MSC pre-assesment made public

Participant list confirmed

Updated 2024 Workplan

Workplan made public

Position statement written on behalf of the FIP to the ICCAT 24th Special Meeting of the Commission in November.

Grand Bleu updated FAD management policy to using 100% fully non-entangling FADs.

The FIP has amended its FAD management policy to disclose that they are now using 100% fully non-entangling FADs in their vessel operations.

The FIP has produced position statements ahead of the October ICCAT Virtual Meeting.

The FIP has amended its FAD management policy to disclose that they are now using a combination of lower-entangling and fully non-entangling materials rather than fully non-entangling; the company plans to transition entirely to fully non-entangling materials by the start of 2024.

Installation of EM systems onboard FIP vessels is underway.

The FIP produced a waste management questionnaire for Capsen and Grand Bleu to complete in order to learn more about their current waste management strategies and the estimated weight of the waste that is produced by the FIP vessels. The FIP also conducted a site visit to Senegal to discuss the plans for the waste management policy.

The FIP has updated its Fins Naturally Attached policy which highlights and clarifies that shark finning in the fishery is prohibited and sharks must be landed with their fins naturally attached.

Capsen and Satlink have signed an agreement to initiate the installation of EM systems onboard the FIP vessels.

Capsen has made their current FAD policy available

The FIP continues to lobby ICCAT and has produced position statements ahead of the May 2022 Panel 1 meeting and plenary meeting planned for November 2022. 

The FIP has held meetings with the Guniea and Liberian Fisheries Ministries to request data/ information about the (P3) management practices and policies in place in the coastal states.

A formal observer training session was conducted and observers were educated on the importance of recording species-specific data; topics discussed included the proper recording of individual weights and the condition of the individual upon release. 

A position statement has been written, reviewed, and sent to ICCAT; the statement asks for the development of re-building strategies and recommends a precautionary TAC for bigeye tuna at <61,500t.

African Coastal Countries' signed signatory statement; the signatory states compliance with an initiative to maintain FAD closures for three months and set a limit on the number of FADs to 300 per vessel.

Draft report on principle III made available; Key Traceability prepared a report to review the coastal states associated with the fishery, against the MSC standard to address the actions listed under Principle 3.

Stock assessment meeting was held to discuss the new stock assessment that was conducted for bigeye in 2021; assessment data has been made available within the meeting report.

FAD performance report made available which outlines the progress of the FAD implementation across the FIP. 

Ecological trap hypothesis of FADs study completed

The FIP has collected catch data representing the landings of six vessels between 2016 and 2020.

The FIP produced a position statement to the ICCAT ahead of the annual meeting (which has now been cancelled) advocating for stock status and rebuilding for Atlantic bigeye. 

A FAD Policy of Intent has been agreed by all stakeholders. 

Increase to PI 2.2.1 2.2.3, 2.3.2 & 2.3.3; The FIP trained 30 new observers to record catch information and an analysis was produced based on their data from the 2023- 2024 season. Catch information about secondary and ETP species is now available. 

The FIP has installed electric monitoring systems across the fleet. 

The FIP has produced and updated its Sustainable Fisheries Policy which now includes a new shark finning policy that prohibits finning across all vessels.

Senegalese observer program now using e-catch reporting via catch data templates which have been installed on the Samsung tablets (change in practice)

The FIP has adopted a FAD policy on the use of non-entangling and biodegradable FADs.

Increase to PI 2.2.1; The FIP trained 30 new observers to record catch information and an analysis was produced based on their data from the 2023- 2024 season. Catch information and the bycatch rate of secondary species is now available.