In January, fisheries managers and scientists from North Africa and the Near East, working with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), gathered in Alexandria, Egypt, for a regional capacity-building workshop on management procedures (MPs) and management strategy evaluation (MSE).
The three-day workshop combined expert presentations, interactive activities, and facilitated group discussions to build a shared understanding of MPs (also known as harvest strategies) and MSE as practical tools for science-based decision-making. The workshop strengthened dialogue between managers and scientists and across the region, enabling participants to engage in MP and MSE processes at regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and nationally.
Workshop Goals and Approach
As MPs gain traction at ICCAT and GFCM, effective development and implementation depend on both technical analyses and informed decision-making. This, in turn, requires managers and scientists to share a common understanding of objectives, trade-offs, uncertainty, and how their respective roles fit together throughout the MP and MSE processes.
Thus, the workshop moved beyond theory and focused on practical engagement with MPs and MSE. Plenary sessions established a shared conceptual foundation and fostered regional collaboration, while dedicated breakout sessions allowed managers and scientists to dive into their specific roles. Scientists’ breakout sessions emphasized technical foundations and workflows – providing hands-on experience working on MSE, including specifying operating models, designing candidate management procedures, and running simulations on case study data. Managers’ sessions introduced the full MP and MSE cycle from a decision-maker perspective – paying particular attention to interpreting MSE results, weighing trade-offs, and understanding implementation pathways.
Workshop Impact
For both managers and scientists, a central outcome of the workshop was greater clarity and confidence around MPs and MSE as tools for sustainable fisheries management. Prior to the workshop, some participants noted that MSE concepts felt difficult to navigate, including at RFMO meetings. By working through examples and visualizations and participating in group discussions, participants developed a clearer understanding of how MPs and MSE function in practice when it comes to real fisheries management.
Further, participants noted the workshop’s structure – plenary sessions with all participants as well as tailored breakout sessions for managers and scientists – was unique and highly beneficial. Unlike previous workshops where managers and scientists were separated for the whole time, this workshop format allowed each group to gain insight into the other’s work. This insight helped clarify their distinct yet complementary responsibilities and emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between science and management for effective development and implementation of MPs.
For managers, the workshop strengthened their ability to engage with and interpret technical MSE outputs from scientists, participate in discussions regarding trade-offs and uncertainty, and make informed decisions. They also valued the opportunity to share experiences with peers from across the Mediterranean, recognizing both similar challenges and potential for regional collaboration. Many noted they were leaving the workshop better prepared to contribute to ICCAT and GFCM discussions on MSE and MPs and communicate about MSE and MPs within their national institutions.
For scientists, hands-on exercises and interactive sessions provided practical experience with MSE workflows, visualization tools, and reproducible analyses, strengthening technical capacity to use MSE frameworks and develop MPs. Further, using case study data helped connect technical analysis to real-world scenarios. Scientists also improved their ability to communicate results to managers and stakeholders, as the joint sessions helped them understand managers’ perspectives and priorities.
Looking Ahead
Overall, the Alexandria workshop marked an important step towards increasing regional capacity for MPs and MSE in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean and at ICCAT and GFCM. It fostered stronger regional connections, conceptual understanding, and technical skills, laying the groundwork for future collaboration and engagement in RFMO processes. Participants were eager to take their new knowledge and skills back home and apply them to fisheries nationally and regionally, as well as to continue participating in future capacity-building experiences. This ongoing capacity-building will be essential and is the aim of the new FAO eLearning Academy course on MPs and MSE, a free and self-paced educational tool to learn more about the concepts.
Thank you to the FAO Common Oceans Project, The Ocean Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, GFCM, Oceankind, and the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation for supporting the workshop.
More than 10 years ago at a meeting of a newly constituted regional fisheries management organization, countries with fisheries interests across the south Pacific Ocean came together to adopt a harvest control rule with a goal of rebuilding jack mackerel, a small pelagic fish that had become seriously depleted.
Fast forward to today, and members of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO), after having successfully steered the rebuilding of the jack mackerel stock, have an opportunity to further embrace precautionary and science-based management across their diverse small pelagic, squid, and bottom fisheries.
On the agenda of the annual SPRFMO meeting beginning March 2nd in Panama City will be a recommendation from an independent panel of experts, commissioned by SPRFMO, to review the organization’s performance. Notably, that panel is recommending the adoption of a harvest strategy (also called management procedure, MP) approach for all SPRFMO fisheries.
“A well-defined harvest strategy provides a framework for consistent decision-making and the application of the precautionary approach across different fisheries,” the review panel wrote in its report. “This approach would help ensure that management measures are designed with clear objectives, supported by scientific evidence, and adaptable to changing conditions. This would provide a practical framework for decision-making and goal-setting for each fishery, ensuring that the precautionary approach is constantly applied.”
SPRFMO members should heed that recommendation, thereby aligning the RFMO with others that have made the strategic choice to embrace harvest strategies to provide greater predictability and stability and to ensure the sustainability of their fisheries.
SPRFMO, which includes 17 members, manages important stocks of small pelagic fishes, squid, and bottom fishes across the south Pacific Ocean. SPRFMO is already undertaking work in relation to harvest strategies, but its efforts would receive a boost through a more strategic approach:
For other fisheries, like orange roughy, and toothfish, a workplan could be developed to tailor workable MP approaches, given the varying levels of data, knowledge, and fishing intensity. The MP approach is not one-size fits all, and it can be applied differently depending on the resources available and priorities of the Commission.
In rebuilding jack mackerel, SPRFMO members have demonstrated that they can cooperate and make decisions with lasting benefits. Now is the time to build on the organization’s past to chart out a sustainable future through the wider endorsement of the harvest strategy approach.
(Photo by Richard Ling, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND-2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/)
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 2024 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting marked notable advancements in fisheries management. For the first time, a billfish species in the Pacific will undergo a management strategy evaluation (MSE). WCPFC agreed to develop an MSE framework for south Pacific swordfish starting in 2025, setting the stage for designing a future management procedure (MP) for the stock.
Another milestone was support for a joint pan-Pacific working group with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) on south Pacific albacore tuna. This group would aim to enhance stock management and monitoring while supporting WCPFC’s development of an MP. Its success now hinges on IATTC’s endorsement at its 2025 annual meeting. Additionally, progress was made on bigeye tuna, with the adoption of three candidate target reference points (TRPs) for evaluation in MSE. These TRPs provide critical flexibility for aligning multi-species targets. On skipjack tuna, a monitoring plan for the existing MP was successfully adopted, bolstering ongoing management.
Despite these gains, efforts to establish a south Pacific albacore MP faltered. This setback spurred industry warnings about potential Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification suspensions if an agreement isn’t reached in 2025. An intersessional working group has been scheduled for next year.
With steps forward on swordfish, albacore, bigeye, and skipjack, the WCPFC must maintain momentum by scheduling intersessional meetings and resolving outstanding challenges to secure critical agreements in 2025 and beyond.
Banner image: A swordfish captured in an offshore longline. Image courtesy of Andre Seale / Marine Photobank.
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!