New signatories include the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Panama.
© David Itano
The Nature Conservancy has confirmed the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Panama have joined its global initiative, the Tuna Transparency Pledge, which tackles unsustainable and illegal tuna fishing practices at sea.
Therefore, these countries commit to achieving 100% on-the-water monitoring across all industrial tuna fishing vessels within their jurisdictions or supply chains by 2027.
According to The Nature Conservancy, a total of six signatory countries—including Belize and the Federated States of Micronesia, which joined the pledge in April 2024—represent more than 15% of the global tuna catch.
"These nations control some of the world's most productive tuna fishing waters, and their commitment to 100% monitoring coverage sends a powerful signal that transparency and accountability are becoming the new standard for responsible tuna fishing," noted Ben Gilmer, Director of Large-Scale Fisheries at The Nature Conservancy.
Tuna is one of the most widely traded seafood commodities in the world, yet it has some of the lowest levels of verification, and its fisheries are responsible for some of the highest impacts on marine ecosystems.
Because tuna migrates thousands of miles across dozens of territories, international cooperation is needed to effectively manage and monitor stocks, says The Nature Conservancy.
In the same line, the Organization of Associated Producers of Large Freezer Tuna Vessels in Spain (OPAGAC, by its Spanish acronym) denounced the "progressive" displacement from its traditional fishing grounds in the Eastern Atlantic, due to the expansion of Asian fleets flying the flags of third-party African countries, which not meet the EU's quality and sustainability standards.
"The Tuna Transparency Pledge is uniquely powerful because it brings together governments, industry, and the NGO community in a shared commitment to elevate transparency at sea," confirmed Susan Jackson, President of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation.
Moreover, electronic monitoring, which uses onboard video cameras, GPS, and sensors, along with human observers, will help achieve sustainable tuna management and level the playing field for the many law-abiding fishers around the world.
The release comes amid growing global momentum for ocean protection, including efforts to implement the Global Plastics Treaty and High Seas Treaty, and shortly before the United Nations Ocean Conference takes place in Nice, France, from 9-13 June.
Last week, the European Union and a further six member states formally ratified the High Seas treaty, taking the tally to 28 out of the 60 ratifications needed for the legislation to enter into force.
Furthermore, UN Global Compact and the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) have launched the Ocean Investment Protocol, a new framework designed to help drive investment into a "Sustainable Ocean Economy" projected to be worth $5.5 trillion by 2050.
"For island nations like ours, the ocean is everything—our livelihood, our culture, our future. By requiring 100% monitoring on tuna vessels, we are protecting not just fish stocks, but the marine environment that sustains our communities and our way of life," expressed the Director of the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority, Glen Joseph.
Additionally, Palau Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment Steven Victor, noted: "Palau has long been a leader in marine conservation, and the Tuna Transparency Pledge is a natural extension of our commitment to protecting our ocean heritage. This initiative will help ensure that tuna fishing in our region operates with the transparency and accountability our pristine waters deserve."
Finally, the Deputy Administrator General of the Panama Maritime Authority (ARAP), Gerardo Irimia Arosemena, indicated: "As a major gateway for global tuna trade, Panama recognizes our responsibility to ensure transparency and sustainability in our waters. By joining the Tuna Transparency Pledge, we are demonstrating our commitment to combating illegal fishing and protecting marine ecosystems that are vital to both our economy and our planet's health."
