The first objective (O1) of ITUNNES envisages fostering cooperation between European research centres to carry out a coordinated biological sampling within the context of the Regional Coordination Group for Large Pelagics (RCG-LP). Similarly, collaboration with the fishing industry (tropical tuna purse seine, longline, and pole line fisheries) involved in the exploitation of tropical tuna stocks in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans will be promoted in order to secure more widely the size range of fish samples and spatio-temporal aspects of the sampling strategy.

The second objective (O2) of ITUNNES aims to create better scientific knowledge and capacity building of researchers based on standardised and accurate methods and protocols to respond to the needs identified in the different t-RFMOs.

The third objective (O3) of ITUNNES envisages the development of support tools for end-users, ensure that the acquired improvement of certain biological parameters produced in ITUNNES is realistically available for use by the scientific community in stock assessment and in the uncertainty of ecosystem models for tropical tuna management, thus supporting the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy and other international legislative requirements.