Assessing progress in data reporting by tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations

Tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are responsible for conservation
and sustainable management of transboundary tuna resources in Exclusive
Economic Zones and Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ). The data collected
and analyses performed by tuna RFMOs are one of the main sources of scientific
information supporting the management, sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity
in the ABNJ. An understanding of the scope and availability of data provided
by tuna RFMOs is timely, given the expected establishment of a new legally binding
high seas agreement to protect marine biodiversity in the ABNJ. We examined official
catch statistics and stock assessments that are accessible in the public domain for the
five tuna RFMOs, and evaluated their taxonomic, spatial and temporal resolution. We
found that the Atlantic and Indian Ocean tuna RFMOs report catches for a greater
number of taxa compared to Pacific RFMOs. There are substantial gaps in the taxonomic
resolution of sharks and rays and ‘other teleosts’, and only about half of the
reported global catches are georeferenced, despite existing mandatory requirements.
Additionally, the estimation and reporting of discards in all tuna RFMOs remains incomplete.
Tuna RFMOs have made progress in implementing stock assessments for
a wide range of taxa including targeted species with high economic value but also
functionally important non-target
species with lower economic value. However, assessments
should be expanded to cover other bycatch species. We emphasize the
importance of accessible and accurate statistics, for supporting the research and societal
oversight needed under any future ABNJ biodiversity treaty.