Bycatch Mitigation
Finding ways to reduce or eliminate tuna fishing’s negative impacts on “non-target” species and the marine ecosystem – that’s been an ISSF objective from the beginning. ISSF has researched bycatch-mitigation approaches across different fisheries and gear types, and shared our findings and recommendations with industry and tuna RFMOs. We’ve disseminated many best practices already, and new projects to discover even better ways to protect marine species and environments are underway.
ISSF-led
Skippers Workshops in 30+ locations with 3,000+ participants
Our Model
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DATA & SCIENCE
20+ ISSF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH cruises and experiments to test methods for avoiding bycatch
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KNOWLEDGE SHARING
90+ BYCATCH-
MITIGATION skippers workshops worldwide with vessel crew, owners, scientists & other stakeholders -
ADVOCACY
Bycatch-mitigation RECOMMENDATIONS TO RFMOS via 15 joint letters, 19 side events & 39 position statements
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OUTCOMES
35 RFMO MEASURES reflecting ISSF priorities for reducing bycatch in fisheries
11There are 11 ISSF Conservation Measures impacting Bycatch Mitigation, focusing on anti-shark finning, non-entangling FADs, skippers workshops, and more.
Strategic Goals
Additional research on mitigation approaches for some bycatch species
Through Skippers Workshops, fishers voluntarily adopt bycatch-reduction best practices, which RFMOs then incorporate into their conservation measures
More fisheries meeting Marine Stewardship Council criteria for sustainability based on bycatch mitigation performance
Reducing Bycatch in Tuna Fisheries
Over years of rigorous at-sea research, we've studied the effectiveness of different methods to avoid catching or safely handling non-target species in tuna fisheries. We share our best-practice findings in reports and workshops.
Bycatch Mitigation Approaches:
ISSF Research Progress Report
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Passive mitigation
Avoid catching before set
Release techniques from net
Release techniques from deck
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Passive mitigation
Avoid catching
Release techniques from net
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Passive mitigation
Release techniques from deck
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Behavior at FADs
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Biodegradable non-entangling FADs
Managing FAD densities
Proven
More Research
Recommended
Bycatch risks and rates for sharks, rays, turtles, and other marine
species can vary a great deal by fishing method and ocean.
Nearly 1,700 SKIPPERS
reached to date
Enough to place 1+ ISSF-trained skipper on EVERY large purse seine vessel operating today