The UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA) member governments met from May 22 to 26 at the UN headquarters. The event focused on the effectiveness of the UNFSA, the adequacy of its provisions, and...
SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
Study Says New MPA Will Not Cripple American Samoa Economy
The US is planning on expanding marine protected areas in the Pacific, keeping to its UN 30X30 pledge, of protecting 30 percent of oceans. It is looking to expand its marine monument with the...
PNA Fishery Scope Extension Is Once Again Facing Headwinds
In March, the PNA fishery announced that it will try again to gain the MSC certification for its bigeye catches and FAD sets but it is looking at several speed bumps along the way. It is faced...
GTA Ropes In Former MSC, WWF Executive As New Director
The Global Tuna Alliance appointed Daniel Suddaby as its new Executive Director. He has 20 years of experience in fisheries and marine conservation and is an expert in tuna, advocacy, and...
Micronesian Seiner Fishery Nears MSC Certification For Entire PNA
The Micronesia skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye purse seine fishery sought a scope extension for free school and FAD sets in the EEZs of Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, PNG, Solomon...
Readers Say Nations Should Not Opt-Out From Conservation Measures
In Atuna’s latest poll, a majority of our readers voted that countries should not be able to “opt out” of RFMO measures just because they feel like it. This question came about after...
IOTC Members’ Compliance With Conservation Measures Declining
The IOTC Compliance Committee (CoC) annually reviews the questionnaires sent to its member states to check their conformity with the RFMO’s conservation and management measures. In 2022, the...
FIA PNG Gets MSC Certified For Entire WCPO
The Fishing Industry Association of Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG) has passed its scope extension to include PNA waters and the high seas, making this fishery MSC certified for the entire WCPO on...
NGOs Urge US To Block Tuna Imports From Ecuador
Comprehensive research by three US-based NGOs concludes that Ecuador does not comply with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). They want the National Marine Fisheries Services to ban...
French NGO Bloom Requests Observer Status In IOTC
French NGO Bloom asked in a letter to the IOTC to grant observer status to stay informed on the RFMO decision-making process. In the note dated May 9, Bloom also made several accusations...
Dongwon Awarded MSC ‘Best Enterprise Of The Year’
Dongwon Industries won the ‘Best Enterprise of the Year’ award from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Korea for a second consecutive time. The Korean seafood company received the grant,...
Blue Bonds Pave Way For Conservation Funding
Ecuador's debt conversion through the Galapagos Bonds provides sustainable financing needed to support the implementation and management of marine conservation measures in the world’s most...
Greenpeace Lauds Asian Leader’s Decision To Combat Forced Labor On Longliners
Greenpeace USA welcomed the recently adopted 'Declaration on the Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishers' at the 42nd ASEAN summit held in Indonesia. The leaders, representing ten...
Century Pacific Ropes In Former Superbods To Boost Sustainability Campaign
Philippines brand Century Tuna is not leaving any stone unturned to promote its 'Saving Our Seas' (SOS) sustainability campaign. It recently hosted a beach clean-up drive which turned out to...
Chris Shearlock Is The New Thai Union Sustainability Director For Europe
Last Thursday, Thai Union (TU) appointed Chris Shearlock as its new Sustainability Director for Europe. Before joining TU, Shearlock was working with the Princes Group from 2017 to 2023. He...
IOTC 72-Day FAD Ban Remains In Place, EU Proposal Fails
The IOTC annual meeting ended on Friday, May 12, with several resolutions adopted. The key debate over the management of dFADs remains unsolved. The proposed plans by the EU and South Korea...
Ocean Stewardship Funds For Tuna Bycatch Research
The MSC Ocean Stewardship Fund (OSF) awarded USD 934,430 to 26 sustainable fishing projects including some in the tuna-rich waters of PNG and Ecuador. This year's grants are primarily for...
Bloom Appeals To European Commission To Stop EU FAD Ban Objection
While the IOTC meeting is still ongoing, French NGO Bloom has filed two appeals with the European Commission and the French Directorate General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries, and Aquaculture...
TUNACONS Nearing Skipjack MSC, Still A Way To Go For 100% Adoption Of EcoFADs
Last year, purse seiners belonging to the Ecuadorian tuna group, TUNACONS, caught nearly 27 percent of the total EPO tuna catches. It is anticipating its fleet’s skipjack catches getting...
Sun Flower 7 Fined USD 150,000 For Violating Korean Law
The Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries sanctioned the 'Sun Flower 7' with a fine. Details regarding the violations and where the 4,000 tons of tuna cargo went remain unclear. The...