Ecosystems Analysis

The Convention requires that the impacts of fishing on non-target and associated or dependent species, and ecosystem impacts in general, be considered when management measures are being developed for highly migratory fish stocks.Specifically, the Convention requires Parties to:

“assess the impacts of fishing, other human activities and environmental factors on target stocks, non-target species, and species belonging to the same ecosystem or dependent upon or associated with the target stocks”;

“adopt measures to minimise waste, discards, catch by lost or abandoned gear, pollution originating from fishing vessels, catch of non-target species, both fish and non-fish species, (hereinafter referred to as non-target species) and impacts on associated or dependent species, in particular endangered species and promote the development and use of selective, environmentally safe and cost-effective fishing gear and techniques”; and

“protect biodiversity in the marine environment”.

It is envisaged that the WCPF Commission will require several types of information and advice in order to consider the ecosystem implications of the fisheries under its jurisdiction, including

• the effects on the overall pelagic ecosystem of removal of target species, which are generally higher trophic level predators;
• the effects of environmental variation on target stocks, their ecosystem and the fisheries;
• the effects of fisheries on non-target and dependent or associated species, in particular the levels of by-catch of non-target species of special interest, such as billfish, sharks and various protected species of marine mammals and turtles; and
• the effects of fisheries on biodiversity and habitats of special interest.

In time, the Commission requirements for ecosystem analysis will need to be fully incorporated into the research programme of the Commission and be funded by its Members. However, in the start-up period of the Commission, the resources are not expected to be available for the basic investigations needed to begin to operationalise an ecosystem approach to the Commission’s management and conservation and management functions, and this work will be undertaken with GEF funds under Sub-Component 1, complemented by funding from the EU.

Pilot research and data collection on ecosystem aspects has been undertaken by SPC/OFP, both through the Pacific SAP project and the EU-funded PROCFish project.

The focus of the work to date has been on developing an initial description of the trophic relationships in the WTP LME in order to ultimately assess the impacts of large predator removal (point 1 above), developing preliminary models of the effects of environmental variability (particularly ENSO-driven variability) on tuna fisheries and stocks (point 2 above) and initiating and improving scientific observer coverage of industrial tuna fisheries in order to obtain better estimates of by-catch (point 3 above).These pilot activities have provided important initial information and the Sub-Component will build on this work so that ecosystem considerations can be operationalised for oceanic fisheries management advice at the national and regional levels.IUCN and SPC/OFP will collaborate to undertake specific activities to obtain information on the ecology of, and fishery impacts on, seamounts as a habitat of special concern (point 4 above).The seamount work will involve a review of historical fisheries data to determine historical patterns of fishing in relation to seamounts; an extensive data collection programme by observers and dedicated research cruises to determine the ecological characteristics of seamounts; and tagging of tunas and other pelagic species in the vicinity of seamounts to determine their residence characteristics.IUCN will arrange a research cruise to undertake underwater survey work at selected seamounts to determine benthic biodiversity and the Sub-Component will support the participation of Pacific SIDS technical and scientific personnel in the research cruise.The results of the research cruise/benthic biodiversity surveys will be included in awareness raising activities to complement information about fisheries and seamounts.

This information will allow assessments of the need for, and utility of, seamount-specific management measures.Moreover, it is anticipated that the results of the Project will enable the scientific assessment of specific proposals regarding the management of ecosystem impacts and the efficacy of specific classes of management measures such as marine protected areas (MPAs).

Whereas the work of Sub-Components 1.1 and 1.2 are directed largely at the Pacific SIDS in the first instance, complementing regional-level stock assessment and monitoring work that will be financed by the Commission and other agencies, the outputs of Sub-Component 1.3 will be more broadly directed towards raising the awareness of ecosystem considerations by the Commission and its Members, including Pacific SIDS.Results of ecosystem analysis and proposals for long-term ecosystem monitoring will be provided to the Commission’s Scientific Committee through its Ecosystems and Bycatch Working Group.Staff of Pacific SIDS fisheries/environment administrations and NGOs will be involved in the work of the Sub-Component through attachment training, involvement in fieldwork and workshops.

Documents Available on External Websites

• PNG Tuna Tagging Project Summary Report of Cruise 1 (Aug - Nov 2006)
• PNG Tuna Tagging Project Summary Report of Cruise 2 (Feb - May 2007)