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Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs)

In many ways, ISSF supports tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) in following scientific advice to protect and conserve tuna stocks, reduce bycatch, and improve the health of marine ecosystems.

Tuna are highly migratory, swimming through both international waters and waters belonging to many nations. To manage tuna stocks, countries sharing these resources joined together to create RFMOs.

Five RFMOs worldwide oversee tuna fisheries management in their respective ocean regions. RFMOs have the legal frameworks, geographic scope, and membership to facilitate positive change across global tuna fisheries.

Member nations of these RFMO governing bodies are responsible for setting catch limits; monitoring stock health; and regulating data collection, on-the-water monitoring, and methods to mitigate fishing’s ecosystem impacts, among other issues.

TUNA RFMOS

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Conservation Measures to Support RFMOs

Several ISSF conservation measures were established specifically to support RFMOs and their regional tuna fleets in following best practices — specifically in vessel registration, listing, and authorization.

RFMO ADVOCACY PUBLICATIONS

Position Statements to RFMOs

Every year, ISSF produces Position Statements for RFMOs in advance of their policy-making meetings — outlining our recommended topics for discussion and priority actions for sustainable fisheries.

RFMO Best Practices Snapshots

As part of our policy and advocacy work, ISSF evaluates tuna RFMOs' progress in implementing best-practice recommendations. Our "RFMO Best Practices Snapshots" (PDFs) cover compliance processes, IUU vessel listing, transshipment, and other fisheries management topics.

Industry Advocacy to RFMOs

Our feature story maps an "influence network" of sustainable-tuna stakeholders — including ISSF participating companies — across four tuna RFMOs.

RFMO Priorities

ISSF’s science and advocacy experts share concerns and advice for RFMOs in 2024.

Tuna RFMO Papers

See a list of recent tuna RFMO papers co-authored by ISSF scientists. 

Regional Tuna Catches

The five largest tuna catches in tonnes are Western Pacific Ocean skipjack, Western Pacific Ocean yellowfin, Indian Ocean skipjack, Indian Ocean yellowfin, and Eastern Pacific Ocean skipjack.

RFMO NEWS