Our demand for ecosystem based reform of fishery management at the WCPFC

Accredited Observer at Western & Central Pacific Fishery Commission

Massive conversion to drifting FADs in purse seine fisheries, underreporting of bycatch and discards, and widespread shark finning continue to result in a lack of effective conservation measures and credible compliance monitoring.

Goal

Our demands to the RFMO are based on our demands for fisheries reform, towards true ecosystem-based fisheries management for all species, including bycatch and the entire marine ecosystem and include:

shark-specific demands such as "Fins Naturally Attached"
improved transparency through independent monitoring (by human observers combined with electronic systems),
full reporting of all catches and bycatch,
public availability of fishery-specific bycatch data for each catcher vessel,
as well as improving the selectivity of the fishing gear used to reduce shark bycatch in particular.

Our main concern is that the primary goal must always be to avoid or at least significantly reduce bycatch of unwanted species (e.g. sharks, marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles), as this is the best option for the survival of the affected species, most of which are already endangered, critically endangered, or even threatened with extinction. Only then come measures to reduce the mortality of the bycatch through so-called "best handling practices" at release, which can be achieved through technical measures on board, repeated training of the crew and a constant review and improvement of both.

Members at WCPFC:

Australia, China, Canada, Cook Islands, European Union, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Republic of 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, Vanuatu.

Participating Territories

American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna.

Cooperating Non-member(s)

Curacao, Ecuador, El Salvador, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, Thailand, Vietnam.

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