Significant progress was made in the Indonesian pole-and-line and handline tuna fishery improvement project, now live on FisheryProgress.org. On the ground, important data collection activities continued and policy recommendations were strengthened. The first Indonesian tuna fishery achieved Marine Stewardship Council certification, a crucial milestone in the fisheries’ journey that paves the way for the others in the region.
Low impact, one-by-one tuna fisheries have long played a crucial role in maintaining food security and providing livelihoods in some of the world’s most impoverished regions, contributing to Agenda 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). IPNLF believes that the SDGs provide a pathway for responsible seafood supply chains to support small-scale tuna fisheries – and shared this important message online through graphics and animations and at international events.
2018 was an important year for tuna management. The annual tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (tRFMOs) meetings took IPNLF to all corners of the globe, starting with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) meeting in Thailand, then the International Committee for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting in Croatia, and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in Hawaii. Despite mixed outcomes, an important theme emerged: collaboration among the coastal states continues to strengthen and their voices are being heard.
The Maldives fishery continued to trial new technology including bird radars, sonar, and on-board self contained ice machines as part of the Concept Vessel initiative which aims to improve operational efficiency and product quality. The bird radar has proved to be extremely popular among the fishers with at least five vessels now equipped with the technology.
In 2018, St Helena exported its first fresh one-by-one tuna products by airfreight to South Africa. To share the story of this unique fishery, IPNLF launched a new film The One-by-One Philosophy during the St Helena Conference: Diverse Island Environments. On-island training workshops to improve fishing efficiency and quality continued and through school visits and events, IPNLF worked to educate and engage the local community on the value of the Island’s one-by-one tuna fishery.
IPNLF continued to strengthen its partnerships with key stakeholders through events such as the Indonesian Coastal Tuna Business Forum and the Our Ocean Conference.
Last year, IPNLF launched its Responsible Tourism Initiative, bringing together the Maldives’ two leading industries, fisheries and tourism, to further strengthen the sustainability of their activities for the benefit of their businesses, the environment and local people.
IPNLF reached new shores in 2018, welcoming its first Members operating in India, Ecuador and the Solomon Islands and expanding its network in the Canary Islands. Growing in all corners of the world, IPNLF will work with its membership network for the benefit of one-by-one tuna fisheries.
Sharing knowledge and transferring skills is fundamental among fisheries to meet standards for safety, sustainability and equity. Recognising this, IPNLF published the Guidelines for Improving Knowledge Sharing Among Fishers – a tool for fisheries globally that want to share or acquire skills and expertise to improve their practices.
All of this work (and more!) would not be possible without the valued support of our Members, funders and partners. So, on behalf of the IPNLF staff and Trustees, we say a huge and heartfelt thank you, and look forward to seeing what 2019 will bring.
