BLOG

When I first delved into the world of harvest control rules and harvest strategies in 2011 during my time with WWF as their global tuna lead, I saw it as a critical opportunity to ensure sustainable fisheries. At the time, except for Southern Bluefin Tuna, none of the tuna RFMOs had established effective harvest strategies, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.  Pre-Agreed Catch Limits for Sardines The first of […]

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 […]

The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Annual Meeting concluded in Panama City last week, and several important decisions and developments will shape and advance fisheries management in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) in the coming years. Below are the key harvest strategy-related proposals discussed, their outcomes, and the work ahead for these critical fisheries.  Science-Management […]