Leading experts in tuna fisheries bycatch met at FAO headquarters in Rome at the end of January to discuss challenges and explore solutions at a workshop hosted by FAO’s Common Oceans Tuna Project, prepared in collaboration with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). 

“Bycatch is a challenge that impacts us all, and addressing it requires our collective effort,” said Vera Agostini, FAO’s Deputy Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture, adding that “the implications extend beyond environmental concerns; they also touch upon economic and social dimensions, particularly for communities that rely on sustainable fisheries for livelihoods and food security.” 

The three-day workshop provided an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, as well as exchange experiences between scientists working in each of the world’s five tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). “When we think of tuna fisheries, our focus often falls on target species, but the unintended capture of non-target species—such as sharks, marine mammals, turtles, and seabirds—is a pressing issue” said Nathan Taylor, Bycatch Coordinator with ICCAT. “This meeting is a great opportunity for scientists to share information on how to improve outcomes related to bycatch in the world’s tuna fisheries.” 

The meeting brought together nearly 50 marine scientists and researchers, from fisheries organizations, government institutions and NGOs working in the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Southern oceans to characterize bycatch in tuna fisheries, and to seek actionable solutions across different tuna fisheries worldwide. Topics presented at the workshop ranged from strategies to avoid bycatch and modeling to quantify potential bycatch impacts, to technical modifications of fishing gear to reduce bycatch, as well as safe-handling and release practices to maximize post-release survival of non-target species. 

Building on progress made in previous meetings held in 2019, the workshop examined the drivers, challenges, and benefits of bycatch management to identify key elements for inclusion in planning, including actions currently being implemented, and to consider approaches for guiding future implementation in tuna-RFMOs.  

About the Common Oceans Tuna project

The Common Oceans Tuna project is a global partnership that aims to advance responsible tuna fisheries management and biodiversity conservation in the ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by FAO, it works in collaboration with the five regional tuna fisheries management organizations, intergovernmental organizations, national governments, civil society, and the private sector. 

About ICCAT 

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is a tuna regional fishery management organisation responsible for the management and conservation of tuna and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas. 

Related content: https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/5de337ed-faeb-4651-b16f-55fe1a5f40ba

For more information, please contact: Hilary Clarke, Common Oceans Communications Officer (hilary.clarke@fao.org)

Words by Hilary Clarke. Cover photo - Hammerhead shark caught in net, Hawaii. Photo credit: OceanImageBank_TobyMatthews_32