Report on the Implementation of the derogation to ... - Trade Websites

Final <strong>Report</strong>
RoO Derogation under the PACP-IEPA
seine vessel numbers are anticipated in the short term, under management measures incorporating
effort limits (CMM 2008-01 and the PNA VDS), and even though these have not been fully effective,
the recent growth phase in the fishery has certainly slowed. As noted, there has been no increase in
vessel numbers on the FFA RVR during the past nine months. Some fleets are ageing and vessels will
need to be replaced – this is already occurring to some extent, and generally involves scrapping of
vessels equivalent to the new capacity, though some islandization has occurred. 144 Several distant
water fishing nations (e.g. Japan, Korea) have also voluntarily imposed a moratorium on the
construction of new vessels.
In the specific case of PNG, licences are to be allocated in association with new PNG processing
plants (see Section 3.2.2) which will result in additional vessels and capacity joining PNG’s purse
seine fishery. Under NFA’s current vessel licensing policy, each plant has been approved fishing
licences (generally ten licences). Under the NFA policy, “only those vessels with fishing history in the
WCPO will be considered for licences; for any new vessel to be considered for licensing, proof of
145
scrapping an old vessel (or vessels) of equivalent capacity in the WCPFC-CA must be provided”.
However, it is expected that some of these associated vessels will come from beyond the PNA/FFA
area (e.g. Philippines domestic vessels), and whilst currently fishing within the WCPO, they will add
to FFA RVR numbers, as has already been the case with Philippines foreign access vessels fishing in
PNG. If such vessels re-flag as PNG, they will also likely gain access to archipelagic waters, as well as
EEZ waters and hence, fishing days within AW would be exempted under the VDS. Hence, there will
inevitably be some increase in fishing effort in PNG waters, but overall WCPO catch and effort should
remain stable or will not increase significantly.
Future issues are more likely to involve increased competition amongst processors and traders for a
relatively constant or only marginally increasing supply of raw material, assuming little additional
growth in supply can be expected in the WCPO. Global sourcing may have had little or no impact
until now, since the supply of fish for processors and traders has not generally been limiting.
Any impact in the medium term (e.g. in five years time) is difficult to gauge, but if existing effort
limitations remain in place, and other more stringent management measures are put in place (e.g.
limit and target reference points and especially harvest control rules required of PNA/WCPFC as
conditions of the recent MSC certification), then irrespective of fleet size, effort (fishing days) will be
limited, leading to some economic rationalization of an essentially ageing fleet.
5.4 Fisheries Management Frameworks and Institutions
5.4.1 Regional level institutions
i) Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) was established with the entry into
force of the WCPFC Convention in July 2004. 146 It was the first RFMO 147 established since the
144 Islandization involves the re-flagging of an existing vessel, usually belonging to a DWFN company, to Pacific
Island control, normally involving joint venture ownership to promote domestic development. In the case of
Japanese islandization vessels transferred to PICs (two as at October 2011), equivalent fishing capacity must be
removed by scrapping an existing vessel(s) operating within the WCPFC Convention Area.
145 Interviews, various NFA officials, September 2011; written advice from NFA Managing Director, S. Pokajam,
December 2011.
146 Much of the history of regional and sub-regional arrangements is sourced from Hanich 2010.
Linpico s.a.r.l. Page 89