WCPFC

By webmaster - Posted on 05 August 2008

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.

FFA's support for members at the WCPFC

FFA coordinates subregional workshops, preparatory meetings for the WCPFC Scientific Committee and Technical Committee meetings and FFC meetings so that all its 17 members have information and discussions to prepare for their participation in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) at its annual meeting. This support is an important part of FFA's ongoing efforts to increase national capacity and strengthen regional solidarity so that member countries can manage their fisheries for the benefit of people today and for future generations.

Preparations are now underway for WCPFC7, and associated special FFC76, which will be hosted at the JW Marriot Ihilani Resort, at Ko Olina, Honolulu, Hawaii:

Special FFC76: Monday 29th November - Saturday 4 December 2010

WCPFC FAC4 and WCPFC Heads of Delegation meeting: 5 December 2010

WCPFC7: 6 - 10 December 2010

 

FFA Members access Meeting Papers for Special FFC and WCPFC here

Visit Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission website (and to access WCPFC7 meeting papers)

Reports and Media Releases about WCPFC

Unfinished business remains as WCPFC ends

HAWAII, US, 10 DECEMBER 2010: As the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) annual meeting closed today, FFA members said there was unfinished business that the Commission needed to address next year. While FFA members made advances on some technical issues, there were no decisions made on the critical issues of overfishing of bigeye and yellowfin tuna, catch of whales and dolphins, and adequate severity of punishment for illegal fishing. Pacific Island countries are the custodians of the last remaining healthy tuna stocks in the world and manage a marine area of 30 million square kilometres, supported with technical advice and services from the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).

WCPFC Photos

This week the Annual Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is being held in Ko Olina, Hawaii. News on outcomes from the meeting will be released on 10 December 2010 (Hawaii time). 

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.

New film 'Oceanic Guardians' launched today to celebrate Pacific Island success in establishing rules for fishing

A new film titled 'Oceanic Guardians' (www.youtube.com/pacificislandfish) was launched today by the UNDP-GEF funded Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project (OFMP) at the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Celebrating the success of Pacific Islands' negotiations to establish a tuna commission to set and enforce rules on tuna fishing, 'Oceanic Guardians' is shot in high definition video featuring the world's first underwater footage of longline fishing in the Pacific Islands, traditional canoe racing in the Solomon Islands and Tongan-owned and crewed patrol boats and fishing vessels.

OFMP plans to strengthen implementation of fisheries management rules by small islands

HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, FRIDAY19 MARCH 2009: FFA, UNDP, SPC, WWF and SPREP staff met over the past two days to plan a process for the design of a new phase of assistance to Pacific Islands under the Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project (OFMP).

Pacific Islands proposals on sharks and swordfish adopted at WCPFC

PAPEETE, TAHITI, FRENCH POLYNESIA, 10 DECEMBER 2009: Proposals from Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) members on sharks and
swordfish were adopted at the 6th Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting today.

Pacific Island countries are the custodians of the last remaining healthy tuna stocks in the world and manage a marine area of 30 million square kilometres, supported with technical advice and services from the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). FFA members participate at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission along with other fishing nations (such as Asian nations, EU and US) to set rules for fishing in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.

FFA members finalised a process first begun in 2006 to put in place limits to the catch on swordfish. The WCPFC adopted key amendments proposed by FFA members to the Conservation and Management Measure on Swordfish including: