Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. It is a pivotal regional fisheries management organisation established to conserve and manage tuna and other highly migratory fish stocks across the vast Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The commission operates under the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, implementing binding conservation and management measures for its member states. Its work is critical for the sustainability of the world's largest tuna fishery, which supplies a significant portion of the global market.

History and establishment

The impetus for the commission's creation stemmed from growing international concern over the unregulated exploitation of highly migratory species, particularly tunas, in the Pacific Ocean. Following the adoption of the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement in 1995, a series of multilateral conferences were convened throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. These negotiations, involving coastal states and distant-water fishing nations, culminated in the signing of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean in 2000. After a ratification process, the convention entered into force in 2004, formally establishing the commission with its secretariat initially located in Kolonia before moving to Pohnpei.

Objectives and functions

The primary objective of the commission is to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks in its convention area. Its core functions include adopting legally binding conservation and management measures based on the best available scientific advice, promoting cooperation among members, and facilitating effective monitoring and compliance. Key tasks involve setting total allowable catch limits, implementing bycatch mitigation protocols, and establishing measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The commission also serves as a forum for scientific research and data collection through its subsidiary Scientific Committee.

Organizational structure

The commission's work is directed by its plenary body, the Commission, which meets annually and comprises representatives from all member states and participating territories. Day-to-day operations and administrative support are provided by the Secretariat, headquartered in Pohnpei. Two essential subsidiary bodies inform its decisions: the Scientific Committee, which provides stock assessments and scientific advice, and the Technical and Compliance Committee, which reviews implementation and compliance with adopted measures. Additional specialized working groups may be formed to address specific issues such as tropical tunas, billfish, or monitoring, control and surveillance.

Management measures and conservation initiatives

The commission has adopted a comprehensive suite of management measures to achieve its conservation goals. These include harvest control rules for key tuna stocks like skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, and bigeye tuna, along with effort limits for longline and purse seine fisheries. Significant initiatives include the establishment of a vessel monitoring system, a regional observer programme, and the creation of a record of fishing vessels. To protect vulnerable ecosystems, the commission has implemented measures to reduce shark bycatch and sea turtle bycatch, and has designated specific areas with restrictions on fish aggregating device use.

Membership and participants

The commission boasts a diverse membership of 43 entities, reflecting the wide range of interests in the fishery. This includes coastal states and territories within the convention area such as Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Prominent distant-water fishing nations like Japan, the United States, the European Union, China, and the Republic of Korea are also members. Participation is also extended to cooperating non-members and territories such as French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and American Samoa, ensuring broad engagement in the management regime.

Key species and fisheries

The convention area is home to the planet's most productive tuna fisheries, accounting for over half of the global tuna catch. The primary target species are the tropical tunas: skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, and bigeye tuna. Significant fisheries also exist for albacore tuna and various billfish species, including swordfish and marlin. The dominant fishing methods are industrial-scale purse seining, often associated with fish aggregating devices, and longlining, with smaller-scale artisanal fishing operations conducted by Pacific Island nations. The health of these fisheries is economically vital for many Pacific Island Countries and Territories.