WCPFC – Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

WCPFC Crosscutting & Specific Asks

1. Adopt EM Minimum Standards (developed by the ER and EM Working Group) and a timeline for implementation by WCPFC by 2023. Require 100% observer coverage (human and/or electronic) in industrial tuna fisheries, including all those vessels engaged in at sea transshipment, by 2024.
2. Amend the current at-sea transshipment measure (CMM 2009-06) to be in line with best practices, such as those recommended in the NGO Tuna Forum’s Aligned Guidance on At-Sea Transshipment.
3. Adopt stronger FAD management measures in line with the NGO Tuna Forum’s Aligned Guidance on FAD Management. Specifically in 2022, (in the FAD Management WG) develop recommendations on the implementation of biodegradable FADs, including a timeline for transitioning to 100% biodegradable FADs, and require the use of only fully non-entangling FAD designs without netting or other meshed materials. In 2023, require the provision of near real-time FAD position and acoustic records data for scientific use, develop a fully transparent FAD-recovery policy, a FAD marking scheme, clearer rules for FAD ownership and stronger rules for activation and deactivation of FAD buoys.
4. Strengthen WCPFC’s existing shark finning measure by revising CMM 2019-04 to require ALL sharks being landed with fins naturally attached without exceptions, thereby adopting the globally acknowledged best practice to prevent finning.