PNA MSC FREE SCHOOL SKIPJACK AND YELLOWFIN TUNA FISHERY Sustainability and Certification efforts of PNA nations / Pacifical Maurice Brownjohn OBE Commercial Manager PNA / Pacifical 15 th INFO TUNA Conference, Bangkok 30 th May 2018
8+1 PNA Parties smallest economies globally, but 8 large ocean states. Sustainability is not a option it is a matter of survival. FSM Kiribati Marshall Islands Nauru Palau Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands Tuvalu Tokelau [Now under MSC UOC.] - 40% bigger area than EU - 14.8 m km 2 EEZ, but that is our strength PNA EEZS
PNA Measures include many world firsts: - Because 1980s:- we can! Minimum Terms & Conditions Ship s Registry and good standing. Mandatory catch logbook report zone entry / exits 100% in port transship 1990 s: - 100% observer coverage on purse seiners Port to port - 100% satellite track 2000s :- High seas pocket closures Periodic FAD bans Tuna catch retention. VDS 2010 s:- MSC Free school certification Whale shark prohibition mesh size regulations At sea and port sampling Hard limits on effort FIMS and ifims ecds, eforms FAD registry and tracking TRP, LRP, Social accountability guidelines Current:- HCR, video observers, social accountability, bunkering in zone, FAD management.
WHY BENCHMARK AGAINST MSC?
Conservation measures supported by economic incentive to fish more sustainably MSC theory of change - in practice!
The Green Finger. PNA stocks are all green. All other RFMO heavily FAD dependent and have associated sustainability problems it needs a equilibrium! TRP we keep SKJ at 50% of unfished status, no precident
GEO INDICATOR USED AS A CO-BRAND WITH MSC on every pack:- Putting PNA nations on the map. Comprehensive traceability applies to every unit.
CHAIN OF CUSTODY - TRACEABILITY F. Hubert PNA have implemented a rigorous traceability monitoring system premised on MSC eligibility up to point of MSC certification at coldstore to ensure only genuine MSC-eligible fish enter the MSC chain of custody as MSC. This includes: MSC training for all participating boats, and each participating subject to a MOU Using 100% at sea observers, each MSC endorsed. Non reliance on captain s self determination of freeschool sets eg 1 nautical mile (nm) minimum distance to a FAD. It is irrelevant!!! IRD-Ifremer-FADIO F. Hubert Observer monitoring the catch composition during hauling, transfers and transshipping Ensuring fish wells are empty or only MSC present before loading. MSC-eligible fish in dry holds are separated by a double wall of netting as minimum physical separation, and fish may not be moved without an observer being present. Transshipment is only permitted in port and under strict observer-monitored specifications. Before skipjack and yellowfin tuna weights are confirmed for MSC certification at cold store, FADassociated species must be confirmed absent from out turn or rejected for certification. Mass balance checks are carried out at each stage to ensure conformity. The concept of eligibility from net to cold store, and only certified once graded and sorted. This has proven vital to a credible PNA coc scheme with many loads disqualified at cold store, due to either fad species being undetected to that point or possible fish added. 2,000 mt disqualified, slip through? or fraud??
LIKE A SERIES OF FILTERS
Social accountabilit y - increasingly in spotlight. PNA and Pacifical has lead globally with social accountability guidelines for purse seiners. Working with processors in PNG and RMI on SA 8000 standards for factories. 100% coverage and independence of observers in the purse seine fishery is critical. Safety of observers is paramount so they only observe. Monitors crews and conditions at the start of every trip and during the trip. Forum leaders highlighted IUU and human trafficking issues as a priority in 2016 communique.
What can a comprehensive and independent COCs for the fishery and factory, 3 rd Party observers and with NO self certification, - do for credible traceability? Under PNA / PACIFICAL platforms we collect 3rd party data from the net to the can and then can run the data backwards in unrivalled and documented genuine traceability. BUT a credible COC comes at a cost- why accept less?