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

Final <strong>Report</strong>
RoO Derogation under the PACP-IEPA
producing MSY), but was more optimistic for yellowfin. The likely failure of the measure for bigeye
was attributed to a combination of factors, including doubtful effectiveness of the FAD and high seas
closures at that time, purse seine effort increases allowed under various exemptions (30% increase
over 2001-04 levels), insufficient reductions in longline catch, and exemptions for fishing in
archipelagic waters. However, the annual session of the Commission in December 2009, in noting
these failings, was unable to come to agreement on measures to strengthen the CMM.
The first review of the FAD closure in August 2010, based on the analysis of available observer data,
concluded that the 2009 closure had little impact in reducing total effort, and that there was some
evidence of non-compliance, but bigeye catches were much reduced during the closure. 155
A review of the effectiveness of CMM 2008-01, presented several months later to the Seventh
Regular Session of the Commission (WCPFC 7) in 2010, advised that the measure had not been
effective in constraining growth of purse seine effort, that compliance with the FAD closure had
been generally good, that the HSP closure had resulted in transfer rather than removal of effort from
the fishery, that the 2009 longline catch of bigeye had been reduced by 21% relative to 2004 levels,
and that bigeye overfishing under the CMM might be reduced by 14%, but that this would increase
to 50% if the various exemptions and exclusions built into the CMM were removed. 156
WCPFC 7, in response, determined to adopt a process for 2011 to “develop an enhanced
conservation and management measure for tropical tunas (bigeye, skipjack and yellowfin) in the
WCPO”. 157
The second review of the FAD closures for 2009 and 2010, in August 2011, 158 reported strong
reduction in bigeye catch during the closure periods, good compliance, reduced use of drifting FADs
in 2010, and overall reduction in FAD use (and increased unassociated sets) during 2010. This review
was based on analysis of just over 30% of observer trips, due to a large data processing backlog of
the 100% coverage, but it is believed this was representative of fishery behaviour and will be verified
by later analyses with more complete coverage of the available observer data representing close to
100% coverage. Some of the projections based on the 2011 stock assessments have indicated more
positive outcomes with respect to bigeye under the fishing patterns which prevailed in 2010
(reduced bigeye longline catch, higher than usual effort on unassociated schools). 159 Fishing
mortality on bigeye, under some scenarios, was projected to return to MSY levels or below in 2015.
However, under the more normal fishing patterns which are prevailing in 2011, overfishing will
continue and WCPFC 7 recommended a reduction of at least 32% in fishing mortality from the
average levels for 2006-09.
Although these recent projections have generated some optimism,
160 this may be premature as
there remain many outstanding data issues, especially with bigeye longline catches for 2010, and
estimates of fishing mortality for the most recent year are highly uncertain. 151 The projections
confirmed the relatively healthy condition of the yellowfin and skipjack stocks into the future.
Attention will now turn to the updating of the projections as more data become available, and the
development of the enhanced and broader CMM to be adopted at the Regular Session in December
2011. 161
155 Harley et al. 2010.
156 SPC-OFP 2010.
157 WCPFC 2011i.
158 Hampton & Williams 2011.
159 SPC-OFP 2011a.
160 PNAO 2011b.
161 Now delayed until late March 2012 with the postponement of WCPFC8.
Linpico s.a.r.l. Page 92