Highly migratory fishes, such as tunas, present conservation challenges because their ranges span the high seas and jurisdictional waters of coastal states. Governments are mandated to manage tuna fisheries through Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), so RFMO meetings have subsequently become one focal point for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) seeking to influence the management process. Here we ask: how have the agendas of NGOs at RFMO meetings changed over time and where are they currently most effective at reforming tuna fisheries management? We systematically analyzed 216 advocacy statements submitted by NGO observers to RFMOs from 1999–2019 and interviewed 26 meeting attendees. We find that target tuna stock management measures accounted for over 20% of total advocacy over time and there has been a 26-fold increase in calls for science-based harvest strategies since 2010. We also find that 77% of policymakers were receptive to RFMO advocacy, but 57% of interviewees believe the most effective way to influence RFMO decisions was through engagement external to RFMO meetings. Relations between industry and environmental NGO observers are also improving due to sustainable seafood movement collaborations and we suggest these emerging cross-sectoral partnerships could substantially improve the management of pelagic species if their efforts remain credible and transparent.

中文翻译：

---

国际倡导保护高度洄游鱼类的十年变化

金枪鱼等高度洄游的鱼类对保护提出了挑战，因为它们的活动范围跨越公海和沿海国家的管辖水域。政府被授权通过区域渔业管理组织 (RFMO) 管理金枪鱼渔业，因此区域渔业管理组织会议随后成为寻求影响管理过程的非政府组织 (NGO) 的焦点之一。在这里我们要问：非政府组织在 RFMO 会议上的议程随着时间的推移发生了怎样的变化？它们目前在改革金枪鱼渔业管理方面最有效的地方是什么？我们系统地分析了 1999-2019 年间非政府组织观察员向 RFMO 提交的 216 份宣传声明，并采访了 26 名与会者。我们发现，随着时间的推移，目标金枪鱼种群管理措施占总倡导的 20% 以上，自 2010 年以来，对基于科学的捕捞战略的呼吁增加了 26 倍。我们还发现，77% 的政策制定者接受 RFMO倡导，但 57% 的受访者认为影响 RFMO 决策的最有效方式是通过 RFMO 会议之外的参与。由于可持续的海产品运动合作，行业和环境非政府组织观察员之间的关系也在改善，我们建议这些新兴的跨部门合作伙伴关系可以大大改善对远洋物种的管理，如果他们的努力保持可信和透明。但 57% 的受访者认为影响 RFMO 决策的最有效方式是通过 RFMO 会议之外的参与。由于可持续的海产品运动合作，行业和环境非政府组织观察员之间的关系也在改善，我们建议这些新兴的跨部门合作伙伴关系可以大大改善对远洋物种的管理，如果他们的努力保持可信和透明。但 57% 的受访者认为影响 RFMO 决策的最有效方式是通过 RFMO 会议之外的参与。由于可持续的海产品运动合作，行业和环境非政府组织观察员之间的关系也在改善，我们建议这些新兴的跨部门合作伙伴关系可以大大改善对远洋物种的管理，如果他们的努力保持可信和透明。