Performance assessment of bycatch and discards governance by regional fisheries management organizations

Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) play a critical role in global fisheries governance. A performance assessment of governance of bycatch, including discards, by 13 RFMOs, regional bodies with the competence to establish conservation and management measures for marine capture fisheries, was conducted. Findings enabled the identification of priority gaps and provide the first comprehensive baseline against which to track future progress in filling identified bycatch governance deficits.