FishSource

Eastern Pacific Ocean tuna - purse seine (Marpesca) (FIP)

Access FIP Public Report

Last Updated: 2023-09-20

Progress Rating: A

Evaluation Start Date: 2019-10-31

Type: Comprehensive

Status: Active

FIP Lead: Key Traceability (KT)

Stock Profile Link
Yellowfin tuna - Eastern Pacific Ocean
Skipjack tuna - Eastern Pacific Ocean
Bigeye tuna - Eastern Pacific Ocean

Comments:

Last stage 4 reported within the past 12 months; FIP remains A rated

1. FIP Development	Oct 19	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 31 October 2019 — MSC pre-assessment made public 31 October 2019 — MSC preassesment made public
2. FIP Launch	Oct 19	Confirmation of project participants 31 October 2019 — Participants list available
2. FIP Launch	Oct 19	Workplan made public 31 October 2019 — Workplan made public
3. FIP Implementation	Jul 23	FIP activities undertaken 1 July 2023 — The FIP reached out to the IATTC, ARAP, and INAPESCA with letters seeking observer data for vessels included in the FIP. 1 July 2023 — The FIP produced a position statement ahead of the 2023 IATTC annual meeting 1 July 2022 — FIP is scheduled to hold a meeting with ARAP for a site visit in Panama; agenda has been made available. 1 July 2022 — FIP is scheduled to hold a meeting with ARAP for a site visit in Panama; agenda has been made available. 1 June 2022 — P1 update report produced; stock status is considered to be in good condition. The report suggests undergoing a full stock assessment to verfiy the results from the interim assessment. 1 June 2022 — A proposed budget has been developed for the biodegradeable FAD trial project 1 June 2022 — A 6-month FIP activity update report has been made available; a diagram of the jellyFAD design is included in report. 1 May 2022 — FIP submitted position statement ahead of the 100th annual meeting of the IATTC 1 March 2022 — P3 update report produced; in March 2021, Panamanian law 204 was established, regulating fishing and aquaculture practices 1 December 2021 — As of December 2021, a proposed ToR review is in the process of being drafted 2 October 2021 — FIP involved with a recently published jellyfish FAD study which will contribute to the development of biodegradeable FADs 1 July 2021 — FIP sent out advocacy letters detailing their needs before the August 2021 IATTC meeting. 1 June 2021 — The FIP has been part of the Pacific dFAD Retrieval Feasibility Study run by SPC; The report identifies and evaluate options for reducing dFAD loss and abandonment and thus the ecosystem impacts linked to it 1 October 2020 — The literature on the 'ecological trap hypothesis' of FADs on behavior, feeding and migration of key elements of the ecosystem has been reviewed 1 September 2020 — The FIP has requested human observer data from the flag states in the FIP and is awaiting a response 1 June 2020 — Discussions with the Pacific Ocean tropical tuna - purse seine (US Pacific Tuna Group) FIP have begun on how the FIPs can align their actions and advocacy 1 June 2020 — Advocacy letters sent to IATTC delegates prior to November Commission meeting. 1 April 2020 — Shark finning and ETP bycatch mitigation policy has been introduced to be accepted by the fleet 1 April 2020 — A FAD policy has been adopted by the fleet; All the vessels in the FIP are listed on the ISSF PVR and are therefore using non-entangling or less risk entangling FADs
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Sep 22	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 September 2022 — Increase to PI score 2.3.2; Three-year audit has been conducted- The FIP has implemented improved ETP management through the use of non-entangling FADs and skipper training education on ETP handling. 1 September 2021 — Increase to PI 1.2.2; Resolutions C-20-05 and C-20-06 have introduced new conservation measures and data relating to harvest control rules
5. Improvements on the Water	—	Verifiable improvement on the water 1 September 2022 — Increase to PI 2.5.1; Three-year audit conducted- the ecosystem is identified to be in good condition 1 September 2022 — Increase reported to PI 2.3.1; Three-year audit conducted- interactions with ETP are minimal
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public