to the roundtable group who provided input and expertise for the first version of the handbook. Registered Charity number: 1066806 Registered Company number: 3322023 Authors are MSC staff except where indicated. All data correct as of 28 February 2021 unless otherwise specified.

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