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Final <strong>Report</strong>
RoO Derogation under the PACP-IEPA
The SPC/OFP also undertakes targeted biological research in the region, including tuna, billfish and
by-catch species, delivers regional tuna tagging programmes, is involved with regional observer
training, deployment, quality control and data entry, and supports data collection/port sampling
programmes in Indonesia, Philippines and Indonesia, through the WCPFC Secretariat, as well as
throughout the FFA sub-region.
Delivery of advice to member countries mainly occurs via National Tuna Fishery Status <strong>Report</strong>s
(NTFSRs) which provide scientific inputs to national tuna management plans, inform national
understanding of national fisheries dynamics and issues, serve as a valuable reference source and
inform subregional (FFA) and regional analyses and assessments. 166
iii) Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, formed in 1979 and including the independent PICs, as
well as Australia and New Zealand, promotes cooperation and harmonization of fisheries
management policies and in the past, has largely driven management initiatives in the wide region
occupied by its members.
FFA also negotiated and administers the US Multilateral Tuna Treaty, the Niue Treaty (cooperation in
fisheries surveillance and law enforcement), and was instrumental in the adoption of the Wellington
Convention (prohibition of fishing with long driftnets in the South Pacific).
FFA established the Regional Vessel Register and the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) as key
regional compliance tools, and continues to support regional MCS activity, guided by the Regional
MCS Strategy adopted in 2010. 167 It organizes, for example, joint MCS deployment exercises in the
region involving FFA PIC member states, and navies of Australia, NZ and France, and coordinates
aerial surveillance activity.
In resource management and development terms, FFA is guided by a Regional Tuna Management
168
and Development Strategy. Through the collective actions of its members, it remains an influential
advisory, rather than regulatory force within the management framework for the region, regularly
providing coordinated key inputs to the development of CMMs within the Commission, for both
compliance and stock management issues. FFA members’ position is also recognized in the
Convention decision-making process where they constitute one of the two voting chambers.
5.4.2 Sub-regional level institutions
Only the PNA is discussed here, although other sub-regional bodies exist with the WCPO framework
(e.g. the Northern Committee, established under Art. 11(7) of the Convention, to make
recommendations on the conservation and management of stocks in the Convention Area north of
20 0 N; stocks covered by this body are largely outside the concern of this review).
166 National Tuna Fishery Status <strong>Report</strong>s (NTFSR) available at:
http://www.spc.int/oceanfish/en/ofpsection/sam/national-reports-a-advice
167 FFA 2011; available at http://www.ffa.int/mcs-strategy#attachments
168 FFA 2009; available at http://www.ffa.int/node/302#attachments
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