November 23, 2024
Shana Miller
International agreements play a critical role in the adoption of harvest strategies by establishing the legal and regulatory frameworks that encourage or require their use. Key global instruments, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA), call for the application of precautionary and ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management, both of which are supported by the development and implementation of harvest strategies.
The UNFSA and FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries emphasize using reference points to trigger management responses—the essence of harvest strategies. Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are uniquely positioned to operationalize these international commitments by developing harvest strategies. Many RFMOs have already made progress in advancing these tools to sustainably manage fish stocks.
To explore how far RFMOs have come, check out these examples of adopted harvest strategies: https://harveststrategies.org/case-studies-of-harvest-strategies-in-global-fisheries/rfmo-hs-management-measures/
🐟 Management procedures aren’t just about sustainability, they also deliver social & economic benefits.
✅ From more stable catch to lower long-term costs and stronger industry trust, MPs can create real value.
📘 Read our new factsheet:
A giant Pacific bluefin tuna sold for a record $3.2M at Tokyo’s New Year auction.
Pacific bluefin tuna is recovering from overfishing, but fisheries managers need to agree on a management procedure in 2026 to sustainably manage the stock.
Read more:
🐟 Fisheries management is evolving from traditional stock assessments.
Our new animation explains the shift towards Management Procedures (MPs) – a straightforward, long-term blueprint for productive and sustainable fisheries management.
▶️ Watch here:
December 12, 2025
