Performance of regional fisheries management organizations: ecosystem‐based governance of bycatch and discards

Abstract A performance assessment was conducted of regional fisheries management organizations’ ( RFMO s’) bycatch governance, one element of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management. Obtaining a mean score of 25%, with a 64% CV , collectively the RFMO s have large governance deficits. Individually, there has been mixed progress, with some RFMO s having made substantial progress for some governance elements. There has been nominal progress in gradually transitioning to ecosystem‐based fisheries management: controls largely do not account for broad or multispecies effects of fishing, and cross‐sectoral marine spatial planning is limited. Regional observers collect half of minimum information needed to assess the efficacy of bycatch measures. Over two‐thirds of RFMO ‐managed fisheries lack regional observer coverage. International exchange…