June 3, 2016 — In the wake of the 20th session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission meeting, we join our fellow stakeholders in applauding the IOTC for adopting a harvest control rule (HCR) for skipjack tuna that is consistent with scientific advice. The adoption of this initial skipjack HCR is the culmination of significant work, investment and advocacy by many parties – nations, industry, NGOs, scientists and retailers – and it paves the way for refinement as the management strategy evaluation work continues. Harvest strategies, which include HCRs and reference points, are an essential component of modern, science-based fisheries management.
Unfortunately, there was limited political will to act to similarly protect yellowfin tuna and other stocks that are currently experiencing overfishing or that are overfished. While a reduced catch of yellowfin was adopted, scientific guidance indicates that the agreed catch reductions are insufficient. The new measure amounts to a reduction in catch of about 10%, just half of the IOTC Scientific Committee’s recommended 20% reduction and insufficient to arrest the current declining trend in stock status or rebuild the stocks to sustainable levels by 2024.
There is also a significant risk that, without further action, these measures that are effective 1 January 2017, could result in the fishery breaching the fishing mortality limit and the stock declining below the biomass limit established by the Commission. Finally, with delays of up to two years on reporting of data and the high levels of non-compliance by IOTC members, the new yellowfin measure may be largely unenforceable.
Continued efforts to develop harvest strategies for yellowfin, bigeye and albacore are essential, and we support the Commission’s workplan developed and adopted at its 2015 meeting to that end. ISSF and WWF will support this critical process so that all stocks are on par with the skipjack stock’s management status.
Read the full story at the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation