While traditional international fisheries management is backed by scientific data, quota setting can often get bogged down in the mire of national interests and scientific uncertainty. This can lead to protracted negotiations and opaque rules, making it difficult for the industry to plan operations and for managers to effectively control risk. It is precisely because of these challenges that “management procedure” (MP) – also known as harvest strategies (HS)– have emerged to meet the moment.
“Harvest Strategies (HS) are like a modern fishing vessel; at first glance, they might seem complex and daunting! But once understood and familiarized, they can bring unprecedented efficiency and sustainability. From a scientist’s perspective, the most significant advantage of HS is that it not only copes with ocean uncertainty but also strikes a balance between multiple objectives, offering clear navigational rules. Although the learning curve for HS might be steep, I believe mastering this ‘ship’ will make our fisheries more resilient, steering us toward sustainable development.” — Dr. Shui-Kai Chang (Leading Scientist on HS from Taiwan)
The momentum is undeniable. As recently as 2021, 112 of the world’s major supply chain companies sent an open joint letter to delegations at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), demanding accelerated action to develop comprehensive HS for all tuna stocks. Moreover, in 2024, a Harvest Strategy 101 webinar organized by The Ocean Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts for supply chain partners attracted seafood stakeholders from Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Last December at the annual commission meeting of Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), I witnessed the principles of HS move from webinars to the negotiation table, seeing firsthand how HS guides real-world decision-making
Completing the “Core”: How WCPFC22 Steered South Pacific Albacore Toward Sustainability
In December 2025, the 22nd commission meeting of the WCPFC convened in Manila, Philippines. From day one, voices ranging from the Chair and delegates to observer organizations unanimously signaled that the adoption of an MP for South Pacific albacore (SPA) would be the primary mission of the meeting. That is, they were committed to “completing the ‘core.”
“My top priority for this week’s meeting is the adoption of the South Pacific albacore management procedure. Agreement on SPA MP would demonstrate the Commission’s commitment to harvest strategies and the management of an economically important fishery.” — Dr. Josie M Tamate, Chair of WCPFC 22
“South Pacific albacore remains the highest priority for FFA Members at this meeting.” — Poimatagi Okesene, Chair of Forum Fisheries Committee (Forum Fisheries Agency, FFA)
During the opening session, key fishing members, including Korea and China, also showed support for the adoption of the MP for SPA.
“Korea also places strong emphasis on the harvest strategy agenda. WCPFC 22 should deliver a credible and implementable management procedure for South Pacific albacore, together with an effective implementing measure, and agree on an updated and realistic workplan for harvest strategies across key tuna stocks.” — Dr. Jong-jun Song, Acting Director General of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea
High Stakes, Hard Choices: The Push for Sustainability
The longline and troll fleets are the two primary groups of commercial vessels catching SPA in the South Pacific. In 2024, longliners represented 98% of the catch of SPA at 93,791 mt, . While only accounting for 2% of the overall SPA landings, troll fleets accounted for 54% of the 2024 catch in the southern area (south of X°S). By flag, China (29,732 mt) and Taiwan (known as Chinese Taipei in WCPFC; 11,016 mt) had the highest catch estimates of South Pacific albacore in 2024, representing over 50% of the total longline catch, followed by Fiji (8,436 mt), Kiribati (6,530 mt), and French Polynesia (5,066 mt) .
SPA is a lifeline not only for the economies of many Pacific Island countries but also for the fleets of key fishing nations. Take Taiwan as an example. As the member with the second-largest catch in the region, the livelihoods supported by hundreds of its vessels are heavily dependent on this fishery.
Given the high economic stakes, it came as no surprise that the path to a consensus was fraught with tension. Two key proposals regarding the MP and the Implementation Measure dominated the five-day discussion. The debate over the MP proposal focused primarily on selecting the ideal Harvest Control Rule (HCR), while the Implementation Measure faced heated discussion on the allocation of catch splits between exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and the high seas, which remained a primary concern for members including Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and many others.
To facilitate the discussion and help members build consensus over this critical issue, the work extended far beyond standard hours. After long, formal plenary sessions, participants stayed behind to share concerns and debate possible paths forward, often skipping dinner or eating late into the night. When bottlenecks emerged during these extra evening sessions, the negotiations spilled over into the margins, with delegates holding intense one-on-one discussions during lunch hours or coffee breaks.
Underpinning these grueling hours was the harsh reality facing the industry. Beyond the conference rooms, I witnessed the genuine struggles of the stakeholders involved. The Taiwanese industry, for instance, affirmed their support for sustainable fisheries management but highlighted a difficult truth – even the HCR offering the highest yield (catch) would still fall below their current catch levels due to an agreement to increase the population size to a higher target size to facilitate a more cost-efficient fishery. This reduction poses an immediate challenge to the livelihoods of the fishermen, and with future allocation decisions looming, many vessels fear they will be forced to terminate operations entirely.
Yet, recognizing that a stalemate would serve no one, the Commission pushed forward. Despite the limited time and the sheer volume of work at WCPFC 22, members prioritized the SPA MP. While there was considerable “push and pull,” with some members striving for an HCR that maximized catch, the group finally concluded at the selection of HCR 7 on the last day of the meeting. In a statement made on the final day, the representative of Taiwan acknowledged the painful trade-offs, noting that while tens of thousands of their fishermen depend on this fishery and would face further operation challenges regarding the 2026 allocation split, they would support the consensus. In the spirit of cooperation, they accepted HCR 7 to ensure the long-term viability of the stock.
Getting the SPA MP to where it is today was no easy task, as the entire process spanned several years, from the establishment of the MP workplan, multiple workshops, and intersessional groups, to bilateral discussions, and finally adoption at the Commission meeting in 2025. For me, attending my first WCPFC meeting as an observer from Taiwan was an eye-opening experience. I saw firsthand the heavy lifting required to bridge the gap between conservation goals and the economic realities of key stakeholders. The Representative of Samoa summarized this delicate balance perfectly, “The proposed South Pacific albacore Management Procedure and Implementing Measure offers a robust, science-based, and precautionary framework built through extensive consultation, modelling, and compromise, designed to maintain the stock at sustainable levels consistent with the agreed interim target reference point (iTRP) while safeguarding social and economic objectives across the region.”
Sitting in that room, I realized that the core concept of HS is not just about dry policy, but rather, it is really about ensuring stock stability to provide for long-term, sustainable, and stable fisheries for fleets from my country and coastal communities alike.
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Pei-Yun (Lisa) Tsai is a policy specialist with nearly a decade of experience shaping sustainable fisheries advocacy across East Asia. After six years as a Project Lead and campaigner at Greenpeace, where she coordinated multi-stakeholder coalitions and translated technical research into actionable campaigns on issues ranging from fisheries to chemical management, Pei-Yun transitioned to independent consulting. She now focuses on driving policy reform and corporate practice change within the distant water fishery sector, utilizing a holistic perspective to navigate complex political landscapes and foster collaboration between governments, industry associations, and NGOs.
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s (WCPFC) 2025 annual meeting wrapped last week in Manila with the successful adoption of a management procedure (MP), also known as a harvest strategy, for South Pacific albacore. The MP will manage the western and central Pacific (WCPO) longline and troll fisheries below the 10°S parallel, a huge win after many years of hard work on both the science and management sides. Catches of South Pacific albacore occurring between 10°S and the equator, approximately 12% of recent catches, will be managed under the bigeye tuna MP to be adopted next year (more detail below). While the South Pacific albacore stock is currently in a healthy state, the adopted, precautionary MP is an important step for the WCPFC as it will limit the risk of the stock falling into the danger zone in the future and ensure the long-term profitability of the fisheries targeting the stock.
Many WCPFC members have been advocating for an MP that maintains economic returns while ensuring stability for the fishery, as they have been concerned by a long-term decrease in fleets’ catch per unit effort (CPUE) that has decreased their economic viability. To address these concerns, the adopted MP will set a total allowable catch (TAC) for three-year management periods and limit the change in TAC between management periods to no more than 10 percent up or 5 percent down. In 2026, the MP will be run for the first time, setting the TAC for 2027-2029.
Looking forward to 2026, now that the South Pacific albacore MP has been adopted, the WCPFC plans to focus on developing strengthened controls on the water to ensure its implementation, as well as advancing MPs for other tuna species:
While the South Pacific albacore MP adoption was the major harvest strategy news for WCPFC in 2025, we hope 2026 will mark another pivotal year for sustainable tuna management in the region.
The ICCAT annual meeting wrapped up on Monday in Limassol, Cyprus. Management procedures (MPs) were the big winners of the meeting, with progress made on eight different stocks. This remarkable advancement affirmed ICCAT’s commitment to transitioning its management to MPs as a more science-based and transparent approach to achieving long-term sustainability for its $5.4 billion fisheries.
North Atlantic Swordfish: A Landmark Success
An MP was adopted for North Atlantic swordfish, marking ICCAT’s first MP for a non-tuna species. Twenty-five years ago, there was a boycott of North Atlantic swordfish, given its dire status. Today, the stock is fully recovered, and the new MP will lock in this abundance and ensure a vibrant fishery for years to come. The MP was also evaluated to ensure that it can be responsive to any negative impacts of climate change on swordfish abundance, ensuring a sustainable system even in a changing ocean.
The northern swordfish catch limit will increase by 12% next year, the first catch increase for swordfish since 2002. Importantly, the adopted MP is called “MCC,” which stands for “Mostly Constant Catch,” as it is designed to secure long-term stability in the fishery, which is good for business, both on fishing vessels and in seafood markets.
West Atlantic Skipjack: Significant Progress Despite Delay
While we had hoped an MP would be adopted for West Atlantic skipjack, ICCAT members decided that they needed a bit more information before selecting a specific MP. They, therefore, stopped just short of MP adoption, finalizing operational management objectives and giving clear guidance on how to put the finishing touches on the management strategy evaluation (MSE), the results of which will determine the MP to be adopted next November. This still remarks tremendous progress and is cause for celebration.
Forward Momentum for Other Important Stocks
ICCAT also agreed to interim management objectives for the other three tropical tunas – bigeye, yellowfin, and East Atlantic skipjack. The new measure contains important information to guide and reinvigorate the multispecies MSE underway for those stocks, calling for MP adoption in 2026. We note that the 50% probability of having each of the stocks not overfished and not subject to overfishing is a minimum standard for MP development, and we will work with ICCAT members to ensure that the likelihood is raised to at least 60% for the final MP. A coin flip’s chance of success is insufficient, especially given the number of livelihoods and coastal communities that depend on these stocks.
South Atlantic albacore and North and South Atlantic blue sharks round out the list of MP actions, with objectives agreed upon for the former and all three stocks added to ICCAT’s MSE workplan.
Charting a Sustainable Future
The outcomes of the Cyprus meeting reaffirm ICCAT’s leadership in global fisheries management. By adopting a new MP and providing guidance on MP development for 7 other stocks, ICCAT is charting a path toward more sustainable and resilient big fish fisheries. The Commission is well-positioned to secure the long-term health of these key resources and the communities that depend on them. The coming year will be pivotal as these initiatives take shape, and we at www.HarvestStrategies.org look forward to continuing to engage as a stakeholder in the process.
The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) made history last week by adopting harvest control rules for Adriatic sardines and anchovies, the first for this organization. Until now, the only international harvest strategy in the Mediterranean was the Atlantic bluefin tuna management procedure adopted by ICCAT.
Grantly Galland, a project director for The Pew Charitable Trusts’ international fisheries program, said:
“Sardines and anchovies in the Adriatic Sea are the first beneficiaries of a move to sustainable, science-based harvest strategies in the region. This week, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) adopted these new rules, which should prevent overfishing of these valuable fish populations. Given that over half the species managed by the Commission are overfished, this is an encouraging step, and the commitment to more harvest strategies in the future will help rebuild and maintain fisheries’ health over time.”
Pre-Agreed Catch Limits for Sardines
The first of the two harvest strategies applies to Adriatic sardines, a species critical to the region’s fishing industry and ecosystem. Under the new rule, pre-agreed catch limits will replace the need for annual quota negotiations. This state-of-the-art management approach aligns fishing activity with the boom and bust of sardine populations, helping to maintain a stable fishery that can be sustained over time. By reducing the uncertainty of year-to-year negotiations, GFCM is helping prevent overfishing and ensuring a more consistent supply, benefiting both fish populations and the fishers who rely on them.
Anchovy-Specific Harvest Strategy
In parallel, GFCM has also implemented a harvest strategy tailored explicitly for anchovies. This pre-set catch limit will similarly protect anchovy populations from the pressures of overfishing, ensuring that catch levels remain within sustainable bounds. Anchovies, like sardines, are an essential species both ecologically and economically for the region, and this modern management approach provides the framework needed to support their recovery and long-term health. By putting science at the forefront of decision-making, GFCM is paving the way for resilient fishery management that secures the future of anchovy stocks in the Adriatic.
A Positive Step for the Future of the Mediterranean
Sardines and anchovies in the Adriatic are now at the forefront of sustainable fisheries management, setting a new standard for GFCM’s commitment to implementing harvest strategies across the Mediterranean. These newly adopted HCRs mark a significant advance but will require additional agreements on data inputs and assessment methods to evolve into a fully operational and robust harvest strategy. There’s still work to be done, and these initial steps are expected to spark a ripple effect that benefits both biodiversity and the fishing economy in the region.
With these measures, the GFCM demonstrates its dedication to science-based fisheries management, inspiring similar actions in other Mediterranean fisheries. Blackspot seabream is next on the list for GFCM’s harvest strategy development, showing that this progress for sardines and anchovies is just the beginning. By adopting these HCRs, the commission is paving a path to restore the Adriatic’s marine ecosystem and secure a resilient future for this vital fishing region.
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) annual meeting in Suva, Fiji, presents an opportunity to tackle critical fisheries issues impacting the region. From tuna to swordfish, Pacific fisheries are vital resources, providing food security, economic support, and cultural value to numerous island communities and nations. However, these fisheries face significant challenges with pressures from declining catch rates, climate impacts, and competing economic demands. This year’s meeting could be a turning point, as WCPFC members are set to discuss and potentially adopt management measures that can secure a sustainable future for key stocks, including South Pacific albacore, bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack tunas.
To meet these challenges, the WCPFC must adopt modern management procedures to reinforce scientific collaboration and establish support structures for ongoing development. Taking action on these fronts will ensure that fisheries across the Western and Central Pacific are resilient and sustainable for future generations.
A Management Procedure for South Pacific Albacore
The South Pacific Group and Australia have proposed an interim management procedure (MP) for the South Pacific albacore fishery, which has undergone extensive testing through management strategy evaluation (MSE). Adopting this MP would mark a significant step forward in modernizing fisheries management in the region, securing a sustainable future for this economically and culturally important stock.
Implementation Through a New Conservation and Management Measure
To realize the benefits of the MP, the WCPFC must commit to developing a new conservation and management measure that will be implemented. This concept from the South Pacific Group is proposed to be further developed with a target of being adopted in 2025 so the MP can be implemented from 2026 onward. By committing to this measure, the WCPFC will ensure that the MP’s objectives are upheld across the entire Convention Area, providing consistent management that can respond to changing environmental and economic conditions.
Building Regional Cooperation with a Joint Working Group
South Pacific albacore is a shared resource, and effective management requires cooperation. The United States has proposed establishing a joint South Pacific albacore working group with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). This group would enable WCPFC and IATTC to coordinate efforts, share data, and implement aligned management approaches. Establishing this joint working group in 2025 would enhance the region’s capacity to sustainably manage a fishery that spans both Convention Areas, ensuring a cohesive approach that benefits all stakeholders. The South Pacific albacore MSE already accounts for mortality in the eastern Pacific, so it should not preclude the adoption of an MP for the stock at WCPFC this year.
Strengthening Regional Fisheries Management Across Other Key Stocks
Beyond the South Pacific albacore, the WCPFC has a broader responsibility to adopt modern, science-based management for other critical stocks. During this year’s meeting, the Commission should prioritize the following actions:
A Pivotal Moment for Regional Fisheries
The WCPFC’s annual meeting in Suva presents a vital opportunity to set the course for sustainable fisheries management in the Pacific. By adopting the proposed MP for South Pacific albacore, advancing other management measures, and establishing permanent support structures like the SMD Group, the Commission can protect the region’s valuable fish stocks and support the communities that depend on them. Now is the time for decisive action, collaboration, and commitment to a sustainable future for Pacific fisheries.
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is about a decade into management procedure (MP) development for its fisheries. There’s a lot to be proud of. The iconic – and controversial – Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries are now managed under an MP, with science-based catch limits in place. Since its adoption in 2017, the North Atlantic albacore rule has allowed stock growth alongside catch increases each cycle, including in 2020, when a global pandemic prevented the annual meeting. As the 2024 annual meeting convenes in Limassol, Cyprus, later this week, ICCAT has the opportunity to add two more stocks to its list of MP-managed species and to make a plan to take ICCAT’s management strategy evaluation (MSE) efforts into the next decade.
First and foremost, the much-anticipated North Atlantic swordfish management procedure is up for adoption, with proposals submitted by Canada and the United States/European Union. The two proposals are very similar, with placeholder text for agreement on one of the five remaining MP options, all of which will increase catches, are projected to meet conservation objectives and take climate change considerations into account. As a result, ICCAT can’t go wrong with adopting any of these five candidate MPs in Cyprus.
Championed by Brazil from the MSE development to the MP proposal up for consideration at this meeting, Western Atlantic skipjack tuna is another stock ready for MP adoption. As this will be the first-ever management measure covering the stock, the plan is to adopt an MP this year, conduct some additional MSE testing, and develop a method to implement the MP-based catch limit next year to have the MP go into effect in 2026. Learn more about the MP options here.
Once ICCAT adopts MPs for northern swordfish and western skipjack, ICCAT will be done with five of the eight stocks identified for MSE development back in 2015. The three remaining stocks are all part of the multi-stock tropical tunas MSE – bigeye, yellowfin, and eastern Atlantic skipjack tuna. To advance this work toward completion, ICCAT should adopt conceptual management objectives for the stock, as proposed by the United States. The European Union has submitted a competing proposal, but it includes unacceptably risky objectives for all three stocks. Both proposals call for MP adoption in 2026, requiring the MSE development work to start back up in earnest.
With only one more MSE in initial development, it is also time to consider additional stocks of interest for MSE development. South Atlantic albacore is a good candidate since significant uncertainty caused the most recent stock assessment to fail, and an MSE-tested MP could help to improve the management of the fishery. We applaud South Africa for proposing to start developing an MP for the stock and urge ICCAT to adopt PA3-701.
Other stocks that have diverse stakeholder and ICCAT member interest in MSE include South Atlantic swordfish and North and South Atlantic blue sharks, and we urge ICCAT to add them to the MSE roadmap alongside South Atlantic albacore using a streamlined MSE development process based on the lessons learned over the past decade.
This year’s FAO SOFIA report noted substantial progress in stock status of tunas, with 87% of tuna stocks fished sustainably, up from 66% just two years prior. The report credited MSE advancement for these “positive results.” This year, ICCAT should add to this success by adopting an MP for northern swordfish and western skipjack, as well as management objectives for the multistock tropical tunas MSE, and adding four new stocks for MSE development. This will help secure ICCAT’s contributions to better news in the next SOFIA report. Let’s hope ICCAT members seize the day!
The Mediterranean Sea is already home to one of the more well-known harvest strategies – adopted for Mediterranean bluefin tuna in 2022. Fishing for that species has been at high levels for thousands of years, and the harvest strategy implemented by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas should allow for long-term sustainability of today’s fisheries. Now, another regional fisheries management organization with jurisdiction over most of the fisheries in the Mediterranean has an opportunity to adopt its first two harvest strategies.
The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) has its annual Commission meeting next week, from the 4th to the 8th of November in Rome, Italy. Among other items, the group has an opportunity to adopt harvest control rules (HCRs) for sardines and anchovies in the Adriatic. If members – led by the European Union, Albania, and Montenegro – can agree to adoption this year, it will represent a big step forward for GFCM and for fisheries in the region.
Currently, more than half of the stocks in the Mediterranean are subject to overfishing, but the Commission is making strides to reverse some of those downward trends, and fishing has been reduced to sustainable levels for one of its iconic stocks, the European hake in the Strait of Sicily. Now, the opportunity to adopt HCRs for fisheries targeting the commercially- and ecologically important sardine and anchovy populations in the Adriatic can further demonstrate positive action at the GFCM. These small pelagic species not only support processing industries throughout the area, but they provide important forage for other wildlife. A precautionary HCR should preserve their role in the ecosystem.
While the HCRs under consideration by the Commission have been tested through management strategy evaluation and generally follow Commissioners’ guidance, it would be good to include the other components of a full management procedure (MP) when considering adoption. Recording the fisheries indicators and assessment methods that are needed to implement the HCR is best practice. If these items are not adopted this year, that should be a priority for GFCM during the early implementation phase.
In addition to these proposed HCRs, GFCM should continue its commitment to developing and adopting harvest strategies by following the advice of its scientists and advancing work on the blackspot seabream in the western Mediterranean, the European hake and benthic shrimp fisheries in the Strait of Sicily, and the dolphinfish (or mahimahi) across the whole region. These actions will require support and leadership from the European Union, Morocco, and Tunisia, among others.
GFCM has already demonstrated a commitment to adopting harvest strategies for its priority stocks, a big step in the right direction for fisheries management in the Mediterranean. If they are successful in adopting or advancing all these efforts, next week’s meeting will be one to remember.