Feleti P TeoExecutive Director

Scope of PresentationScope 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 WCPFCEstablishment 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 WCPFCObjective 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 FunctionsKey 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 RFMOsFive Tuna RFMOs

0

20N

20S

60S180

150W

130W

141E

MembershipMembership

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

Skipjack TunaKatsuwonus pelamis

Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares

Bigeye TunaThunnus obesus

Albacore TunaThunnus alalunga

68%

21%

5%6%

2014 WCPO Tuna Production (by gear)2014 WCPO Tuna Production (by gear)

Gear %Purse Seine 74

Longline 9Poll-and-line 7

Others (Troll, ID, PH) 10

817

3665

1084

616

Other – pole and line, trollers, support vessels, harpooners, research vessels

Longliners, including tuna longliners and freezer longliners

Purse seiners, including tuna purse seiners

Carriers and bunkers

http://www.wcpfc.int/vessels

283 in good standing with FFA

Approx 230 are registered on the PNA VDS register◦ ¼ are presently flagged to

Pacific Island countries

817

6182

In 2014, 1517 longliners reported to the WCPFC VMS◦ 746 are in good standing with FFA◦ 10% were flagged to Pacific

Islands countries or territories

3665

6182

WCPFCWCPFC’’s Recent Stock Assessmentss Recent Stock Assessments

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Bigeye tuna

(WCPO) SA SA Update(Pacific-wide) Update

Yellowfin tuna SA SASkipjack tuna SA SASouth Pacific (SP) albacore SA SANorth Pacific (NP) albacore SA SAPacific bluefin tuna SA SASP swordfish SANP swordfish SASP striped marlin SANP striped marlin SAPacific blue marlin SAOceanic whitetip shark SASilky shark SA SANP blue shark SA SA NP mako shark SA

Skipjack TunaKatusuwonus pelamis

Yellowfin TunaYellowfin TunaThunnus albacaresThunnus albacares

Bigeye TunaThunnus obesus

Overfished: Fishing mortality be

reduced

No further increase in No further increase in catchescatches

Avoid further increase in fishing mortality,

keep stock at current levels

Summary of Scientific Advice

Stabilize/maintain/no increase

Rebuild stock / reduce catch

• Skipjack tuna• Yellowfin tuna• Albacore tuna• SW Pacific swordfish• Pacific-wide Blue marlin

• Bigeye tuna• Pacific bluefin tuna• SW Pacific striped marlin• WCNP striped marlin• Silky shark• Oceanic whitetip shark

CHALLENGES IN MANAGING THE WCPO STOCKS

Key ChallengesKey Challenges

1.1.MultiMulti--stocksstocks2.2.MultiMulti--geargear3.3.Data collectionData collection4.4.Coastal states v Flag states Coastal states v Flag states 5.5.SIDS v DevelopedSIDS v Developed6.6.Compliance Compliance

Management Measures Management Measures

1.1. Purse seine measures Purse seine measures 2.2. Longline measuresLongline measures

• 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)

EEZ limits (PNA VDS + others)High Seas (interim flag limits)

• 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 toolsCompliance tools

1.1. Record of Fishing VesselsRecord of Fishing Vessels2.2. Commission VMS Commission VMS 3.3. Regional Observer ProgrammeRegional Observer Programme4.4. High Seas Boarding and Inspection schemeHigh Seas Boarding and Inspection scheme5.5. WCPFC IUU ListWCPFC IUU List6.6. Compliance monitoring scheme Compliance monitoring scheme

Conclusion and Take Home MessagesConclusion and Take Home Messages

1.1. Bigeye and Pacific Bluefin tunas overfished.Bigeye and Pacific Bluefin tunas overfished.2.2. Catch levels continue to increase.Catch levels continue to increase.3.3. Need to review fishing capacity.Need to review fishing capacity.4.4. Establish a harvest strategy framework Establish a harvest strategy framework -- target target

reference points.reference points.5.5. SIDS special requirements SIDS special requirements 6.6. Need for a robust MCS scheme. Need for a robust MCS scheme.

Thank you…