Feleti P Teo Executive Director Scope of Presentation Scope of - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Feleti P Teo Executive Director

Scope of Presentation Scope of Presentation  Overview of the WCPFC  Status of the WCPO tuna stocks  Challenges in managing the stocks  Management and compliance efforts  Conclusions

OVERVIEW OF THE WCPFC

Establishment of the WCPFC Establishment of the WCPFC • 1982 – UNCLOS adopted • 1994 – FFA called MHLC on South Pacific Tuna Fisheries, Honiara • 1995 – UNFSA adopted • 2000 – WCPF Convention adopted • 2004 – Convention entered into force

Objective of the WCPFC Objective of the WCPFC To ensure, through effective management, the long- term conservation and sustainable use of HMFS in the WCPO in accordance with UNCLOS and UNFSA.

Key Functions Key Functions Article 10 articulates 15 key functions for the WCPFC to develop governance of both fisheries and fishery resources within its mandate, including:  Determination of TAC and TAE;  Data collection;  Scientific research and stock assessments to provide scientific advice to the Commissioners;  Develop CMMs;  Monitoring compliance and surveillance.

Five Tuna RFMOs Five Tuna RFMOs

150W 20N 0 20S 130W 141E 180 60S

Membership Membership  26 Members ( FFA ) Australia, Cook, FSM, Fiji, Kiribati, RMI, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, PNG, Samoa, Solomon, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. ( Non-FFA ) Canada, China, EU, France, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Chinese Taipei, USA  7 Territories A. Samoa, CNMI, F. Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna  7 Cooperating Non-Members Ecuador, El Salvador, Liberia, Mexico, Panama, Thailand and Vietnam.  25 Observers

STATUS OF TUNA STOCKS

Yellowfin Tuna 21% Thunnus albacares Skipjack Tuna 6% Katsuwonus pelamis 5% 68% Bigeye Tuna Thunnus obesus Albacore Tuna Thunnus alalunga

2014 WCPO Tuna Production (by gear) 2014 WCPO Tuna Production (by gear) Gear % Purse Seine 74 Longline 9 Poll-and-line 7 Others (Troll, ID, PH) 10

Other – pole and line, trollers, support vessels, harpooners, research vessels 1084 Carriers and bunkers 616 817 Purse seiners, including tuna purse seiners Longliners, including tuna longliners and freezer longliners 3665 http://www.wcpfc.int/vessels

6182 817  283 in good standing with FFA  Approx 230 are registered on the PNA VDS register ◦ ¼ are presently flagged to Pacific Island countries

6182  In 2014, 1517 longliners reported to the WCPFC VMS 3665 ◦ 746 are in good standing with FFA ◦ 10% were flagged to Pacific Islands countries or territories

WCPFC’ ’s Recent Stock Assessments s Recent Stock Assessments WCPFC 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Bigeye (WCPO) SA SA Update tuna (Pacific-wide) Update Yellowfin tuna SA SA Skipjack tuna SA SA South Pacific (SP) albacore SA SA North Pacific (NP) albacore SA SA Pacific bluefin tuna SA SA SP swordfish SA NP swordfish SA SP striped marlin SA NP striped marlin SA Pacific blue marlin SA Oceanic whitetip shark SA Silky shark SA SA NP blue shark SA SA NP mako shark SA

Overfished: Fishing mortality be reduced Bigeye Tuna Thunnus obesus No further increase in No further increase in catches catches Yellowfin Tuna Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares Thunnus albacares Avoid further increase in fishing mortality, keep stock at current Skipjack Tuna levels Katusuwonus pelamis

Summary of Scientific Advice Stabilize/maintain/ Rebuild stock / no increase reduce catch • Skipjack tuna • Bigeye tuna • Yellowfin tuna • Pacific bluefin tuna • Albacore tuna • SW Pacific striped marlin • SW Pacific swordfish • WCNP striped marlin • Pacific-wide Blue marlin • Silky shark • Oceanic whitetip shark

CHALLENGES IN MANAGING THE WCPO STOCKS

Key Challenges Key Challenges 1.Multi Multi- -stocks stocks 1. 2.Multi Multi- -gear gear 2. 3.Data collection Data collection 3. 4.Coastal states v Flag states Coastal states v Flag states 4. 5.SIDS v Developed SIDS v Developed 5. 6.Compliance Compliance 6.

Management Measures Management Measures 1. Purse seine measures Purse seine measures 1. 2. Longline measures Longline measures 2.

EEZ limits (PNA VDS + others) High Seas (interim flag limits) • FAD closure (3 – 4 month) • Annual FAD limits (for some CCMs) • Purse Seine catch retention • 100% observer coverage • Limit on LSPSVs (except SIDS and Indonesia)

• Flag based bigeye catch limits with monthly reporting for some (with SIDS exemption) • Yellowfin limits to be agreed in 2014 • Limits on longline vessel numbers targetting bigeye (with SIDS and Indonesia exemption)

Compliance Measures

Compliance tools Compliance tools 1. Record of Fishing Vessels Record of Fishing Vessels 1. 2. Commission VMS Commission VMS 2. 3. Regional Observer Programme Regional Observer Programme 3. 4. High Seas Boarding and Inspection scheme High Seas Boarding and Inspection scheme 4. 5. WCPFC IUU List WCPFC IUU List 5. 6. Compliance monitoring scheme Compliance monitoring scheme 6.

Conclusion and Take Home Messages Conclusion and Take Home Messages 1. Bigeye and Pacific Bluefin tunas overfished. Bigeye and Pacific Bluefin tunas overfished. 1. 2. Catch levels continue to increase. Catch levels continue to increase. 2. 3. Need to review fishing capacity. Need to review fishing capacity. 3. 4. Establish a harvest strategy framework Establish a harvest strategy framework - - target target 4. reference points. reference points. 5. SIDS special requirements SIDS special requirements 5. 6. Need for a robust MCS scheme. 6. Need for a robust MCS scheme.

Thank you…