The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has wrapped its annual meeting in Fiji, concluding it with several positive results for Pacific Ocean tuna fisheries, including for electronic monitoring (EM) and management procedures. ISSF urged action on these priority topics, among others.
WCPFC requires only purse seine vessels to have 100% observer coverage, while, in contrast, longline vessels are to achieve just a 5% minimum level of observer coverage. ISSF has been calling for accelerated progress on electronic monitoring (EM) standards for WCPO tuna fisheries, as well as a plan to substantially increase independent monitoring in longline fisheries. As a result, ISSF welcomes the Commission’s adoption of interim EM minimum standards this year.
‘By taking action to adopt EM standards, WCPFC is finally poised to remedy the longstanding subpar observer coverage on longline vessels. And importantly, with this move, WCPFC joins its peer tuna RFMOs in other ocean regions, helping to ensure more complete data and to account for the many vessels that move among RFMO areas,’ an ISSF representative stated.
‘The WCPFC measure on transshipment is insufficient and not aligned with best practice requirements. Unfortunately, the Commission failed to reach consensus on this matter and missed an opportunity to improve at-sea transshipment regulations, agreeing only to more work in 2025 instead.’
‘We are pleased that WCPFC took the opportunity this year to build on recent successes in this area — taking science-based management action to maintain WCPO tuna stocks at healthy levels of abundance.’
Specifically, the Commission agreed to candidate target reference points (TRPs), an important technical component of management procedures, for bigeye tuna. In addition, WCPFC adopted a monitoring strategy for skipjack tuna and updated its harvest strategies work plan, reflecting the latest information and advice from its Scientific Committee.
‘One miss in this area was the lack of agreement on an interim MP for South Pacific albacore tuna. We urged WCPFC to cooperate with IATTC, its peer RFMO in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, to ensure that South Pacific albacore is managed consistently throughout its range. Despite its misstep, the Commission did agree on a process to develop and implement an MP for this stock in 2025, to include a dedicated management workshop.’ ISSF states.
ISSF recognises the agreement on a measure for crew labour standards as an especially notable outcome of this year’s WCPFC meeting. The measure establishes rules to improve crew welfare on vessels operating in the WCPO to be implemented within the next three years.
‘WCPFC is the first tuna RFMO to address this subject directly and sets an example for other RFMOs to recognise and address this important topic,’ ISSF’s representative commented.
‘We look forward to our continued engagement throughout the region toward the sustainable use of the world’s largest tuna fisheries and protections for the broader marine ecosystem.’
