The Commission regrets the lack of progress at this meeting where an opportunity has been lost to strengthen the sustainable management of tropical and other tunas, the protection of sharks and seabirds and the fight against IUU through proper port state measures in western and central Pacific. The Commission recognises that a step was taken towards the rebuilding of the bluefin tuna stock but would have hoped for more ambition, as the expected increase of the stock will be below Maximum Sustainable Yield even after 10 years from now. Another step forward is the adoption by WCPFP of the harvest control strategy for Albacore.

The Commission also welcomes the agreement of WCFPC to create a working group on Fishing Aggregating Devices (FADs) for the improvement of identification, tracking and monitoring of FADs and the identification of FAD management options for the future.

More information

WCPFC members: Australia, China, Canada, Cook Islands, European Union, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Chinese Taipei, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu. WCPFC participating territories: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna.

WCPFC website