Preserve the resource

Recommendations following TUPA's Manifesto:

• Prioritise a supply from non-overexploited stocks and proceed to a volume reduction plan in the case of overexploited stocks.
• The evolution of the stocks will be taken into account in the application of this commitment.
• We may consider sourcing from stocks currently overexploited if a management plan following the recommendations of the RFMO Scientific Committees is put in place or if the stock under consideration is engaged in a Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP).
• Curb the use of the most impactful fishing methods by putting in place plans to reduce supplies from Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), by diversifying fishing techniques (pole and line fishing, free school fishing), and in the case of using FADs, by requiring that they are non-entangling.
• Supply from suppliers who themselves ensure that their supplies come from fleets implementing best practices, particularly in the traceability of fishing methods, fight against illegal fishing and bycatch, the presence of observers on board, and respect for working conditions.

Fight illegal fishing

In order to fight against illegal fishing, we will ensure that the boats we supply from:

• are not on an official RFMO blacklist;
• are registered with their RFMO with a unique IMO number when their dimensions allow for it;
• do not carry out transshipments, or, if they are authorized, they must be documented.

Respect workers' rights

Likewise, TUPA demands that the working conditions of the whole sector satisfy at minimum the fundamental conventions of the International Labor Organisation.

Transparency

Once every two years, TUPA conducts a mapping exercise of all TUPA members' canned tuna supply chains back to the fishing vessels. On top of bringing increased transparency and understanding of value chains, it also aims to measure progress on TUPA KPIs and monitor TUPA commitments.

The data collected is aggregated and anonymised by Earthworm prior to conducting any group analysis. Each TUPA member is also getting an individual analysis of its supply chains.

The last mapping exercise was conducted in 2022.

The results showed that :

- 86% of the TUPA volumes are coming from healthy tuna stocks.

- 85% of the TUPA volumes are characterised as low social risks.

- However, 62% of the TUPA volumes come from FAD fishing, considered a high-impact fishing method.

In 2023, as most TUPA volumes come from FAD fisheries, a deeper study on this type of fishery will be conducted. The aim is to understand and assess the practices and favour supplies from the fleets implementing best practices.

In 2023, the manifesto will be revised and updated. Key performance indicators will be developed to measure progress and publicly report results.

Monitoring

Last year, TUPA worked with OceanMind to conduct a multi-level analysis on a sample of fishing vessels supplying TUPA. Using satellites and artificial intelligence, the objective was to ensure supply chains are free of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fish. Ocean Mind studied the vessels' trajectories, thanks to the automated identification system (AIS) signals and highlighted any suspicious behaviours detected in a report.

The TUPA decided to focus on addressing 3 types of risks detected by Ocean Mind:
- Transshipment
- Fishing activity in EEZ with no fishing agreement to be known
- Fishing activity at night during a FAD moratorium

The risk verification process asks shipowners to provide documentary evidence such as logbooks, transhipment receipts and fishing licences.

These elements will ensure robust traceability and integrity of product claims related to tuna catch.
TUPA has also partnered with Global Fishing Watch to work on automating the TUPA vessel monitoring in real-time and participating in testing a risk detection model for forced labour at sea.

This year, TUPA will work again with our partner OceanMind to conduct a multi-level analysis on a sample of fishing vessels supplying TUPA. Using satellites and artificial intelligence, the objective is to ensure supply chains are free of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fish. The process is first to verify the vessels' identity compared to the declarative data collected during the mapping exercise and then their activity at sea. OceanMind will study their trajectories for the latest, thanks to the automated identification system (AIS) signals. These elements will ensure robust traceability and integrity of product claims related to tuna catch.

TUPA will also remain attentive to any new development in the area of monitoring slave labour at sea and will welcome any opportunity to trial or use any new tool.

Advocacy

As a coalition of companies representing the French and Belgian markets, advocacy actions are key to ensuring the market players asks are considered. We also believe common actions are more impactful than individual ones.

The TUPA will continue to participate in the NGOTunaForum. This coalition brings together more than 30 NGOs, individuals, and organisations that work comprehensively on global tuna sustainability issues. With the help of this network, the group identified the main asks for all the tuna RFMOs (Regional fisheries management organisations). As a representative of the French and Belgian markets voice, the TUPA is part of the Market Activation Working Group.

This year, TUPA will focus advocacy on the IOTC because of the alarming state of the yellowfin tuna stock in the Indian Ocean. A common action is led alongside the GTA and WWF to increase the market pressure on the IOTC.

The main asks are :
- to reduce the total catches of yellowfin tuna
- to agree on a management plan that would allow the stock to be rebuilt
- a revision of the IOTC treaty to prevent the spurious use of objections that usually diminish the effectiveness of resolutions.

Also, the TUPA aims to reinforce its RFMO advocacy through participation in RFMO sessions, LDAC meetings, direct exchanges with relevant delegations, and communication on social media (Linkedin). Last year, the TUPA conducted more than 4 advocacy actions, some in partnership with the Global Tuna Alliance, an independent group of UK retailers and supply-chain companies.Again in 2023, the market’s voice will be heard to drive tuna sustainability!

Knowledge

This year, two topics will be studied through synthetic study. As such, TUPA members will take a deeper dive into understanding the functioning of the four tuna RFMOs: their organization, strength and weaknesses, priorities and perspectives, and looking further into the recent update of the MSC standard.

The TUPA pays attention to reporting to its members important news and alerts. A monthly newsletter is shared, and the TUPA keeps discussing with stakeholders linked to the tuna sector.