UPDATE ON FFA IUU MITIGATION

2017 PACIFIC TUNA FORUM 13- 14 SEPTEMBER

PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Hugh Walton Chief Technical Adviser and Project Coordinator

Oceanic Fisheries Management Project II Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency

Honiara, Solomon Islands

FFA Background

▪ FFA is an alliance of 17 Pacific Countries ▪ Not an RFMO ▪ Formed in late 70’s to get maximum advantage

from UNCLOS (EEZs) ▪ Driven by common interest (especially in terms

of MCS) – easier than RFMOs Measures and activities driven mainly by coastal State

interests (although growing flag States)

WCPO and FFA waters

Western Pacific Ocean in Context

Importance – revenues and jobs

Resource Status

The Majuro plot updated

Resource Status• The blue and green dotted lines represent the “target

reference points” for skipjack and albacore respectively. They are the points that we really want those stocks to be.

• The cross hairs around each stock represent the uncertainty in the stock assessment. While BET and YFT are in the green, BUT there is a very small chance they could be red so caution is required in their management.

• While ALB re is well in the green, it has been depleted to a point where the economic viability of the fishery is under threat. The catch rates in the fishery simply aren’t high enough to allow longliners to earn sufficient revenue to be profitable and management reform is quite urgent.

Background – the findings of the IUU study

• The 2016 IUU report estimated the value of total product either harvested or transhipped involving IUU activity in Pacific tuna fisheries at USD $616.11m, with a potential economic loss to Members of $152.67m.

• This IUU fishing is mostly driven by licensed vessels (over 95% of the total estimated volume and value of IUU activity) and primarily relates to under-reporting, misreporting and non-reporting.

Background – the findings of the IUU study

• Stronger catch monitoring arrangements are required in the longline sector – mechanisms to independently verify catch in the longline sectors are limited for many fleets.

• Additional measures are required to strengthen confidence in catch reporting and compliance with catch-based CMMs and generate better estimates of IUU activity;

Background – the findings of the IUU study

• Achieving more accurate estimates of IUU activity require stronger monitoring and coordination of relevant statistics and achieving more accurate estimates of IUU activity will require stronger monitoring and analysis, and the coordination of relevant statistics.

• While in some cases, this may require ‘new’ initiatives, in many cases it will simply require more effective use of existing facilities;

Background – the findings of the IUU study

Results indicate that substantial uncertainty still exists in relation to IUU activity across a range of key risks, and additional measures are required to strengthen compliance incentives, reinforce deterrents to non-compliance and improve monitoring throughout the supply chain

Background – the findings of the IUU study

Key priorities in the longline sectors are to: • Strengthen mechanisms for independent

monitoring of catch through the supply chain; • Strengthen transhipment monitoring and control; • Strengthen on-board monitoring of fishing

activity through improved observer coverage and the introduction of electronic monitoring technology.

Background – the findings of the IUU study

In the purse seine sector, MCS arrangements are generally stronger than the longline sector. Based on the current management of the purse seine fishery, priorities include: • Strengthening mechanisms to verify fishing

activity (e.g. to assess non-fishing day claims; FAD fishing during the closure);

• Catch verification through the use of cannery data;

• Better monitoring and management of FAD usage.

IUU study – mitigation measures

MONITORING • Strengthening observer coverage • Improve Dockside monitoring • Increase Electronic reporting and monitoring • Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) • Optimising use of VMS • FAD registration and tracking • Catch verification through trade/cannery data • Analytical tracking of potential transhipments

IUU study – mitigation measures

CONTROL • Stronger sanctions • Administrative penalties for ‘minor’

offences • Prohibition of transhipment at sea \ • ‘No-go’ areas in closed waters

IUU study – mitigation measures

SURVEILLANCE

• Increased aerial surveillance capacity • Satellite monitoring and • Increased surface surveillance • Drones and UAVs

IUU study – mitigation measures

SUPPORT MEASURES • Strengthening the use of information

management technology • Strengthening analytical capacity, national and

regional • Strengthening MCS coordination, national and

regional • Strengthening national protocols for

responding to potential violations

IUU – SOME INDUCATORS OF PROGRESS

• MCS OVERVIEW • DATA SHARING AND IMFORMATION MANAGEMENT • OBSERVERS • ELECTRONIC REPORTING AND MONITORING • MARITIME SECURITY – ARIEL SURVEILLANCE • MARITIME SECURITY – PATROL BOATS • ACTIVE (VOLUNTARY) COMPLIANCE • PROGRESS AND LESSONS LEARNED

MCS

Observers

VMS/AIS

Regional

Surv Pictur

e

Data fusion and intel

Regional

Register

HMTCs

Legis Refor

m

Regional

Operation

Aerial Surv

Satelite

Trials

NTSA

Training

Pros Suppo

rt

WCPC

Support

Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre -MCS support to FFA Members

• Provide analysed Surveillance Picture to FFA Members and QUAD Surveillance Providers to support national MCS activities.

• Analytical capacity complimenting Members’ MCS efforts.

• Coordinate QUAD surveillance with Members’ MCS activity.

• Assist Members through provision of case packages (incl. evidence to support prosecutions). - Capacity build Members on regional MCS tools

• Host the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) for the 4 regional MCS operations conducted each year.

Regional Surveillance picture

Data fusion and analysis

AIS WCPFC VMS FFA VMS

Sharing is caring!

89% of FFA VMS data shared -critical

76% of Licensing data shared -critical

53% other relevant data shared (very important)

PIRFO – Pacific Island Regional Fisheries Observer

• PIRFO – standards based observer qualifications (observer, debriefer, trainer, front line manager

• ≈ 800 Observers available in the region - All uniformly trained and certified

• Sourced from National Programmes • Role of the Observer - Observe and Record

Information - Scientific Data - Compliance Information • Electronic reporting • Testimony in court

Electronic Reporting and Monitoring

Monitoring • High definition video cameras + GPS • Gear sensors • Hard drives • Office observers

Electronic Reporting and Monitoring

Reporting • More than 270 purse seine vessels e

reporting logsheets • E reporting for longline required by PNA

for LL VDS • More than 60 Observers e reporting • EM and ER = real time reporting and data

entry at source

Electronic Reporting and Monitoring

implications • Enhanced capacity for data analysis • Focus on data for fisheries management

decision making • Enhanced capacity to detect and act on

anomalies and undertake investigation • Increased compliance incentive

Pacific Maritime Security Project

• Info and Intel are only useful if there’s a response capacity

• New initiative – PMSP • Dedicated and coordinated aerial

surveillance • Region wider patrol boat replacement project • Sharp declines in illegal fishing (now 4%) due

to high visibility operations

Pacific Maritime Security Project – enhanced aerial surveillance

Pacific Maritime Security Project – enhanced patrol

boat program

Other Key Tools

• Port State Measures

• Catch Documentation Scheme

• EU yellow cards

Fighting IUU

Actual financial loss to FFA members ≈ 150 mil

“Illegal” Fishing Vessels

4% 2017 30% 10 years ago

Successes and Challenges

Successes

• Strength through cooperation • Data sharing works • High visibility = deterrence • Info leverages Quad support • Precedent for WCPFC

Successes and Challenges

Challenges • Adjusting to address other IUU risks (EM/

ER, CDS) • Non-tuna IUU threats (blue boats) • Getting best value from data – fisheries

related crime, not just IUU • Evolving organisational processes • Promoting active compliance • Continuing to evolve

Active compliance

Compliance incentives - The cost of non compliance

• Forfeiture of vessel and catch • Large fines • LOSS OF FISHING RIGHT

The cost of non compliance

“Fishing vessel owner convicted for oil and garbage offenses” A fishing vessel company convicted and sentenced for maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of oil and garbage, Under the terms of the plea agreement, the Company will pay a total fine of US$2.5 million, which includes a community service payment of US$625,000 for use in the National Marine Sanctuary. The company will also serve a 5-year period of probation.

Active compliance• Potential for more committed access

right • Lower costs of less monitoring • Possible licensing incentives • More secure investment • Potential market incentives for certified

product • Links to social accountability

Thank you!

Hugh Walton Hugh.Walton@ffa.int