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Final <strong>Report</strong>
RoO Derogation under the PACP-IEPA
contribute to regional assessments, as well as generating assessment data specific to the in-zone
dynamics and management of PNG stocks. This commenced in 2010 and will continue for another
two years.
PNG is at the forefront of developing a regional catch documentations scheme (CDS) acceptable to
all parties, 191 as strongly pushed for by the EU, and as the EU-accredited Competent Authority for
both the EU SPS and IUU Fishing Regulations, has well developed capacity in this area (see Sections
5.5 and 5.6).
Stakeholder involvement in the management of PNG fisheries is provided by the PNG Fishing
Industry Association (PNGFIA), which has input to fisheries management policies and development
strategies, through its representation on the NFA Board and participation in consensus decisions.
5.4.4 Current effectiveness of management institutions
Within the Kobe process, performance reviews of RFMOs, using common criteria and methodology,
have been agreed to in the Kobe Action Plan. 192 Reviews have already been undertaken or are
ongoing for CCSBT, ICCAT and IOTC, but have yet to be initiated for WCPFC and IATTC. There has also
been an EU-sponsored review of the effectiveness of RFMOs, but the outcomes of this are not yet
available. 193 The agreed criteria for these reviews provide a good framework for assessing the
current effectiveness of institutions with respect to conservation and management at various levels
within the WCPO. This has been attempted in Table 5.4 below, based on information presented in
the preceding sections (5.4.1 Regional, 5.4.2 Sub-regional and 5.4.3 National (PNG)).
At regional level, the Commission seems to meet most criteria, based on this subjective analysis, and
has made good progress in the conservation and management in the seven years since its inception.
The quality and timely provision of the science is a strength of the regional structure, combined with
data collection and data sharing arrangements, which have been in place for some time through the
efforts of the existing regional organizations (SPC, FFA). A wide range of CMMs covering most issues
has been adopted, and a Compliance Monitoring Scheme (CMS) for these CMMs is now in place.
Compatibility issues may not be completely resolved, but there is good awareness of the need to do
so and active efforts are being made to address these issues
Sub-regional activities, at least in the PNA/FFA area, are based on a solid platform in place for over a
decade, as summarized in Table 5.4. These activities are well-resourced, have seen considerable
growth in technical capability, and have enjoyed strong political support. Vindication of the
management framework put in place at sub-regional (PNA) level, exerting sustainable management
over a significant proportion of regional stocks (e.g. 60% of skipjack catch), has been provided by the
recent MSC certification.
In the western-most sub-region of the WCPO (i.e. Indonesia, Philippines), higher exploitation rates
and biomass depletion are the case for some species, and serious data gaps exist, but are being
addressed through initiatives of the Commission and the CCMs themselves. The GEF-funded
Western Pacific East Asia Oceanic Fisheries Management Project (WPEA OFMP) is building
management capacity, ensuring compliance with WCPFP requirements, and implementing data
collection and monitoring programmes with some success. This follows on from the earlier
Indonesia-Philippines Data Collection Project, funded by the WCPFC and extra-budgetary
191 PNG Delegation 2011.
192 WCPFC 2011a.
193 Aranda et al. 2010.
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