The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved a project led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) that aims to improve the management of tuna fisheries and conserve marine biodiversity and ecosystems by reducing illegal catch.
5 November 2013: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved a project led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) that aims to improve the management of tuna fisheries and conserve marine biodiversity and ecosystems by reducing illegal catch.
In the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) program, the FAO will coordinate efforts by public and private sector partners to foster the uptake of best fishing practices; the reduction of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing through monitoring, control and surveillance; and the reduction of the impacts of unintended and excessive “by-catch” of non-targeted species.
According to the GEF, the work is particularly necessary given that tunas and tuna-like species are the most valuable fishery resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and that one-third of the world’s seven major tuna species are overexploited. To date, $30 million of GEF grants in this area have leveraged more than $150 million in co-financing around improved fisheries.
The sustainable management of tuna fisheries project is complemented by related projects focusing on deep-sea ecosystems, the Ocean Partnership Facility, and global capacity to manage areas beyond national jurisdictions. Partners in the tuna project include the World Wildlife Fund, the five tuna Regional Fishery Management Organizations, and numerous governmental and civil society organizations. [FAO Press Release] [ABJN Project Description] [GEF Press Release] [UN News]