Non-Profit Urges Stronger Measures Against Illegal Fishing in Pacific

The Pew Charitable Trusts is calling for enhanced action against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Western Central Pacific. With only three weeks until the 22nd Regular Session of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in Manila, the organization emphasizes the urgent need for improved port state measures and better management of high seas transshipment. Glen Holmes, an international fisheries officer with WCPFC, highlighted these pressing issues in an interview with RNZ Pacific.

The WCPFC meeting is scheduled from December 1 to December 5, 2023, and will gather member countries and stakeholders to discuss critical fisheries management strategies. Holmes noted that while there has been progress regarding the management of South Pacific Albacore tuna fisheries, IUU fishing and high seas transshipment must receive equal attention. He stated, “There’s always multiple issues to be discussed in any Commission meeting.”

Holmes pointed out that management gaps contribute significantly to the prevalence of IUU fishing. “One of those is port state measures management,” he explained. Although some advancements have been made to improve the port state measures agreement, he believes the current efforts are insufficient. “We would like to see much more progress on that,” he said, expressing disappointment that substantial changes may not occur this year but emphasizing the need for a strong push in 2024.

High seas transshipment remains another critical topic for the WCPFC. For over a decade, discussions around this issue have highlighted the organization’s lagging performance compared to other tuna-focused Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). Holmes noted that a forthcoming report indicates that the WCPFC has “the worst transshipment management of all the tuna RFMOs now.” He contrasted this with the progress made by other organizations, which have moved closer to the guidelines set by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The ongoing debate surrounding high seas transshipment reflects differing viewpoints among WCPFC members. Some advocate for a complete ban, arguing that the geographic nature of the Pacific allows vessels to offload their catch in ports where it can be monitored effectively. Others maintain that sufficient oversight already exists with current practices. “There is more opportunity for IUU activity and other illegal activity to occur” when transshipping occurs at sea, Holmes cautioned.

Despite extensive discussions over the past eight years, reaching a consensus within the WCPFC remains elusive. Holmes expressed hope that a resolution on transshipment measures could be achieved this year, stating, “I’m hopeful that finally an agreement can be made to improve the transshipment measure this year.”

Observer Coverage and Compliance Issues

Holmes also emphasized the need for improved observer coverage on longline fisheries, which currently stands at a mere 5 percent. He argued that this level is insufficient to provide a representative overview of fishing activities. “There really needs to be a substantial increase in longline observer coverage,” he asserted, advocating for a 100 percent requirement to enhance compliance among fishing companies.

Additionally, Pew Charitable Trusts seeks to include independent observers in the compliance review process, a step that Holmes noted is currently lacking in the WCPFC. “The Commission should open up the compliance monitoring review to allow observers to observe what’s going on,” he said, emphasizing the importance of transparency and public confidence in the organization’s operations.

Focus on Albacore Tuna Management

Holmes expressed support for the WCPFC chair, Josie Tamate, who has prioritized the adoption of a management procedure for South Pacific albacore at the upcoming meeting. Tamate indicated that members involved in South Pacific albacore fisheries have reached an agreement, which she hopes will lead to the formal adoption of a management plan.

“I agree with the chair that South Pacific albacore management procedure is going to be one of the major issues,” Holmes stated. He noted that the Commission has been working on management strategies for South Pacific albacore for over a decade, and it is time to finalize these efforts.

Holmes expressed optimism that the management procedure would be adopted, signaling a significant advancement in modernizing the management approach for this vital fishery. “It’s a really important fishery, particularly for a lot of the islands,” he added.

Looking ahead, Pew also aims to see progress on the management of bigeye tuna and yellowfin, stressing the need for continuous improvement in various aspects of fisheries management. The upcoming WCPFC session represents a pivotal moment for addressing these critical issues.