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

Final <strong>Report</strong>
RoO Derogation under the PACP-IEPA
5.3 Profile of WCPO purse seine fishing fleets
The industrial purse seine fleet of the WCPO is the largest operating in the four ocean areas within
the competence of RFMOs. 131 As of mid-October 2011, there were 263 vessels on the FFA Regional
Vessel Register (RVR), 132 compared to around 190 in 2007. 133 These numbers do not include a large
number of small-medium size domestic vessels fishing in Japan, Indonesia and Philippines, and a few
smaller vessels in PNG and Korea. The number of purse seine vessels on the WCPFC Register of
Fishing Vessels (RFV) is listed as 728. 134 France and Spain also have 16 and 33 vessels respectively on
the RFV but of these, only four of the Spanish vessels are currently active in the region, fishing under
Fisheries Partnership Agreements (FPAs). There also 10 beneficially-owned EU vessels fishing in the
region under bilateral access agreements, mostly in the eastern part of the region (Kiribati, Tuvalu,
Tokelau). In addition, another ~40 vessels are beneficially owned by Taiwan interests (Vanuatu flag,
USA, Tuvalu etc).
Otherwise, the two vessel lists are in good agreement, with the total number of medium-large purse
135
seine vessels active fishing in the WCPO estimated to be around 280.
Figure 5.2 Number of purse seine vessels by flag on the FFA Regional Vessel Register, October
2011.
No. of vessels
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
45
36 35 34
27
16
12
10 10
7 7 6 5 4
2
Source: FFA Regional Vessel Register; R. Chand, FFA, pers.comm. 2011.
The WCPO purse seine catch has traditionally been dominated by the fleets of four countries (Korea,
Japan, USA, Taiwan), which account for over 60% of the catch (Figure 5.3). The PNG fleet (comprised
of domestic and locally-based foreign chartered vessels) was the fourth ranked fleet in terms of
catch, with the Philippines catch (from distant water and domestic vessels) also significant. The catch
131 Generally vessels > 200 GT.
132 Since 1991, vessels fishing within the EEZs of FFA members have been required to be in good standing on
the FFA Regional Fishing Vessel Register (RVR). Registration by domestic vessels is voluntary, and chartered
vessels fishing in PNG are only registered if PNG requires them to be so. R.Chand, FFA, pers. comm.., October
2011.
133 Numbers are not directly comparable as some domestic or chartered vessels were not listed on the FFA
RVR at that time (since registration for these vessel classes is voluntary).
134 A total of 5,934 vessels are listed on the WCFPC RFV (see WCPFC-TCC7-11 Annex 1) and 1,327 on the FFA
RVR.
135 Williams & Terawasi, 2011; Figure 4.
Linpico s.a.r.l. Page 84