The Global Tuna Alliance has today joined 85 other organisations in calling on RFMO delegates to effectively address three core elements: Stock and Ecosystem Management, Information and Data, and Transparency, in 2020 to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks.

The companies that have signed this letter represent major seafood buyers that source seafood products from a diverse, international supply network. The non-governmental organizations work in more than 100 countries and engage suppliers and provide advice to retailers, buyers and food service companies regarding improvements in tuna sustainability. The fishing industry associations represent a variety of gear types, including purse seine, longline, troll, pole and line, and handline vessels active in tuna fisheries worldwide.

Specifically, the signatories believe accelerated actions can and must be achieved on the following priorities in 2020:

Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC):
Adoption of a robust conservation management measure that is precautionary and based on
scientific advice to limit fishing pressure on yellowfin & bigeye tunas.

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC):
Adopt an effective rebuilding plan for yellowfin tuna that fully implements the 2015 Science
Committee advice, takes all gears/fleets harvesting yellowfin into account, and addresses
overfishing by 2027.

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT):
Protect shortfin mako sharks by heeding scientists’ warnings about North Atlantic depletion and
South Atlantic imminent risk.

Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC):
Accelerate action on comprehensive, precautionary strategies across all tuna stocks by 2021 that
minimize the risk of stock declining to undesirable levels.

We believe these measures will positively impact the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks and the overall
health of the marine ecosystem.