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Final <strong>Report</strong>
RoO Derogation under the PACP-IEPA
The yellowfin stock is neither overfished nor is overfishing occurring, and there has been little
change in recent assessments. 124 Both biomass and fishing mortality are approaching MSY levels and
in the western equatorial regions (including PNG waters) where most of the catch is taken, high
exploitation rates and strong reductions in biomass are occurring. Continuing restrictions on effort
are recommended but the projections for the future condition of the stock are generally positive. 125
The status of the bigeye stock has attracted the most concern for some time, as it has been judged
subject to overfishing for more than a decade. This overfishing continues and a 32% reduction in
fishing morality was recommended in the current assessment, 126 continuing previous such
recommendations. Reduction of bigeye overfishing has been the main thrust of CMM 2008-01 (see
Section 5.4.1). There is some indication that management actions would reduce bigeye fishing
mortality if current patterns of fishing continue (i.e. those for 2010, with increased unassociated
school fishing, reduced longline catch etc.) (see Section 5.4.1). However, this is unlikely, with a
return to more normal fishing patterns observed during 2011 (i.e. less unassociated school fishing,
typical levels of fishing on fish-aggregating devices (FADs) etc.); overfishing will continue under these
fishing patterns. The bigeye catch in 2010 was 16% lower than the average for the recent period
(2006-2009), 127 as a result of reduced catches by all gears. Although the stock is not yet in an
overfished state, concern over the bigeye stock remains.
Changes in stock status since RoO derogation
The status of the three major stocks of interest to the purse seine fishery has shown little change
post-derogation, with one stock (bigeye) continuing to be subject to overfishing, as it has been for a
decade, despite the intent of the primary management measure (CMM 2008-01). Total catches in
the WCPO have declined slightly since the record high of 2009, and in 2010 were similar to those of
2008, but effort levels remain considerably above those for 2004. It is expected, on the basis of
current stock projections that management measures currently in place will continue to maintain
the stocks of skipjack and yellowfin at sustainable levels, provided there is good compliance with
existing and future management measures. Revision of the current key conservation and
management measure (CMM 2008-01) at the upcoming WCPFC 8 (re-scheduled from December
2011 to March 2012) to take account of most recent management advice and to include skipjack for
the first time, on a precautionary basis, should further strengthen sustainable management of these
stocks. The issue of bigeye overfishing remains to be satisfactorily addressed, despite some apparent
recent reduction in catch by the main gears.
5.2 Catch and effort trends
The provisional estimate of the 2010 catch of the four main tuna species in the WCPFC Convention
Area was 2,421,113 mt, the second highest on record after the record high of the previous year
(2,494,112 mt). 128 The total catch increased sharply during the early 2000s with the addition of
vessels to the purse seine fleet, but this growth has slowed and stabilised since 2007 at around 2.4
million mt (Figure 5.1). The WCPFC-Convention Area (WCPFC-CA) accounted for 83% of the total
Pacific Ocean catch and 60% of the provisional global catch estimate for 2010.
124 Langley et al. 2011.
125 SPC-OFP 2011a.
126 Davies et al. 2011.
127 Harley et al. 2011.
128 Williams & Terawasi 2011, updated in Harley et al., 2011.
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