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Skipjack tuna. (Copyright: FIS)
WWF, Govts and private sector seek to boost Eastern Atlantic Ocean tuna fishery
(GHANA, 7/13/2017)
The Governments of the Republic of Ghana and of the Republic of Ivory Coast, together with WWF, Thai Union Europe and other processing companies, purse seine fleets and their associations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a new tuna Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean.
This initiative is intended to ensure the fishery will meet the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard, allowing it to be certified as being well-managed and sustainable.
The FIP will focus on three key areas: healthy fish stocks, minimal and reversible impact on ecosystems, and effective management of fisheries.
The project will ensure that best practices are adhered to and will cover the catches of skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna from purse seine vessels. Furthermore, it will also support the recovery plan of the two commercial large tuna species in the region, yellowfin and bigeye tuna as well as ensuring the resolutions and recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) are followed and adhered to with regards to the management of skipjack.
The partners in the FIP will work closely with fishing authorities of both Ghana and Ivory Coast, and potentially other neighbouring West African coastal nations, to improve the governance of fisheries in the region.
In consultation with WWF, the signatories of the MoU will begin work immediately to develop a work plan to implement the tuna FIP. The work plan will outline the major activities, improvement areas, course of action and key performance indicators that all partners will have to commit to achieve within the five year timeframe of the FIP.
Working with WWF, fishery managers will use tools developed by the MSC to identify and track areas for improvement for the fishery to meet the MSC Standard. The MSC Fisheries Standard is based on UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries which provides the main guidelines for sustainable fishing, minimising environmental impact and ensuring effective management.
“Ghana has significant and valuable fish stocks and a strong tradition and culture of fishing, and as many as 2.2 million people are dependent on the fisheries sector for their livelihoods. As most of Ghana’s fish resources are heavily exploited, we have taken active steps to overcome the issue,” stressed Elizabeth Naa Afoley Quaye, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Republic of Ghana.
The minister explained that the implementation of the Eastern Atlantic Ocean tuna FIP demonstrates their commitment to improving the sustainable management of fish and aquatic resources in the West Africa sub-region.
For her part, Tracy Cambridge, Fisheries and Seafood Manager, WWF UK, highlighted that ensuring the sustainability of tuna stocks in the Eastern Atlantic is important for livelihoods and the entire ocean ecosystem and that this collaboration between industry, governments and other stakeholders with the shared vision of improving the target stock health, ecosystem health and management of the fishery makes this initiative truly exciting.
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media
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