Countries Representing More Than 15% of Global Tuna Catch Join the Tuna Transparency Pledge

The Republic of the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Panama today announced their joining of the Tuna Transparency Pledge, a global initiative led by international environmental NGO The Nature Conservancy that addresses unsustainable and illegal tuna fishing practices at sea. Through the Tuna Transparency Pledge, signatories are aspiring to advance 100% on-the-water monitoring across all industrial tuna fishing vessels within their jurisdictions or supply chains by 2027—taking a bold yet achievable step in transforming the health and sustainability of our oceans.

Together with Belize and the Federated States of Micronesia—both of which joined the Tuna Transparency Pledge in April 2024—these six country signatories represent more than 15% of the global tuna catch. By requiring 100 percent on-the-water monitoring across all industrial tuna vessels fishing in their jurisdictions, these countries are driving the industry wide transformation that is necessary to protect this valuable resource and other ocean wildlife now and into the future.

This collective announcement comes less than two weeks ahead of the globally significant UN Ocean Conference, during which leaders from around the world will convene in Nice, France to negotiate shared commitments to ocean health. Representatives from The Nature Conservancy and all new country signatories will be in attendance.

“The addition of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Panama to the Tuna Transparency Pledge represents a pivotal moment for global tuna conservation," said Ben Gilmer, Director of Large-Scale Fisheries at The Nature Conservancy. "These nations control some of the world's most productive tuna fishing waters, and their commitment to 100 percent monitoring coverage sends a powerful signal that transparency and accountability are becoming the new standard for responsible tuna fishing. As we head into the UN Ocean Conference, having these countries representing more than 15% of the global tuna catch united behind this vision demonstrates the kind of concrete, collaborative action the world's oceans need right now."

Since its launch in April 2024, the Tuna Transparency Pledge has grown significantly to include some of the largest retailers, suppliers, and food service companies in the world, as well as other key global tuna industry actors. Signatories of the Tuna Transparency Pledge include Walmart, Thai Union, Carrefour, Albertsons Companies, Aramark, Culimer USA, Lusamerica Foods, Pacific Island Tuna, Walker’s Tuna, Association of Large Freezer Tuna Vessels (AGAC), Belize, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Panama.

“The Tuna Transparency Pledge is uniquely powerful because it brings together governments, industry, and the NGO community in a shared commitment to elevate transparency at sea,” said Susan Jackson, President of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation. “This kind of cross-sector collaboration is essential to accelerating sustainable tuna fisheries management. By aligning around 100% on-the-water monitoring, signatories are not only setting a high bar for transparent accountability—they’re demonstrating what’s possible when science, policy, and practice converge to drive measurable change for ocean health.”

Tuna is one of the most traded seafood commodities in the world with five million tons of fish produced annually and a dockside value of $10 billion USD. Tuna also has one of the lowest levels of verification. While global tuna stocks are considered relatively stable, tuna fisheries are responsible for some of the highest rates of marine ecosystem impacts, including bycatch of ocean wildlife. Since tuna migrates thousands of miles across dozens of territories—each with its own regulations, laws and enforcement mechanisms—international cooperation is needed to effectively manage and monitor stocks.

One of the biggest obstacles to sustainably managing global tuna fisheries, protecting ocean wildlife, and delivering tuna products that inspire consumer confidence is the lack of on-the-water monitoring and data. Without independent monitoring on vessels to verify catch activity, it is difficult to identify when illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activity is occurring within the first mile of the supply chain.

Having eyes on the water allows fishery managers, seafood suppliers and retailers to have confidence that the tuna harvested from their waters and moved through their supply chains has been sourced legally and sustainably. Electronic monitoring— the use of onboard video cameras, GPS, and sensors to continuously monitor, verify, and transmit fishing activity data—and human observers can strengthen transparency at sea and provide critical data needed for the sustainable management of tuna and other ocean species. In addition, on-the-water monitoring helps to level the playing field for the many law-abiding fishers around the globe.

The Tuna Transparency Pledge was developed by The Nature Conservancy—in consultancy with other leading NGOs, retailers, and seafood experts—to accelerate the global adoption of on-the-water monitoring by uniting key players throughout the seafood supply chain, including companies and governments. The Nature Conservancy works in collaboration with signatories and their NGO partners to track progress and support their rollout and verification procedures.

The Nature Conservancy is seeking sign-on from other major seafood buyers, seafood supply chain companies, and governments to continue driving industry-wide transformation. Those interested in building this positive industry change should email tunapledge@tnc.org.

Comments from the latest signatories of the Tuna Transparency Pledge:

Republic of the Marshall Islands:

"For island nations like ours, the ocean is everything—our livelihood, our culture, our future. By requiring 100% monitoring on tuna vessels, we are protecting not just fish stocks, but the marine environment that sustains our communities and our way of life."

— Glen Joseph, Director of Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority

Palau:

"Palau has long been a leader in marine conservation, and the Tuna Transparency Pledge is a natural extension of our commitment to protecting our ocean heritage. This initiative will help ensure that tuna fishing in our region operates with the transparency and accountability our pristine waters deserve."

—  Minister Steven Victor, Palau Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment

Panama:

"As a major gateway for global tuna trade, Panama recognizes our responsibility to ensure transparency and sustainability in our waters. By joining the Tuna Transparency Pledge, we are demonstrating our commitment to combating illegal fishing and protecting marine ecosystems that are vital to both our economy and our planet's health."

—  Gerardo Irimia Arosemena, Subadministrador General del ARAP

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The Tuna Transparency Pledge is a global initiative led by The Nature Conservancy—with support from a variety of NGO, industry, and governmental collaborators—that aims to achieve 100 percent on-the-water monitoring (via electronic monitoring and/or human observers) across all industrial tuna fishing vessels. With a vision of a thriving global marine environment that provides stable and sustainable seafood supplies, the Tuna Transparency Pledge was created to guide and unite companies and governments to lay the foundation for a more resilient and transparent tuna supply chain. By signing the Pledge, signatories are aiming to achieve 100 percent on-the-water monitoring across all industrial tuna fishing vessels within their supply chains or jurisdictions by 2027—taking a bold yet achievable step in transforming the health and sustainability of our oceans.