The Global Tuna Alliance (GTA) is leading the charge for comprehensive reforms within the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) to address not only environmental concerns but also the human rights issues prevalent in the tuna fishing industry in the region.
At the same time, the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF) and The Pew Charitable Trusts are urging the IOTC to implement stronger, science-based measures to protect tuna stocks and enhance fisheries management.
With the upcoming IOTC annual meeting scheduled for April 13-17 in La Reunion, stakeholders are intensifying their calls for action.
The GTA, representing a coalition of global retailers and supply chain entities, has initiated a campaign to push IOTC members to prioritize improving working conditions for laborers on tuna vessels.
Amid mounting reports of human rights violations at sea, including forced labor and unsafe work environments, the GTA emphasizes the importance of ensuring decent working conditions for fishers.
Daniel Suddaby, the GTA’s executive director, urges IOTC delegates to establish labor standards aligned with the International Labor Organization’s Work in Fishing Convention (ILO C188) and involve the commission’s socio-economics working party in addressing this issue.
Notable retailers like Carrefour have endorsed the initiative, committing to implement full observer coverage on industrial tuna fishing vessels that supply their own-brand canned tuna.
IPNLF and Pew Advocate for Action
The IPNLF highlights the need for decisive measures by IOTC members to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks and the wellbeing of coastal communities dependent on them.
Citing concerning trends in skipjack tuna recruitment rates and exceeding catch limits, the IPNLF calls for precautionary measures and stringent enforcement to promote accountability.
Regarding yellowfin tuna, the IPNLF underscores the importance of resolving data standardization issues in stock assessments and advocates for equitable catch limits free from objections to ensure compliance.
The IPNLF opposes proposals enabling the creation of new support vessel categories that could circumvent existing restrictions and emphasizes the need for enhanced reporting and observer programs.
Aligned with the GTA’s push for crew labor protections, the IPNLF seeks binding labor standards akin to those adopted by other fisheries management bodies.
Pew echoes the call for science-based, precautionary actions and stresses the importance of implementing effective management procedures to promote sustainable fisheries.
Wider use of electronic monitoring, satellite-based vessel tracking, and enhanced catch documentation are recommended to bolster compliance and traceability in the tuna fishing sector.
The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) underscores the urgency of science-based fisheries management to prevent the depletion of Indian Ocean tuna stocks.
In a recent press release, ISSF scientists outlined critical priorities for IOTC member states, including enforcing catch limits based on scientific advice and strengthening measures to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
