February 24, 2022

WWF guns for regional sustainability for yellowfin tuna stocks in the West and Central Pacific

  • a boat sets sail off the coasts of lagonoy gulf
    A boat sets sail off the coasts of Lagonoy Gulf. On board are the Sustainable Tuna Partnership projects’ partner yellowfin tuna fishers. The project has embarked on its latest endeavor this February. Photograph © WWF-Philippines
  • a multinational team made up of representatives from across the tuna supply chain makes up the stp 2 team
    A multinational team made up of representatives from across the tuna supply chain makes up the STP 2 team as they push for the sustainability of yellowfin stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. Photograph © WWF-Philippines
  • the stp 2 team advocates both for the livelihoods of small scale tuna fishers
    The STP 2 team advocates both for the livelihoods of small-scale tuna fishers, as well as the conservation of marine resources in the WCPO. Photograph © WWF-Philippines

The WWF Network goes regional in its effort to safeguard yellowfin tuna stocks through its latest project.

Launched this February, the Sustainable Tuna Partnership 2 project will be lobbying for improved yellowfin tuna fishery management across the Western Central Pacific. Countries involved in the effort include China, the Philippines, Indonesia and Germany.

The Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) is a region that encompasses Asian and Micronesian nations located in or along the Pacific. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is a trans-national organization that oversees the management of fishery resources in the region.

Fishers across the WCPO share the same stock of yellowfin tuna. The Philippines is among the countries that rely on this stock, with thousands of Filipino fishers depending on yellowfin tuna for their livelihoods.

Should the shared tuna stock be damaged or depleted, many nations in the WCPO will be adversely affected.

A multinational approach is needed to safeguard the WCPO yellowfin tuna stock. By working with neighboring countries in the region, WWF-Philippines hopes to ensure the stocks’ sustainability.

“Fish recognize no geopolitical boundaries. We need regional, cross-boundary efforts if we wish to arrive at true sustainability for our fisheries,” said STP 2 Project Manager Joann Binondo.

The new project comes at the conclusion of WWF-Philippines’ Sustainable Tuna Partnership project. Similar in name, the project sought to uplift the livelihoods of Filipino handline tuna fishers.

Through the STP project, WWF-Philippines helped fishers secure certification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in a historic first for handline fishers in the Philippines. MSC Certification recognizes fisheries that are working towards environmental sustainability while opening small-scale fishers to wider markets.

STP 2 will continue supporting local handline fishers while lobbying for better management of the WCPO yellowfin tuna stock.

“Protecting our shared seascape is what will uplift everyone’s livelihoods well into the future, from our small-scale fishers to the biggest companies. We need to safeguard our shared resources,” added Binondo.

STP 2 will run from 2022-2024.

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For more information, please contact:

  • Ms. Joann Binondo

    Overall Project Manager

    Sustainable Tuna Partnership (STP)

    jbinondo@wwf.org.ph

  • Ms. Chezka Guevarra

    Assistant Manager | External Communications and Ambassador Programs

    cguevarra@wwf.org.ph

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF-Philippines has been successfully implementing various conservation projects to help protect some of the most biologically-significant ecosystems in Asia since its establishment as the 26th national organization of the WWF network in 1997.

About Sustainable Tuna Partnership

Sustainable Tuna Project 2, more commonly known as STP 2, is a WWF project that succeeds the efforts of STP 1 and the Partnership Program Toward Sustainable Tuna.

Its efforts are aimed to promote tuna sustainability by empowering small-scale yellowfin tuna fishers and improving tuna fisheries management in Bicol and Occidental Mindoro. Learn more about the key outcomes of STP 2 here.