Fighting Illegal Fishing
Fishing activities that are illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) can harm fish stocks and undermine management efforts and responsible fishers. The gravity and complexity of this matter demand that we tackle it from multiple angles.
Our multi-pronged approach includes:
Advocating for Stronger RFMOs
Strengthening and Harmonizing Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS)
Our Model
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DATA & SCIENCE
While data are limited, science tells us UNTRACKED VESSELS have substantial impact on fisheries health
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KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Stakeholders ELEVATE IUU issues, tools, and policy solutions to policymakers and enforcement bodies
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ADVOCACY
ISSF & partners recommend range of ANTI-IUU APPROACHES to RFMOs, such as vessel monitoring systems & compliance processes
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OUTCOMES
Tuna RFMOs now require UVIs; the number of vessels with UVIs INCREASED ~80% since 2011
18There are 18 ISSF Conservation Measures that are catalysts for industry action against IUU activities, from product traceability to transshipment, and more.
Strategic Goals
Eliminate IUU fishing
To further strengthen the fight against illegal fishing, 100% observer coverage — human or electronic — across all gears and tuna fisheries.
ISSF is working to wipe out IUU fishing
with a multi-pronged approach
Tuna Companies Worldwide that process or market tuna commit to conform to and be audited on ISSF Conservation Measures, including those on traceability, data collection and transshipment, among many others that deter IUU activities.
Requiring transactions ONLY with vessels that meet requirements:
Tuna Fishing Vessels Worldwide can signal their commitment to fishing best practices by registering on the ProActive Vessel Register (PVR). ISSF also maintains IMO and UVI Databases.
PROACTIVE VESSEL REGISTER (PVR) Uses 3rd-party auditing to validate whether vessels are following science-based, sustainable tuna fishing practices
UVI DATABASES UVI & IMO databases track permanent, unique vessel identifiers for ships
ISSF scientific research and advocacy guide outreach to RFMOs and governments.
Technical advice on best practices for monitoring, control and surveillance in tuna fisheries — for example, electronic monitoring system (EMS) pilot projects and workshops- Recommendations on effective RFMO governance, science-based decision-making, data collection, monitoring, enforcement and compliance mechanisms
Scientific research reports, including on best practices for managing vessel records, supply vessels, vessel monitoring systems (VMS), and observer programs
The ISSF multi-pronged approach is paying off.
Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS); Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU)
Note: This includes all RFMO CMs/decisions on EmER, PSN, IMO #’s, observer safety, compliance reform, performance review, access or charter transparency, eCDS, penalties for no data, etc.
