Bycatch Mitigation and Handling

Bycatch and discards in fisheries have become a serious issue in recent years, both because of their very real impact, particularly on sensitive species, and because of consumers’ increasing awareness, which creates demand for sustainable seafood choices. In addition to this being a major issue for the tuna-buying public, RFMOs are increasingly concerned with taking an “ecosystem approach” to fisheries management, which includes reducing the mortality of nontarget species.