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

Final <strong>Report</strong>
RoO Derogation under the PACP-IEPA
coordinated effort is required between canneries, national and provincial governments, local
community leaders, as well as concerned NGOs.
5 MANAGEMENT OF TUNA RESOURCES IN THE WCPO
5.1 Tuna Stock Status
Despite providing over 50% of the global tuna catch of primary market species, stocks of WCPO
tunas are generally in good condition relative to other ocean areas, with none of the main stocks of
interest in an overfished state and only one currently subject to overfishing (bigeye). The Western
and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is charged with the responsibility for the
conservation and management of the stocks in the WCPO. 113 Comprehensive assessments of the
status of the main tuna stocks in the WCPO (skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye and albacore) are provided
by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SCP) as the contracted science provider and database
manager to the Commission. The highly regarded assessments 114 are undertaken with the
collaboration of WCPFC members, cooperating non-members and participating territories (CCMs) 115
on a regular basis, but generally every few years for most species of interest, and more often in the
case of species where particular concerns may apply (e.g. bigeye tuna). The assessments are subject
to peer review, with the first such review undertaken this year for yellowfin, producing a positive
conclusion. 116 Assessments of other species in the fishery (e.g. billfish) may be undertaken as
availability of required catch/effort and biological data permit.
In 2011, assessments of all four tuna species of primary interest (skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye,
albacore) were undertaken in a single year for the first time. The outcomes for the three main
species of interest here,
117 with implications for the future condition of the stock, are summarized in
Table 5.1 below. Measures in place to address sustainable management of these stocks, with
evaluation of their effectiveness are considered in Section 5.4.
113 WCPFC Convention, Art 3 (3).
114 Allen 2010.
115 WCPFC Members, Cooperating non-members and participating territories (CCMs).
116 SPC-OFP (2011b).
117 Albacore assessment outcomes, involving two stocks, north and south Pacific, are not included here, as
albacore are caught primarily by longline and are not currently canned/loined in PNG. South Pacific albacore
stocks are under-exploited and in healthy condition.
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