IPNLF sets out commitments to put social sustainability at the forefront of its work with one-by-one tuna fisheries, including the people, communities, businesses and decision-makers connected with them.
One-by-one tuna fisheries (pole-and-line, handline and troll) are very people-centric, characterised by local ownership and fishing methods that have been practiced for centuries. These fisheries support livelihoods and preserve local culture and values in many global regions, particularly developing coastal states.
Recognising this, the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF), the non-profit association that is committed to developing, supporting and promoting responsible one-by-one tuna fisheries in tandem with harnessing the positive influence of the market to increase demand for these products, has launched its ‘Social Sustainability Manifesto for One-by-One Tuna Fisheries’. This Manifesto details IPNLF’s ambition to deliver social benefits to one-by-one tuna fisheries through a series of commitments that take a holistic approach to sustainability.
Dr Alice Miller, Social Research & Programme Director at IPNLF, explains, “Through our Manifesto, we are raising the bar for what seafood sustainability means. While remaining committed to environmental sustainability, we also place the social and economic wellbeing of fishing communities at the heart of our work by ensuring that one-by-one caught tuna has a valid place in the global marketplace and at the same time supporting the socio-cultural heritage of the fisheries.”
Miller continues, “While the Manifesto highlights IPNLF’s intentions, the ambitions are shared among many of our supply chain Members and collectively, we have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to effect change. Moving forward, we shall work with our networks – using our collective voice – to action our Manifesto’s commitments.”
Specifically, IPNLF’s Manifesto makes eight commitments:
- Act as a champion for the one-by-one sector to advocate on behalf of the communities behind these fisheries
- Contribute to a sound understanding of the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of one-by-one tuna fisheries for evidence-based decision making
- Use targeted outreach and direct engagement to educate key stakeholders and decision makers and bridge the information gap between policymakers, markets, and the catching sector
- Amplify the voice of these fisheries to advocate for fair and equitable fisheries management measures that guarantee fishing opportunities for one-by-one tuna fisheries in the face of increasing fishing pressure and competition from large-scale, industrial counterparts
- Support initiatives that enable one-by-one tuna fisheries around the world to get a better return for their activities, enhancing the overall social benefits accruing to coastal communities
- Collaborate with one-by-one supply chains to ensure there is a culture of integrity and respect with labour rights protected and decent working conditions provided
- Promote and encourage active “gender champions” in one-by-one supply chains to secure the economic, social and cultural rights of women and implement specific measures to highlight women’s contribution to the one-by-one tuna industry; raise awareness of gender issues among public and private stakeholders; and promote professional equality between men and women in the seafood industry
- Work to create greater transparency and robust traceability systems that tell the story of these fisheries, while meeting requirements of major markets aimed at eliminating IUU seafood products from supply chains
