International Seafood Sustainability Foundation

THE INTERNATIONAL SEAFOOD SUSTAINABILITY FOUNDATION (ISSF)'S MISSION IS TO UNDERTAKE SCIENCE-BASED INITIATIVES FOR THE LONG-TERM CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF TUNA STOCK, REDUCING BY-CATCH AND PROMOTING ECOSYSTEM HEALTH.

SCIENCE - ISSF IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF GLOBAL TUNA STOCKS BY DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING VERIFIABLE SCIENCE-BASED PRACTICES. THE MAIN AREAS OF FOCUS ARE TUNA CONSERVATION, BY-CATCH MITIGATION, ILLEGAL FISHING, AND CAPACITY MANAGEMENT. GUIDANCE FOR RESEARCH PRIORITIES AND PUBLISHED TECHNICAL PAPERS ARE PROVIDED BY ISSF'S SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF THE WORLD'S LEADING MARINE AND FISHERIES SCIENTISTS. THIS COMMITTEE PROVIDES REFERENCE MATERIAL FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO CONSIDER PRIOR TO TAKING ACTION ON SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS.

COMMUNICATION/EDUCATION - ISSF COMMUNICATES THE MISSION, OBJECTIVES, AND APPROACH OF ISSF TO THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF AND SUPPORT FOR ITS MISSION.

POLICY, OUTREACH & ADVOCACY - ISSF WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL NGO'S TO PROMOTE AWARENESS AND ADOPTION OF SCIENCE-BASED APPROACHES TO TUNA STOCK SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES. ISSF ALSO ADVOCATES TO REGIONAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS (RFMO'S), WHICH ARE INTERNATIONAL BODIES COMPRISED OF COUNTRIES THAT HAVE INTERESTS IN MANAGING AND CONSERVING FISH STOCKS IN A PARTICULAR REGION, TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT SCIENCE-BASED MEASURES TO SUSTAINABLY MANAGE TUNA STOCKS. IN ADDITION, ISSF WORKS WITH TUNA FISHING FLEETS TO BUILD A GREATER COMMITMENT AMONG FLEET OWNERS TO SCIENCE-BASED SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES.

GLOBAL TUNA FLEET TRANSPARENCY & COMPLIANCE - ISSF ADOPTS CONSERVATION MEASURES FOR TUNA PROCESSORS, TRADERS, IMPORTERS, TRANSPORTERS AND OTHERS IN THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY. ISSF ENGAGES IN VARIOUS EFFORTS SEEKS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ITS CONSERVATION MEASURES BY COMPANIES THAT AGREE TO ADHERE TO THEM, AND PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY REGARDING THEIR COMPLIANCE, INCLUDING: (1) ENGAGING AN INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR TO ANNUALLY AUDIT PARTICIPATING COMPANIES' COMPLIANCE WITH ISSF CONSERVATION MEASURES, AND PUBLISHING THE AUDITOR'S REPORTS ON EACH COMPANY; (2) ISSUING AN ANNUAL CONSERVATION REPORT TRACKING PARTICIPATING COMPANIES' COMPLIANCE; (3) MAINTAINING THE PROACTIVE VESSEL REGISTER (PVR), FOR TUNA VESSEL OWNERS TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS PARTICIPATING IN SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS, AS VERIFIED BY ANNUAL THIRD PARTY AUDITS, TO PROVIDE THE CREDIBLE INFORMATION STAKEHOLDERS SEEK TO INFORM THEIR PROGRAM AND PROCUREMENT DECISIONS; AND (4) PROVIDING A MEANS TO REPORT ON A COMPANY'S COMPLIANCE WITH ISSF CONSERVATION MEASURES.