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Final <strong>Report</strong>
RoO Derogation under the PACP-IEPA
Other management issues for WCPFC
In managing the stocks under its care, the Commission has yet to establish formal reference
points 162 - target (TRP) or limit (LRP) - to guide the management of these stocks, and to develop
associated harvest control rules (HCRs). Whilst it has this gap in the management framework in
common with most other RFMOs, and although de facto MSY-based indicators are already used in
assessing the condition of the stocks, the absence of formal RPs and HCRs is still seen as a major
weakness, and was identified such in the recent MSC assessment of the PNA skipjack fishery. 163 In
particular, work has commenced in identifying and evaluating possible limit reference points, with
the conclusion that adoption of limit reference points is important immediately for bigeye and
yellowfin, whereas setting target reference points to maximize fishery importance is the priority for
skipjack. 164 With the recent approval of MSC certification for the PNA unassociated skipjack fishery,
WCPFC, through PNA, will be required to implement RPs and HCRs as firm conditions of the
certification.
Another issue for the Commission has been with its decision-making process (Art. 22), which
normally occurs by consensus on substantive matters such as the adoption of CMMs. However, it
has proved difficult to achieve consensus on several contentious management issues. With a twochamber
voting system (FFA and non-FFA members) and a two or more vote majority required in
each chamber, the Commission has thus far been unwilling to go to a formal vote. The decision
making process is perceived as a potential weakness in achieving endorsement for required
management decisions, such as the planned revisions to CMM 2008-01.
EU involvement in WCPFC
The EU has been a member of WCPFC since soon after its inception, and is part of the diverse non-
FFA voting chamber. Despite its relatively minor involvement in fishing (and processing) activity in
165
the WCPO, the EU is an active and regular participant in the work of the Commission. It has
presented ten delegation papers and proposals to Regular Sessions of the Commission on topics
such as IUU fishing, a CMM on port state measures, catch documentation scheme (CDS), support for
developing states under Article 30, and observer cross-endorsement. It also participates fully in the
work of the Commission’s subsidiary bodies – the Scientific Committee and the Technical and
Compliance Committee.
ii)
Secretariat of the Pacific Community
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), formed in 1947 as the South Pacific Commission and
with a broad membership currently including PICs, PI territories and Australia, France, NZ and the
USA, provides technical services across various sectors to its PICs and PI territories. SPC’s Oceanic
Fisheries Programme (OFP) provides scientific services not only to its members, but also serves as
science provider and data manager to the WCPFC, undertaking stock assessments and maintaining a
range of databases for the Commission.
162
Reference points are indicators of the status of a stock. Target reference points (TRP) indicate the desirable
position for the stock to be in with respect to fishing mortality and recruitment, are often based on Maximum
Sustainable Yield (MSY) levels and may incorporate socio-economic goals. Limit reference points (LRPs) are the
minimum biologically acceptable limits to sustainable harvest.
163 MSC 2011.
164 For example, Preece et al. 2011; Harley & Davies 2011; earlier papers at SC6.
165 Four Spanish vessels fishing under FPAs, 10 beneficially-owned vessels fishing under bilateral access
agreements; total catch 2010 ~ 50,000 mt or < 3% of the WCPO catch; some longline fishing targeting
swordfish.
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