US North Atlantic swordfish, yellowfin, and albacore tuna fishery

Assessments

The MSC Fisheries Standard is used to assess if a fishery is well-managed and sustainable. More about how the standard is used, what is assessed and the process.

Interested in contributing as a stakeholder? See how you can engage with a fishery assessment.

• Recently uploaded documents

  Documents	Published On	Files
  Notice of Intent to suspend	19 Mar 2026	1 files
  Stakeholder Announcement: Lifting notice of suspension	09 Mar 2026	1 files
  Surveillance report	23 Oct 2025	1 files
  Proposed peer reviewers	23 Jul 2025	1 files
  Surveillance audit announcement	20 Jun 2025	1 files
  Stakeholder input	05 Jun 2025	1 files
  Timeline: Assessment timeline	09 May 2025	1 files

• General Fishery Documents

  Document Title	File Type	Published On
  Notice of Intent to suspend	PDF (387.25 Kb)	19 Mar 2026
  Stakeholder Announcement: Lifting notice of suspension	PDF (281.15 Kb)	09 Mar 2026
  Notice of Intent to suspend	PDF (394.15 Kb)	04 Feb 2026
  Variation Response	PDF (110.77 Kb)	02 May 2025
  Variation Request	PDF (162.18 Kb)	01 May 2025
  Variation Response	PDF (117.44 Kb)	24 Aug 2023
  Variation Request	PDF (110.71 Kb)	17 Aug 2023
  Stakeholder Announcement: Variation Request for Delayed Reassessment Approved	PDF (201.42 Kb)	30 Nov 2022
  Variation Response	PDF (125.70 Kb)	30 Nov 2022
  Variation Request	PDF (182.99 Kb)	28 Nov 2022
  Stakeholder Announcement: Reassessment and Surveillance Delay	PDF (205.89 Kb)	21 Sep 2022
  Stakeholder Announcement: Delay in surveillance audit	PDF (204.83 Kb)	05 Aug 2021
  Stakeholder Announcement: Delay in surveillance audit timing	PDF (155.16 Kb)	13 Mar 2020
  Certificate Holder Forced and Child Labour Policies, Practices and Measures Template	PDF (153.85 Kb)	08 Aug 2019
  Variation Response	PDF (2120.51 Kb)	14 Feb 2019
  Variation Response	PDF (2120.51 Kb)	14 Feb 2019
  Variation Response	PDF (2120.51 Kb)	14 Feb 2019
  Variation Response	PDF (2120.51 Kb)	14 Feb 2019
  Variation Request	PDF (322.62 Kb)	14 Feb 2019

• Re-Assessment (started 2023)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-1588	Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-1589	Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Public Certification Report

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Public certification report announcement	14 Feb 2024	1 files
  Public certification report	14 Feb 2024	1 files

  Other Documents	Published on	Files
  Certificate Holder Forced and Child Labour Policies, Practices and Measures Template	14 Feb 2024	1 files

  ---

  Final Draft Report and determination

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Final draft report and determination	17 Jan 2024	1 files
  Final draft report and determination announcement	17 Jan 2024	1 files

  ---

  Public Comment Draft Report

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Public comment draft report	29 Nov 2023	1 files
  Public comment draft report announcement	29 Nov 2023	1 files

  ---

  Peer review

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Proposed peer reviewers	17 May 2023	1 files

  ---

  Announcement Comment Draft Report and stakeholder input

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Announcement Comment Draft Report	19 Jan 2023	1 files
  Stakeholder input (ACDR)	17 Feb 2023	1 files

  ---

  Fishery announcement

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Fishery announcement template	17 Jan 2023	1 files

  ---

  Timeline Documents

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Assessment timeline	04 Jan 2024	1 files

  ---

• Surveillance Audit (started 2025)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-1588	Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-1589	Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Ongoing surveillance

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Surveillance audit announcement	20 Jun 2025	1 files
  Surveillance report	23 Oct 2025	1 files

  ---

• Early application of Section SE (started 2025)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-1589	Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Peer review

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Proposed peer reviewers	23 Jul 2025	1 files

  ---

  Stakeholder Input

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Stakeholder input	05 Jun 2025	1 files

  ---

  Announcement

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Section SE Announcement	09 May 2025	1 files

  Other Documents	Published on	Files
  Variation Request	09 May 2025	1 files
  Variation Response	09 May 2025	1 files

  ---

  Timeline Documents

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Assessment timeline	09 May 2025	1 files

  ---

• Re-Assessment (started 2017)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Public certification report and certificate issue

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Public certification report	06 Mar 2018	1 files
  Public certification report announcement	06 Mar 2018	1 files

  ---

  Final assessment report and determination

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Final report and determination	30 Jan 2018	1 files
  Final report and determination announcement	30 Jan 2018	1 files

  ---

  Public review of the draft assessment report

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Public comment draft report	19 Dec 2017	1 files
  Public comment draft report announcement	19 Dec 2017	1 files

  ---

  Client and peer review

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Proposed peer reviewers	14 Nov 2017	1 files
  Peer review confirmation	27 Nov 2017	1 files

  ---

  Fishery announcement, stakeholder identification and assessment team formation

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Fishery announcement template	14 Mar 2017	1 files

  ---

  Timeline Documents

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Fishery announcement, stakeholder identification and assessment team formation	11 Sep 2017	1 files

  ---

• Surveillance Audit (started 2023)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-1588	Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-1589	Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Ongoing surveillance

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Surveillance audit announcement	17 Jan 2023	1 files
  Surveillance report	29 Nov 2023	1 files

  ---

• Surveillance Audit (started 2022)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-1588	Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-1589	Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Ongoing surveillance

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Surveillance audit announcement	26 Jan 2022	1 files
  Surveillance report	28 Jun 2022	1 files

  ---

• Surveillance Audit (started 2020)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-1588	Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-1589	Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Ongoing surveillance

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Surveillance audit announcement	22 Dec 2020	1 files
  Surveillance report	31 Mar 2021	1 files

  ---

• Extended Surveillance Audit - P1 upgrade to v2.0 (started 2020)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Public Certification Report

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Public certification report	22 Dec 2020	1 files
  Public certification report and announcement	22 Dec 2020	1 files

  ---

  Final Draft Report and determination

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Final draft report and determination announcement	17 Nov 2020	1 files
  Final draft report and determination	17 Nov 2020	1 files

  ---

  Public Comment Draft Report

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Public comment draft report	04 Aug 2020	1 files
  Public comment draft report announcement	04 Aug 2020	1 files

  ---

  Peer review

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Proposed peer reviewers	24 Mar 2020	1 files

  ---

  Ongoing surveillance

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Surveillance audit announcement	09 Jan 2020	1 files
  Surveillance report	31 Mar 2021	1 files

  ---

  Timeline Documents

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Ongoing surveillance	09 Jan 2020	1 files

  ---

• Surveillance Audit (started 2019)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-1588	Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-1589	Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Ongoing surveillance

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Surveillance audit announcement	11 Jul 2019	1 files
  Surveillance report	19 Oct 2019	1 files

  Other Documents	Published on	Files
  Stakeholder Announcement: Assessment Team Change Announcement	12 Aug 2019	1 files

  ---

• Scope Extension (started 2018)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-1588	Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
    UoC-1589	Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)	Hooks And Lines: Pelagic longline	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Public certification report and certificate issue

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Public certification report and announcement	23 Oct 2018	1 files
  Public certification report	23 Oct 2018	1 files

  ---

  Final assessment report and determination

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Final report and determination	25 Sep 2018	1 files
  Final report and determination announcement	25 Sep 2018	1 files

  ---

  Public review of the draft assessment report

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Public comment draft report	21 Aug 2018	1 files
  Public comment draft report announcement	21 Aug 2018	1 files

  ---

  Client and peer review

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Proposed peer reviewers	07 Jun 2018	1 files

  ---

  Expedited audit announcement

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Expedited assessment announcement	09 Mar 2018	1 files

  ---

  Timeline Documents

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Expedited audit announcement	09 Mar 2018	1 files

  ---

• Surveillance Audit (started 2017)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Ongoing surveillance

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Surveillance audit announcement	16 Mar 2017	1 files
  Surveillance report	28 Jul 2017	1 files

  Other Documents	Published on	Files
  Variation Request	25 May 2017	1 files
  Variation Response	20 Jun 2017	1 files

  ---

• Initial Assessment (started 2012)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Public certification report and certificate issue

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Public certification report	28 Mar 2013	2 files
  Public certification announcement	28 Mar 2013	1 files

  Other Documents	Published on	Files
  Other document: P1 harmonisation pilot report	25 Aug 2016	1 files
  Other document: Stakeholder Notification: P1 harmonisation pilot report	25 Aug 2016	1 files
  Variation Request	26 May 2016	1 files
  Variation Response	02 Aug 2016	1 files

  ---

  Final assessment report and determination

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Final report and determination announcement	07 Mar 2013	1 files
  Final report and determination	07 Mar 2013	1 files

  ---

  Public review of the draft assessment report

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Public comment draft report	15 Jan 2013	1 files
  Public comment draft report announcement	15 Jan 2013	1 files

  ---

  Information gathering, stakeholder meetings and scoring

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Site visit announcement	21 Jun 2012	1 files

  ---

  Defining the assessment tree

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Assessment tree announcement	22 May 2012	1 files

  ---

  Fishery announcement, stakeholder identification and assessment team formation

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Stakeholder announcement	26 Apr 2012	1 files

  Other Documents	Published on	Files
  List of client group members	26 Apr 2012	1 files
  Other document: ICCAT Harmonisation Report	24 Nov 2016	1 files

  ---

  Timeline Documents

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Fishery announcement, stakeholder identification and assessment team formation	26 Apr 2012	2 files

  ---

• Surveillance Audit (started 2016)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Ongoing surveillance

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Surveillance audit announcement	11 Aug 2016	1 files
  Surveillance report	01 Nov 2016	1 files

  Other Documents	Published on	Files
  Stakeholder Announcement: Harmonisation meeting	07 Jul 2016	1 files

  ---

• Surveillance Audit (started 2015)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Ongoing surveillance

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Surveillance audit announcement	23 Jul 2015	1 files

  ---

• Surveillance Audit (started 2015)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Ongoing surveillance

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Surveillance audit announcement	23 Jul 2015	1 files
  Surveillance report	04 Feb 2016	1 files

  ---

• Surveillance Audit (started 2014)

  • Units of Certification

    MSC UoC Number	Species	Gear type	Ocean Area
    UoC-0715	Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)	Hooks And Lines - Longlines	21 (Atlantic, Northwest), 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

  Ongoing surveillance

  Documents	Published on	Files
  Surveillance audit announcement	14 Jan 2014	1 files
  Surveillance report	15 May 2014	1 files

  ---