WCPFC13

Victory for the Pacific as Japan gives way on tuna boat observer safety

Five observers have died or been murdered at sea in the past 6 years while providing regional scientists and compliance officials with the information they need to ensure the sustainability of tuna stocks.

The new measures were nearly lost as Japan refused to join the consensus, despite a week of talks.

As discussions hit barriers late on Friday, members were ready to take an unprecedented move and put the issue to vote. 

Hope for Pacific Bluefin tuna management as Northern Pacific tuna bloc forced to meet

Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency and the NGOs like WWF, Pew, Greenpeace and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership have been very vocal of the failure of the Northern Committee to make progress on this critical issue.

Director General of FFA James Movick told Pacific journalists in Nadi yesterday (Wednesday) that the Northern Committee has been ‘very resistant’.

Tuna Commission told to focus on enforcing its high seas fishing rules

The CEO of one of the region’s most important Pacific fisheries blocs – the Parties to the Nauru Agreement – issued a stern call to members of the Western Central and Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to end uncontrolled fishing on the high seas.

The WCPFC brings the Pacific resource owners together with global fishing powers to set rules in the world’s biggest fishery.