Feleti P Teo Executive Director

Feleti P Teo Executive Director

Scope 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 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 WCPFC To ensure, through effective management, the longterm conservation and sustainable use of HMFS in the WCPO in accordance with UNCLOS and UNFSA.

Key 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 RFMOs

150W 20N 0 20S 130W 141E 180 60S

Membership 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 Tuna Katsuwonus pelamis 68% 21% 6% 5% Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares Bigeye Tuna Thunnus obesus Albacore Tuna Thunnus alalunga

2014 WCPO Tuna Production (by gear) Gear % Purse Seine 74 Longline 9 Poll-and-line 7 Others (Troll, ID, PH) 10

1084 616 817 Other pole and line, trollers, support vessels, harpooners, research vessels Carriers and bunkers Purse seiners, including tuna purse seiners 3665 Longliners, including tuna longliners and freezer longliners http://www.wcpfc.int/vessels

6182 817 283 in good standing with FFA Approx 230 are registered on the PNA VDS register ¼ are presently flagged to Pacific Island countries

6182 3665 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

WCPFC s s Recent Stock Assessments 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Bigeye (WCPO) SA SA Update tuna (Pacific-wide) Update Yellowfin tuna SA SA Skipjack tuna SA SA South Pacific (SP) albacore SA SA North Pacific (NP) albacore SA SA Pacific bluefin tuna SA SA SP swordfish SA NP swordfish SA SP striped marlin SA NP striped marlin SA Pacific blue marlin SA Oceanic whitetip shark SA Silky shark SA SA NP blue shark SA SA NP mako shark SA

Bigeye Tuna Thunnus obesus Overfished: Fishing mortality be reduced No further increase in catches Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares Skipjack Tuna Katusuwonus pelamis Avoid further increase in fishing mortality, keep stock at current levels

Summary of Scientific Advice Stabilize/maintain/ no increase Skipjack tuna Yellowfin tuna Albacore tuna SW Pacific swordfish Pacific-wide Blue marlin Rebuild stock / reduce catch Bigeye tuna Pacific bluefin tuna SW Pacific striped marlin WCNP striped marlin Silky shark Oceanic whitetip shark

CHALLENGES IN MANAGING THE WCPO STOCKS

Key Challenges 1.Multi Multi-stocks 2.Multi Multi-gear 3.Data collection 4.Coastal states v Flag states 5.SIDS v Developed 6.Compliance

1. Purse seine measures 2. Longline measures Management Measures

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

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 tools 1. Record of Fishing Vessels 2. Commission VMS 3. Regional Observer Programme 4. High Seas Boarding and Inspection scheme 5. WCPFC IUU List 6. Compliance monitoring scheme

Conclusion and Take Home Messages 1. Bigeye and Pacific Bluefin tunas overfished. 2. Catch levels continue to increase. 3. Need to review fishing capacity. 4. Establish a harvest strategy framework - target reference points. 5. SIDS special requirements 6. Need for a robust MCS scheme.

Thank you