Swordfish
Nero di Sole
Species scientific name: Xiphias gladius
FAO area: 34
Fishing method: Long line
Tropic Fishery (PVT) LTD
Species scientific name: Xiphias gladius
FAO area: 57
Fishing method: Long line
Basic description of the fleet/fishery
Fishery client: TROPIC FISHERY (PVT) LTD, Sri Lanka.
Fishing area: FAO 57, Indian Ocean.
Fishing vessels: The Company has a fleet of 16 vessels.
Vessels audited remotely: Li-IMUL-A-0036CBO; Li-IMUL-A-0046MTR; Li-IMUL-A-0068TCO; Li-IMUL-A-0098MTR.
Fishing method: Long line.
Certified species: scientific name / common name
Xiphias gladius / Swordfish.
Management summary
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development (MFARD) is the agency that manage fisheries in Sri Lanka. Fisheries activities are planned, administrated and monitored under the guidance of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR). In addition, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), an intergovernmental organisation, is responsible for the management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean. Fisheries management organisations are held annually, along with intermittent meetings with the scientific committee meeting, technical committee meeting and compliance committee meeting.
Stock status summary
Data from the lasted IOTC assessment reported that most of Sri Lanka’s fishing vessels are artisanal (< 24m). In addition, it reported that catches from the main fleet of Sri Lanka correspond to 13%, the stock is not overfished and it is not subject to overfishing. The organisation buys 100% of its purchase from small fishing vessels.
Bycatch / discards
The fishing gear used is the Deep-set Long line, which reduces the by-catch percentage. The logbook is used in all vessels and data are available on the DFAR and IOTC website. Evidence of minimal by-catch (targeted as incidental catch; there is no records of turtles and sharks). All fish caught, including by-catch and discards, are used for human consumption.
Habitat Impact
Currently, encouraged by government actions to reduce gill net fishing, most of the fishing are done by Long line. This fishing method has been selected so that the endangered species is not caught (> 100m depth Longline Deep-set). No degradation of seabed.
Social Accountability performance
The fleet complies with the human rights and Srilankan regulations.
Conclusion with reasons for approval
The fleet complies with Friend of the Sea requirements, without any major non-conformities.
JP Fresh Products
Species scientific names: Xiphias gladius
FAO area: 57
Fishing method: long line
John Seafood
Species scientific names: Xiphias gladius
FAO area: 57
Fishing method: long line
Transmarina C.A.
Species scientific name: Xiphias gladius
FAO area: 87
Fishing method: Purse seine and long line
Ecuador – Purse seine, Long line – Xiphias gladius – FAO 87 (Pacific, Southeast)
Fishery client: TRANSMARINA C.A.
Website: www.transmarina.com
Fishing area: FAO 87, Southeast Pacific.
Fishing vessels: The Company has a fleet of 9 vessels.
Vessels audited on site as fleet samples: P-04-00575; P-04-00747; P-04-00827; P-04-00811; P-04-00826; P-04-00853; P-04-00822; P-04-00796; P-04-00788.
Fishing method: Purse seine and Long line.
Certified species: Scientific name: Xiphias gladius;
Common name: Sword.
Management summary
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries of Ecuador (MAGAP) through its subsidiary unit, the Secretariat of Fisheries Resources (Subsecretaría de Recursos Pesqueros, SRP), is the government agency that manages fisheries in Ecuador. The SRP has offices in the main ports of Ecuador, where the tasks of inspection, control and monitoring of fishing activities are regularly conducted at landing harbors. SRP regulates fishing activity by allocating fishing permits both, fishers and vessels, by establishing fishing periods and bans, and by regulating fishing gears, tools, and fishing zones.
Stock status summary
According to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), Swordfish stocks are healthy in the northeastern Pacific and southeastern Pacific. The stocks are not overfished. In addition, the spawning biomass ratio (SBR) is ~1.45, substantially above the level that is expected to produce catch at the level of maximum sustainable yield (MSY).
Bycatch / discards
The fishery is selective and the fishing gear is among the tools applied to prevent accidental catches. There is no evidence of small species, as well as the fishing gear prevents the capture of species less than 1.8kg. The level of discards is 6% of the total catch.
Habitat Impact
According to the auditor, there is no Marine Protected Areas in FAO area 87. The fishery occurs 200 miles from the shore and data fleet is recorded in the logbook. The fishing gears have no hooks and are used in at depths that do not allow damage to the seabed.
Social Accountability performance
The fleet complies with the human rights and Ecuadorian labour regulations.
Conclusion with reasons for approval
The fleet complies with Friend of the Sea requirements, without any non-conformity.
Casa Botas Vda.De J. Martinez Blasco S.L
Species scientific name: Xiphias gladius
FAO area: 27
Fishing method: Long line
Lung Soon Fishery Co. Ltd.
Species scientific names:
Thunnus albacares, Thunnus obesus, Thunnus alalunga, Xiphias gladius
FAO areas: 61 – 71 – 77
Fishing method: Longline
Fishery client: Lung Soon Fishery Co. Ltd.
Fishing area: FAO Areas 61 – 71 – 77
Fishing vessels: CT7-0544 – IMO 9184005; CT7-0575 – IMO 8648614; CT7-0541 – IMO 9198147
Fishing method: Longline
Certified species: Scientific name / Common name
Thunnus albacares / Yellowfin tuna
Thunnus obesus / Bigeye tuna
Thunnus alalunga / Albacore tuna
Xiphias gladius / Swordfish
Management summary
The fishery is managed under the framework of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), the Regional Fisheries Management Organization responsible for the conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
The WCPFC fisheries management system is participatory and transparent. Management decisions are adopted during regular Commission meetings where member countries participate in discussions and decision-making processes.
The WCPFC Rules of Procedure define how Commission meetings are conducted, how members participate in decision-making, and how observers may attend meetings. The procedures allow participation from member states and accredited observer organizations, including stakeholders from the fishing industry and scientific community.
Meeting reports, conservation and management measures, and other relevant documents are publicly available through the WCPFC website, ensuring transparency and stakeholder participation in the fisheries management system.
Stock status summary
WCPFC has developed reports on the stock status of the audited species:
WCPO Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus Albacares) – Stock Status And Management Advice (Sc19 2023 – Stock Assessment Conducted):
The stock is not experiencing overfishing and is not in an overfished condition.
WCPO Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus Obesus) – Stock Status And Management Advice (Sc19 2023 – Stock Assessment Conducted): The stock is very likely not experiencing overfishing and is not in an overfished condition.
WCPO Albacore Tuna (Thunnus Alalunga) – Stock Status And Management Advice (Sc19 2023 – Stock Assessment Conducted):
The stock is likely not overfished and is likely not experiencing overfishing.
WCPO swordfish (Xiphias gladius) – stock status and management advice (sc19 2023 – stock assessment conducted):
For the stock, overfishing is very likely not occurring, and the NP SWO stock is very likely not overfished.
Bycatch/discards
The use of circle hooks is a measure to reduce the capture of non-target species (e.g., sea turtles, sharks) and to minimize discards.
The auditor viewed Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs) and Resolutions of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), which contain management measures regarding bycatch.
The fishing vessels record catch, bycatch and discard information for each fishing trip through logbooks and reporting systems required by the fisheries management authorities.
Habitat Impact
Scientific data and information regarding ecosystem impacts of fisheries are collected and evaluated through international and national fisheries management systems.
Ecosystem assessments consider impacts on non-target species, Endangered, Threatened, and Protected (ETP) species, habitats, and food web interactions. These assessments are based on fisheries statistics, stock assessments, scientific research, and monitoring programs.
Relevant scientific methodologies and results are publicly available through international organizations such as FAO and national fisheries research institutions.
The certified fishing unit operates using pelagic longline fishing gear, which targets highly migratory tuna species in the open ocean.
This fishing method operates in the mid-water column and does not involve contact with the seabed. Therefore, the fishing gear used by the unit of certification does not cause physical damage to seabed habitats such as coral reefs, seamount ecosystems, or other vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs).
Social Accountability performance
The fleet complies with human rights and labour regulations.
