The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has released its 2023-2027 strategy, Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability, which lays out the research and advocacy organisation’s mission and approach to achieving its tuna fisheries sustainability objective across the next five years.
‘Through a robust, multi-stakeholder exploration process, we developed Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability as an evolution of our prior strategic plan,’said ISSF President Susan Jackson.
‘ISSF’s science-based and collaborative work has driven progressive outcomes in the last five years — from our Vessels in Other Sustainability Initiatives (VOSI) list enabling more transparent vessel operations to the design of jelly-FADs that lessen the environmental impact of fish aggregating devices.’
She commented that the strategic plan allows ISSF to build on its achievements, while responding to the current sustainability landscape.
‘Articulating our theory of change and a five-year goal, which emphasise a commitment to continuous improvement, helps us recognise the dynamic nature of the world’s tuna fisheries and the stakeholders who rely on them.’
In the new plan, ISSF’s work continues to be grounded in the core pillars of science, verification, and influence, all of which come together to drive more sustainable fisheries management. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard also remains central to ISSF’s objective. Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability includes new and evolved elements in support of the ISSF mission.
‘Like our previous Strategic Plan, the objective of Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability includes the MSC Fisheries Standard. But consistent with the theme of continuous improvement, our new plan now pledges ISSF efforts to help fisheries not only meet but also maintain that standard,’ Susan Jackson said.
‘The recent release of the new MSC Fisheries Standard 3.0 to meet changing expectations and reflect the latest in sustainability science reminds us that the bar is always rising — so too must our level of responsibility and commitment.’
ISSF Five-Year Goal
The plan also newly establishes a five-year goal. By the end of 2027, all tuna fisheries from which ISSF participating companies source can meet and maintain the MSC certification standard, or there is a clear roadmap and timeline in place to meet this standard that is underpinned by the best-available science.
Continuously Improving Global Tuna Fishery Sustainability also continues ISSF’s charge to monitor third-party efforts to develop and implement labour and social standards for tuna fishing activities on a global scale and explore appropriate ways for ISSF and/or participating companies to support and implement these standards.
ISSF is announcing a new Advisory Committee on Working Conditions for Fishing Vessels that will guide the development of an ISSF approach to this effort.
