Because many species of sea life, including tuna, may travel through and live outside the 200 mile jurisdiction of coastal state EEZs, other measures were needed to manage marine life and environment on the high seas.

Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are the international bodies charged with the management of fishing activities and fish stocks on the high seas, as well as fish stocks that migrate through the waters of more than one state. They are made up of representatives from the many countries that border or otherwise utilize an oceanic fishing zone.

There are five RFMOs which focus on tuna fishing and tuna stocks throughout the world:

Though each RFMO has different member states, jurisdictions and constitutions, the following measures may be used by these organizations:

It is important to note, though, that each RFMO serves a primarily advisory role. The organizations are the experts on a particular fishery and the issues surrounding its conservation and management. Ultimately, however, enforcement and legislative powers reside in the hands of individual states.

Want to know how marine ecosystems and fisheries are managed here in the United States? Let’s take a look:

Consistent with the United Nations Convention Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) the United States, maintains an ‘Exclusive Economic Zone’ (EEZ) which extends up to 200 nautical miles from the coastline. Within this zone, the U.S. has exclusive rights to fishing in these waters and marine resources – but is also responsible for preserving the marine ecosystem and creating a sustainable fishing environment.

The lead federal agency responsible for protecting and preserving the nation's living marine resources is the National Marine Fisheries Service. This agency is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The National Marine Fisheries Service is the U.S. government’s steward for living marine resources by conducting scientific research, guiding fisheries management, enforcing laws and overseeing habitat conservation.

The National Marine Fisheries Services receives its direction from legislation like the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act which establish conservation and stewardship laws and regulations.

When it comes to making sure these laws are enforced, the National Marine Fisheries Service works with two important partners - NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement and the United States Coast Guard.

Just like nations must work together to manage fisheries on the high seas, the National Fisheries Marine Service works together with other agencies including but not limited to the U.S. Coast Guard, law enforcement and the U.S. Weather Service to fulfill its mission of marine resource management.

For instance, NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research explores and investigates ocean habitats and resources. NOAA’s National Ocean Service provides maps and other data to help fishers and managers and also maintains a network of Marine Sanctuaries and Estuarine Research Reserves to help protect important resources. NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations provides a fleet of ships and boats to support the agency’s fisheries operations. And NOAA’s Office of Sustainable Fisheries works to maintain healthy stocks, eliminate overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks.

Lastly, the United States’ role in marine stewardship doesn’t end at the 200 mile limit of the country’s EEZ. The U.S. also works with nations around the world to enforce international laws and recommendations developed by the United Nations and regional fisheries management organizations across the globe – like the five RFMOs tasked with managing tuna fisheries globally. Within these international organizations, the U.S. strives to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, build partnerships to improve marine conservation, control fishing capacity, increase assistance to developing states and strengthen regional fisheries conservation.