At its annual meeting last week, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) secured the first international harvest strategy adoption of 2025. They selected a harvest control rule (HCR) for blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea that had been tested with management strategy evaluation (MSE) and is expected to meet or exceed the Commission’s rebuilding objective. The seabream stock is critically depleted, at just 5% of its unfished level and well below the agreed limit reference point, so adoption of a long-term, science-based management plan is an important step forward.
The good news is that the most precautionary HCR was adopted (specifications in image), and it is projected to grow the stock above the limit reference point by 2030 with greater than 50% probability and achieve full recovery to the target level by 2045 with 91% probability. The bad news is that the two parties that fish the stock, Morocco and the European Union, could not agree to immediate implementation of the rule, accepting only a 56% reduction in catch for 2026 to 49.1 t rather than the 3.9 t limit dictated by the HCR. This phased-in HCR application may be ok, but it was not tested by the scientists, so it is likely that it will delay recovery and may risk the success of the measure. Still, adoption is a positive step, and the proper implementation will be reconsidered at the 2026 annual meeting. Once properly implemented, the HCR will represent GFCM’s first-ever rebuilding plan, a momentous step for a body where more than half of the assessed fish stocks are classified as overfished.
The blackspot seabream HCR joins the GFCM’s first two HCRs adopted last year for Adriatic sardines and anchovies, showing impressive progress in harvest strategy development. Those two stocks also provided GFCM with clear evidence about the utility of this approach, as the new catch limits for 2026 followed the outputs of the HCRs and were adopted with minimal discussion. An ambitious workplan aims to advance HCRs for an additional 11 stocks over the next 2 years, but only half of those intend to include thorough MSE testing in the initial development. The three HCRs adopted to date were developed using MSE, so the potential move away from this testing at GFCM is concerning. Untested HCRs cannot be reliably expected to achieve management objectives for the stock and fishery.
Red shrimp in the Ionian Sea and Strait of Sicily, in addition to dolphinfish, are prioritized for MSE testing in 2026. Rapa whelk in the Black Sea is also on the list, but given it’s an invasive species, the environmental benefits of an MSE-tested harvest strategy are a bit more opaque. If these 4 stocks are the focus for 2026, hopefully the other 7 stocks in the MSE workplan will benefit from more robust MSE testing in 2027-28.
With its first three HCRs adopted in just 13 months, GFCM has a lot to be proud of. Going forward, the body should continue to prioritize rigorous MSE testing since MSE is central to securing many of the benefits of the harvest strategy approach. Further, GFCM should evolve toward adoption of fully specified management procedures, which include not just an HCR but also the data collection and assessment methods used to drive the HCR. This ensures consistent application of the HCR and therefore greater confidence in the expected performance.
Esther Wozniak, a senior manager for The Pew Charitable Trusts’ international fisheries program, said:
“Blackspot seabream is severely depleted and in need of immediate action. Although GFCM members adopted a precautionary, science-based approach to recover the species, they postponed its implementation and set fishing limits for 2026 that are much too high, and are based on short-term motivations rather than their newly adopted rules. This decision will delay recovery of this important fishery and may complicate future steps to implement stronger catch limits.
For several species, GFCM members have a track record of allowing years of overfishing before reaching agreement to rebuild fisheries. This has recently begun to change, which is why the decision to delay implementation on blackspot seabream is disappointing. Only continued, cooperative efforts to implement harvest strategies can guarantee the future health of all of GFCM’s valuable and ecologically important species.”
In mid-October 2025, scientists from around the world gathered in Rome, Italy, for a three-day technical workshop on Global Blue Shark Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE). Hosted by The Ocean Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, with key support from the FAO Common Oceans Program, Oceankind, and the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, the event aimed to build progress toward sustainable, adaptive management procedures (MPs) for highly valuable blue shark (Prionace glauca) stocks worldwide.
The case for MSE
Blue sharks are the most commonly landed shark species in international waters and a key target for numerous fisheries, with worldwide blue shark landings estimated to be worth more than $400 million USD. However, their current management relies on stock assessments that are often hindered by data limitations and other uncertainties. Developing and implementing MSE-tested management procedures (MPs), also known as harvest strategies, that are robust to key uncertainties is therefore an important step towards ensuring responsible and adaptive management of these stocks.
The workshop on Global Blue Shark MSE was attended by leading experts in MSE and blue shark science, representing all four regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) that manage fisheries that catch the species: the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). The workshop was timely, as both ICCAT and IOTC have begun initiatives to develop MSE-tested MPs for their respective blue shark stocks.
Setting the stage: common ground and shared challenges
The workshop kicked off with welcoming remarks from Grantly Galland (The Pew Charitable Trusts), Shana Miller (The Ocean Foundation), and Joe Zelasney (FAO), who set an inspiring tone and outlined the goals for the days ahead. First up on the agenda were regional overviews of current blue shark science and management efforts in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, provided by leading scientists from each basin. These discussions highlighted that, across regions, existing stock assessments for blue shark are often hindered by data-poor conditions and significant uncertainties (e.g., conflicting CPUE indices and unreliability in historical catch data).
With these challenges in mind, as the day progressed, the group discussed the utility and feasibility of implementing an MSE approach for blue shark management. Presentations reviewed preliminary MSE work for blue shark conducted to date at ICCAT for the North Atlantic stock and highlighted the IOTC’s request to initiate blue shark MSE efforts. Participants discussed key considerations when developing operating models (OMs) to support potential MSE efforts, including regional uncertainties that should be represented across the suite of OMs. They also touched on the types of MPs that might be most appropriate for addressing the unique management challenges and population dynamics of these widely distributed sharks, which are often co-caught with other target species. Conversations stressed the importance of involving managers and stakeholders early in MSE processes to increase transparency, collaboration, and shared motivation for the eventual adoption of an MP.
Getting hands-on
Day Two initiated dedicated, highly technical hands-on sessions. The day began with a guided demonstration of the openMSE software framework, an open-source modeling tool widely used in RFMO MSE efforts, by its creators at Blue Matter Science. Experts from Blue Matter Science guided workshop participants through the entire MSE process using openMSE, from building OMs and defining performance indicators (PIs) to designing candidate MPs and evaluating their ability to achieve management objectives via the MSE feedback loop. This demonstration provided the foundation for group breakout sessions, where participants were organized based on their region of expertise. Breakout groups worked with real data from five blue shark stocks (North/South Pacific, North/South Atlantic, Indian Ocean) to create preliminary OMs, craft custom PIs, and explore hypothetical candidate MPs using the openMSE framework.
The final day of the workshop included a presentation on standard visualization tools for presenting MSE outcomes, featuring a demonstration of the Slick app for producing figures such as timeseries and tradeoff plots to convey candidate MP performance. Regional breakout groups then reconvened to finalize their modeling efforts and create Slick objects to visualize their work. The workshop culminated in final breakout group presentations, where each region showcased their products from the last two days, including their thought processes when developing hypothetical OMs and candidate MPs for blue sharks. Groups also offered suggestions and reviewed the procedural steps that would be required for progressing these efforts at their respective RFMOs. Comprehensive modeling work and summary presentations were completed for all five global blue shark stocks.
Building blocks towards sustainable management
This workshop offered a rare and invaluable opportunity to bring together experts from across ocean basins, providing a venue to discuss shared knowledge and challenges related to effective blue shark management. While only ICCAT and IOTC have committed to date to pursuing MSE-tested MPs for blue sharks, the preliminary technical work conducted last month in Rome has laid important groundwork for all stocks across all RFMOs. This progress toward the development and adoption of sustainable management procedures marks a key milestone for the long-term sustainability of this ecologically important species around the world.
For even more information, the FAO published a news story on the workshop, and a full workshop report will be available in the coming months.
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!
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.
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, despite the clear benefits they offered. It was a moment where the scientific community, NGOs, and some in the industry began to rally around this concept, recognizing that pre-agreed frameworks for managing fishing effort could mitigate the volatility and short-term pressures that often dominate RFMO negotiations.
A key challenge we encountered early on was the lack of understanding among stakeholders, particularly those outside the scientific realm. Harvest strategies were often perceived as a ‘black box’ solution—complex and intimidating. This is where capacity building became essential. Working on the Common Oceans Project, we hosted a series of workshops, using interactive tools to demystify harvest strategies and get participants actively involved in shaping their development. I remember one workshop vividly: participants were surprised to learn that there isn’t always a single “right” answer when mapping out a harvest strategy. Different components, such as reference points and harvest control rules, can be arranged in multiple ways, depending on the needs of specific fisheries. This flexibility is one of the greatest strengths of harvest strategies, allowing them to be tailored to the unique challenges each fishery faces.
While we’ve made significant progress—tuna RFMOs have adopted several harvest control rules in recent years—the true challenge lies ahead: effective implementation. In the Indian Ocean, for example, despite adopting harvest control rules for skipjack tuna, we’ve seen significant non-compliance with recommended catch limits. Moving forward, compliance isn’t just about enforcement. It’s about fostering goodwill, ensuring all stakeholders feel invested in the long-term goals of sustainable management, and developing fair allocation systems that work for everyone involved.
Monitoring and enforcement will also play a crucial role. The adoption of advanced technologies, like electronic monitoring systems and automated data analytics, will be essential to ensuring that harvest strategies work in practice. We’ve already seen fisheries adopt management procedures that integrate such tools, and it’s a model that will need to be expanded globally.
The journey of implementing harvest strategies over the past decade has been transformative. In 2014, I was thrilled to see mainstream media in the UK publish pieces on the need for harvest control rules and the European retailers demanding this—something unheard of when I began this work. Today, many of our GTA partners instantly understand the value of these strategies. This is a credit to all the capacity building that has happened. However, as we look ahead, ensuring robust compliance and continued capacity building will be critical to their long-term success.
At the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA), our global supply chain partners are deeply committed to pushing for progress in this area. Over the next five years, we will leverage our partnerships to advocate for the effective uptake and critical implementation of harvest strategies across all tuna RFMOs, ensuring that our tuna fisheries remain sustainable for future generations.
About the Author: With 20 years of experience in fisheries and marine conservation, Daniel Suddaby has a deep passion for the ocean, marine life, and sustainable fishing practices. He is an expert in tuna, advocacy, and sustainable market tools that drive change in fisheries and seafood supply chains. Prior to joining the GTA, Daniel founded and led the Tuna and Distant Water Fisheries Program at Ocean Outcomes, building effective relationships with longline tuna and supply chain companies to incentivize transformation through tools such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fishery Improvement Projects. Previously, Daniel spent six years as the Deputy Leader of the World Wild Fund for Nature’s (WWF) global fisheries initiative, leading global engagement in tuna fisheries and advocacy in all Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), and providing strategic direction to WWF International on seafood engagement. He also has experience as a Senior Fisheries Certification Manager for the MSC.