In what can only be called a surprising but pertinent move, two IOTC members have proposed the RFMO establish a FAD ban period for multiple months in the Indian Ocean (IO) to cut down on the...
SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
ICCAT On Track To Set Harvest Strategy For Iconic Tuna
Although Atlantic bluefin is the most controlled fish and ICCAT's recovery plan has been fruitful, the management of this iconic tuna can still be improved. This was according to experts who...
Former Oil Industry Exec To Head Bumble Bee’s Sustainability Efforts
A former oil industry executive will be leading sustainability initiatives for US tuna company, Bumble Bee. On Monday, Bumble Bee announced that it has hired Leslie Hushka who was...
Dutch Lottery Charity Extends Funding For MSC
The Dutch Postcode Lottery has pledged EUR 500,000 annually for another three years to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to aid ocean sustainability initiatives. Rupert Howes, Chief...
ISSF President: RFMOs Set A Too-Low Bar In 2020, Must Do Better
The President of the industry-led International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has emphasized that RFMOs need to do better in managing tuna resources and making decisions. “In 2021,...
French Fishery Pushes MSC Timeline After Numerous Comments
The independent assessment body, Control Union (UK) Limited, recently announced that the timeline for the MSC certification of Compagnie Française du Thon Océanique (CFTO) Indian Ocean Purse...
RFMOs Stepping Up On Shark Bycatch Mitigation
Bycatch is an issue that tuna RFMOs pay a great deal of attention to and shark species are especially vulnerable to fishing gears such as gillnets. Several sharks that end up as bycatch in...
Seiners Can Safely Catch More Skipjack, Say IOTC Scientists
Skipjack is in a good state in the Indian Ocean (IO) region, according to a new report released by the IOTC's Scientific Committee (SC). Its new catch limit for the skipjack stock is higher...
US Tuna & Seafood Sectors Caution US Govt On “30×30” Rule
On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order on climate change, oceans, and environment including the contentious “30 by 30” provision. The tuna and seafood sectors have had...
Palau’s New President Insists On Fishing Ban In EEZ
Palau’s New President, Surangel Whipps Jr., will continue supporting the country’s National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) and insists fishing will be banned from this area. In January 2020, Palau...
Ecuador’s Fishers Say No To Expanding Galapagos Reserve
During Ecuador’s third Fisheries Summit, which ended last Sunday, the tuna and seafood fishing industry and the artisanal sector flatly rejected the proposal to extend the Galapagos EEZ’s...
FISH Is New Kid On Social Responsibility Block
A new fishery standard focusing on fair treatment of crew in tuna and other wild capture fisheries was announced this month. It joins the myriad number of social responsibility programs...
PNA Withdraws Objection Against Indonesian Pole & Line MSC At Last Minute
Last Friday was the last day of the consultation period regarding the PNA objection against the MSC certification of the Indonesian pole-and-line and handline fishery, Asosiasi Perikanan...
Seiners’ FADs Taking Away PNG Islanders’ Tuna Resources?
There are some concerns in Papua New Guinea (PNG) that the country’s tuna resources are being taken by industrial fishing fleets and preventing locals from benefiting from them. The PNG...
Bolton’s CEO Asks Brands To Include Social Mission In Their Identities
The Italian firm, Bolton Group, looks to source from a 100 percent sustainable fish supply chain for its tuna brand Rio Mare by 2024. This is part of a project between WWF and the company's...
PNA Objects To MSC For Indo Pole & Line, Due To Poor Management
An objection has been submitted to the Final Draft Report (FDR) regarding the MSC certification of the Indonesian pole-and-line and handline fishery, Asosiasi Perikanan (AP2HI). The opposition...
Bumble Bee And FCF NGO Partner Assigns New CEO
The US-based environmental NGO, Ocean Outcomes (O2), announced on January 19 that it has appointed a new chief executive. Rich Lincoln who used to be O2’s founding director is now the...
MSC Updates: KFL Officially Certified & Owasebussan Getting Closer
Kiribati Fish Limited (KFL) has been officially certified by the independent assessor for MSC after no objections were lodged against it. The certification is for longline vessels targeting...
Thai Union’s Innovative Venture With Cell-Based Seafood Co. BlueNalu
Thai Union Group has decided to venture into cell culture innovation by investing in the California-based company, BlueNalu, which as part of its sustainable efforts, uses cell-based...
Webinar Talks On Next Steps To Manage Bluefin Stock
A webinar organized by Pew and WWF will address how to secure the long-term sustainable future for the iconic bluefin. It will discuss the next steps to take now the recovery plans for...