Making decisions about tuna fishing in the Pacific - WCPFC Factsheets

Ever wondered how countries negotiate the rules on tuna fishing? How international decisions between the Pacific Islands and the world’s biggest fishing countries are made? What is the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)? Who are its members and what it has done so far? How the WCPFC seeks to control fishing and illegal fishing?

These questions and more are answered in a set of WCPFC Factsheets produced by the GEF-funded Oceanic Fisheries Management Project. Written for non-governmental organisations and fishing industry association as well as high schools, universities, government department staff, media and others interested in fishing issues, the WCPFC Factsheets are presented with photos, diagrams and easy-to-read explanations of the technical and political decisions made at the WCPFC. They are freely available and downloadable by clicking the attachment titles below.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is the central decision making body for management of tuna fishing in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. Conservation and management measures (CMMs) of the Commission are legally binding and apply to all WCPFC members and the Convention area. Whereas members of FFA are from the Pacific Islands, members of WCPFC are FFA members and distant water fishing nations.

WCPFC's current members include Australia, China, Canada, Cook Islands, European Community, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Japan, Kiribati, Korea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Chinese Taipei, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America and Vanuatu. Out of a total of 32 participating territories and members of WCPFC, over half (17) are FFA members, forming a significant voting bloc (although so far in the WCPFC's history decisions have been made by consensus).

The Western and Central Pacific Ocean accounted for 54% of the world's tuna catch in 2007 making tuna a key economic resource. Increasingly industry, environmental organisations and the international community are closely monitoring the outcomes from WCPFC annual meetings.