WCPFC—It's Time to Make It Work
Read the full policy statement (PDF)
The Pew Environment Group calls on Members, Cooperating Non-members, and Participating Territories (CCMs, collectively) of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to take the following critical actions at the 9th Regular Session of the Commission:
1. Adopts an Effective Conservation and Management Measure (CMM) for Tropical Tunas that Ends Overfishing of Bigeye Tuna
1.1 Catch fewer juvenile bigeye by limiting the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs) to 2010 levels
1.2 Catch fewer adult bigeye and more accurately report longline catch
1.3 Maintain and expand high seas pocket closures
1.4 Implement a compliance regime with CMMS
2. Implement Catch Limits and Improve Monitoring and Transparency
2.1 Improve FAD management
2.2 Establish target and limit reference points for all WCPFC-managed tuna species
2.2.1 Implement science-based catch limits for Pacific bluefin tuna
2.3 Increase the transparency of the International Scientific Committee (ISC) for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean scientific process
3. Adopt Conservation and Management Measures to Protect Sharks
3.1 Prohibit the retention of silky and hammerhead sharks
3.2 Prohibit purse seine vessels from intentionally setting nets around whale sharks
3.3 Mandate the use of shark bycatch mitigation methods
3.4 Prohibit the removal of shark fins at sea to improve enforcement of the shark finning ban
4. Strengthen Controls Against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing
4.1 Improve port State measures to deter IUU fishing activities
4.2 Require International Maritime Organization (IMO) numbers for vessels of 100 gross tonnes or more or 24 meters or greater operating in the WCPFC area
4.3 Review and strengthen WCPFC controls for transshipment at sea and require all vessels, including those within EEZs in the Convention Area, to comply with the WCPFC's vessel monitoring and surveillance (VMS) rules
