“Our new strategy offers an opportunity to realise our mission of empowering responsible fisheries to give back to the seas and people that depend on them, so that we can see a world with thriving fisheries that work in balance with nature by catching one fish at a time.”

Martin Purves – IPNLF Managing Director

What is the 5-Year Strategic Plan?

Our charitable objectives are focused on promoting sustainable development through ocean conservation and strengthening the ability of small-scale fishers to conserve biodiversity, build climate resilience and alleviate poverty. We recognise that small-scale fisheries are often deeply rooted in the social and cultural fabric of coastal fishing communities, and are vital in supporting local economies and ensuring sustained food security.

To achieve our charitable objectives, IPNLF promotes the sustainable management of the world’s tuna fisheries while also recognising the importance of safeguarding the livelihoods they support. Our core activities to develop, support and promote one-by-one tuna fisheries are fully aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

IPNLF’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025 will continue to help drive the sustainable management of the world’s one-by-one tuna fisheries, and focus on cultivating an increased understanding amongst the seafood industry and wider public regarding the socially responsible and environmentally sustainable sourcing credentials of these fisheries. To achieve this, we have identified five Strategic Pillars that broadly cover the key areas of our work.

  1. Fisheries Support,
  2. Business Development,
  3. Marketing and Communications,
  4. Financial Management, and
  5. Good Governance.

Find out more about our Strategic Plan by clicking the link below.

View Our 5-Year Strategic Plan

IPNLF’s Three Initiatives

With the launch of our Strategic Plan, we also launched three new and crucial IPNLF Initiatives to give greater recognition to our members for the support they are providing to one-by-one tuna fisheries worldwide:

2025 Commitment

Sourcing Transparency Platform (STP)

Fisheries Improvement Toolbox (FIT)

2025 Commitment

All of our members commit to drive transparency, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability in their one-by-one tuna supply chains while actively implementing improvements in at least 75% of their one-by-one tuna supply chains by 2025.

2025 Commitment

Fisheries Improvement Toolbox (FIT)

IPNLF expert support to make targeted improvements in one-by-one operations and associated supply chains.

Fisheries Improvement Toolbox 

Sourcing Transparency Platform (STP)

Find out exactly where the most sustainable and ethical tuna comes from, where you can buy it and how your purchasing choice creates change.

Sourcing Transparency Platform

Looking to the Future

While the global impacts of COVID-19 are still unfolding, it is difficult to fully comprehend how the pandemic might affect IPNLF’s work. In this unchartered territory, small-scale fisheries are particularly vulnerable with livelihoods at risk, and with impacts felt throughout entire seafood supply chains, from harvesting to processing to marketing.

We have seen severe impacts on the ground, both in some of the one-by-one tuna supply chains where we work with our members, and also with our staff and the projects they implement. However, we have also seen ingenuity, generosity and resilience. This has brought us joy, strength and hope, and re-energised us to continue to work for the benefit of the fishers and fishing communities that depend on them.

It has also inspired us to initiate new collaborations with partner organisations that focus on post-Covid-19 recovery. By rethinking what the world should look like, we can sustainably manage the world’s tuna fisheries while also safeguarding the livelihoods they support.