South Pacific Albacore Management Procedure adopted at WCPFC22

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has formally adopted a Management Procedure for South Pacific albacore at its 22nd Regular Session in Manila, Philippines, marking a major milestone for Pacific fisheries management.

The adoption establishes – for the first time – a long-term, science-based harvest strategy for South Pacific albacore, one of the four main tuna species that sustains Pacific Island fisheries and economic activity across the region.

The proposal was brought before the Commission by Members of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).

Following a week of thorough discussions, reviews of the proposal and negotiations, the Commission reached consensus on 5 December 2025 on the Management Procedure. This decision will allow the formation of a binding framework that will be applied across the fishery of South Pacific albacore for all fleets operating in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO).

WCPFC Chair Dr Josie Tamate congratulated members of the Commission on the successful outcome and described the decision as a major achievement for WCPFC.

“I thank Members for your continuous consultation and dialogue on this very important Management Procedure. This is a milestone for the Commission. While there is still work ahead, this is a huge win for the Commission,” Dr Tamate acknowledged late into the final day of the Commission meeting.

The Management Procedure introduces a structured decision-making framework that ties fishing levels to the stock’s condition, using the Target Reference Point as the guiding threshold for when management action is required.

The Commission’s decision builds on the historic agreement reached in July this year by FFA Members to conclude nearly two decades of negotiations and adopt a zone-based allocation framework for South Pacific albacore.

Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) Officials Chair, Poi Okesene, described the outcome as a major achievement for Pacific countries.

“South Pacific albacore is the heartbeat of our southern fisheries and the economies of many of our coastal States. This successful outcome reflects our unity as an FFA Membership and our determination to protect this fishery while enabling fair and sustainable economic returns,” Mr Okesene said.

The FFC Chair thanked the Commission in facilitating the negotiations that led to this milestone agreement.

FFA Director-General, Noan David Pakop, welcomed the decision as a defining moment for regional cooperation.

“This reflects years of leadership by our Members and demonstrates what Pacific unity can deliver. The FFA Secretariat is committed to supporting Members through the next phase of implementation so that this Management Procedure delivers real results on the water,” Mr Pakop said.

South Pacific albacore is the backbone of the Pacific longline fishery, supporting food security, employment and national revenue, particularly for Pacific countries south of the equator where albacore is commonly found.

In a further step to strengthen albacore governance, the Commission also agreed in principle to establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) on South Pacific albacore between WCPFC and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).

The JWG will strengthen coordination across the Pacific and eastern Pacific fisheries and improve management of the shared South Pacific albacore stock across regional boundaries.

In addition to South Pacific albacore, the Commission also adopted a suite of measures aligned with FFA Members’ broader priorities, including enhanced monitoring and compliance measures, progress on bycatch mitigation, and further recognition of the special requirements of Small Island Developing States under Article 30 of the WCPFC Convention.

The 22nd Regular Session of the WCPFC took place at the Philippines Training Trade Centre (PTTC) in Manila from 1 – 5 December, and was jointly hosted by Philippines and Canada.

MANILA, 08 DECEMBER 2025

Media Contacts: Emily V. Moli FFA Communications Manager e: [email protected] Ernest Ta'asi FFA Communications Officer e: ernest.ta’[email protected] Priscilla Ragu FFA Communications Officer e: [email protected]

About Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) FFA assists its 17 Members to sustainably manage fishery resources that fall within their 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). FFA provides expertise, technical assistance and other support to its members who make decisions about their tuna resources and participate in regional decision making on tuna management. Find out more here: www.ffa.int