OCEANS GOVERNANCE AND THE WCPO TUNA FISHERIES

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OCEANS GOVERNANCE AND THE WCPO TUNA FISHERIES   
By Les Clark
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Introduction

• The Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
  (WCPFC) and WCPO Ocean Governance as an outcome
  of the UN Fish Stocks Agreement
• Advances
• Shortfalls and Reform Needs
• A broader ocean governance framework
• Rebalancing RFMO participation

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Recall the Background

• UNCLOS left unfinished business with respect to
  high seas fishing
• Led to UNCED calling for a solution to problem of
  overfishing in the high seas
• And to The UN Fish Stocks Agreement in 1995
• Strengthening RFMOs, especially regarding high
  seas monitoring and compliance
• Updating fishery management principles
• Oversight of the exercise of flag state control

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WCPO Advances

• A new WCPFC Commission
• Emerging high seas compliance and enforcement
  regime - Straight out of the UN Fish Stocks
  agreement
• Initial though still inadequate set of measures
  capping catch or effort in all the major
  fisheries, and mitigating impacts on vulnerable
  bycatch consistent with JPOI targets
• High quality data and science programme
• Measures largely based on extending and
  leveraging coastal state (largely Pacific Island)
  in-zone measures to the high seas (not that
  these states are perfect)
• And often in spite of the efforts of high seas
  fishing states

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Substantial shortfalls

• Gaps, lags and shortfalls in high seas
  monitoring, compliance enforcement (e.g. VMS,
  observers, data provision and sharing)
• Lack of linkages and broader understanding (e.g.
  science and high seas monitoring)

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Responses - Now

• Heightening market consciousness
• Broader awareness raising
• Increasing understanding
• Direct action Greenpeace style
• External RFMO review
• Developing Country Capacity Building

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Long Term Reform Needs

• Nesting oceanic fisheries management within a
  broader framework of ocean governance
• E.g. the Benguela Current commission
• UNEP Regional Seas/SPREP/PI Regional Oceans
  Policy
• Strengthened role for the global community in
  high seas custodianship, including participation
  in RFMOs

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THANK YOU
www.ffa.int/gef
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