New information material on management procedures - long-term, pre-agreed, and science-based fishery management approaches - is now available on HarvestStrategies.org, an interactive knowledge hub aimed at demonstrating how harvest strategies can lead to more sustainable and profitable fisheries.

The new material includes an animated video that explains how management procedures work in the real world, by walking viewers through their over-time implementation and review cycle.

An infographic explains the puzzle pieces that form the management procedure, including reference points, performance indicators, management strategy evaluation and harvest control rules.

Additionally, the latest edition of a series of quarterly webinars outlines the benefits of fully specified harvest strategies or management procedures

.All the material has been produced by The Ocean Foundation and made available on HarvestStrategies.org, a knowledge hub dedicated to promoting management procedures, also known as harvest strategies, and to demonstrating how their implementation leads to sustainable use of tuna stocks in line and contributes to profitable fisheries and successful management worldwide.

Management procedures ensure that fisheries stocks are sustainably managed according to the precautionary approach. Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) increasingly adopt these strategies globally, but their timely development and practical implementation remain challenging. To facilitate the transition to harvest strategy-based management, a solid understanding of what they are and how to implement them is needed among all involved, including managers, fisheries scientists, and stakeholders.

Developed and operated by The Ocean Foundation with support from the Common Oceans Tuna project and The Pew Charitable Trusts, HarvestStrategies.org aims to facilitate the adaptation of harvest strategy-based management, with a particular focus on tuna RFMOs, by ensuring that managers, fisheries scientists, and stakeholders understand harvest strategies and how they can be implemented.

The Common Oceans Tuna project brings together a global partnership dedicated to sustainable tuna fisheries aiming to advance responsible tuna fisheries management and biodiversity conservation in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), it works in collaboration with five regional tuna fisheries management organizations, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, and civil society.

The Ocean Foundation is the only community foundation for the ocean. Its International Fisheries Conservation project seeks to catalyze the development and adoption of harvest strategies and other innovative tools for the long-term sustainable management of diverse international fisheries, from giant tunas to the forage fish upon which they depend.

About the Common Oceans Program 

The Common Oceans Program is a global partnership funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), promoting sustainable fisheries and conservation of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). Led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Program brings together the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), regional fisheries management organizations, national governments, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, civil society and academia.  

For more information, please contact Qingqing Wang (Qingqing.Wang@fao.org), visit the project page on iwlearn.net or the project website. 

Words by Maarten Roest.