This analysis, prepared by Kerrie Robertson and Holly Koehler, benchmarks the transshipment measures adopted by the five tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) against the 2022 FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Transshipment.
The analysis finds that no tuna RFMO has yet fully implemented the FAO Guidelines. Among the five organizations, ICCAT and CCSBT demonstrate the highest levels of alignment, while IATTC, IOTC, and WCPFC have achieved strong implementation in several areas but still have varying opportunities for improvement.
Across all tuna RFMOs, the assessment identifies common gaps in the implementation of risk-based approaches, documentation and reporting requirements, and verification and monitoring measures. To support ongoing improvements and assist RFMOs in progressing towards full implementation of the FAO Guidelines, the analysis informs the development of RFMO-specific implementation checklists (Annex 1) and identifies additional data fields that would better align existing RFMO transshipment declarations with the FAO Guidelines (Annex 2).
Suggested citation: K. Robertson & H. Koehler. 2026. Benchmarking Tuna RFMO At-Sea Transshipment Measures Against the 2022 FAO Voluntary Guidelines: A Comprehensive Analysis. ISSF Technical Report 2026-02. International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
