Organization for the Promotion of Responsible Tuna Fisheries

1
Organization for the Promotion of Responsible
Tuna Fisheries
(1)
Private initiatives to eliminate IUU tuna Fishing
Activities
2
(2)
Large scale tuna longline fishing vessel and
fishing gear
3
(3)
Motivation of IUU tuna longline fishing vessels
Japanese sashimi tuna market
Nature of Japanese sashimi tuna market
1. Tuna is consumed as sashimi as well as an
ingredient in sushi.
sushi
sashimi
4
(4)
Motivation of IUU tuna longline fishing
Japanese sashimi tuna market
3. High price is guaranteed for the fish.
2. Demand is large and stable.

• Price of frozen tuna (Japan) (average
  between 2001 and 2003)

For sashimi
Bluefin tuna \800 3200/Kg
Bigeye tuna \400 1000/Kg
Yellowfin tuna \200 600/Kg
As a canned food ingredient
Yellowfin tuna \80 110/Kg
5
(5)
4. International market
Number of countries exported frozen/fresh tuna
for sashimi market to Japan
6
(6)
OPRTs Objective

• To contribute to the development of tuna
  fisheries in accordance with
  international and social
• responsibility
• To promote sustainable use of tuna resource
• By reinforcing the conservation and management
  of tuna recourses
• Fostering healthy tuna markets
• Promoting international cooperation among
  fishermen

7
(7)
OPRTs Members
Producers Organization
Dec, 2000
2002
2003
2004
Japan, Chinese Taipei
China
Ecuador
Korea, Philippines,Indonesia
Number of vessels registered(As of March
20041,460 vessels)
Japan 480
Chinese Taipei 596
Korea 174
Philippines 17
Indonesia14
China105
Ecuador5
Vanuatu, Seychelles 69
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Initiative by Japan Tuna Fishing Industry
Motives behind the initiative
In 1999, 132 (20 of the entire fleet) Japanese
large scale tuna longline fishing vessels
scrapped.- in response to UN FAOs IPOA for the
management of Fishing Capacity
Effort to restore overfished tunas by the fleet
reduction are nullified by IUU / FOC fishing
Activities.
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Action Plan by Japan and Taiwan(Agreed in
February 1999)
1. Scrapping of IUU tuna longline fishing
vessels Length of the plan3 years(between 2001
and 2003) Number of vessels 26 vessels in the
first year (Others 3 vessels sank.)
8 vessels in the
second year 5 vessels in
the third year (Others 1 vessel sank.) Total
39 vessels(Others 4
vessels sank.)
2. Re-registration to Taiwan 48 vessels
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Concrete Actions by private initiatives
Inter-industry negotiations with Taiwan
1
Approach to importers, distributors
2
Approach to government and Diet members
3
Educational efforts, including publicity
campaigns for the general public, TV interviews,
lecture meetings, and distribution of leaflets
4
Monitoring of IUU tunas caught by IUU
imported to Japan
5
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Support from an international NGO (Another
private initiative)
ICFA
Aims The international Coalition of Fisheries
Association (ICFA) formed in 1988 to provide a
unified voice and representation of the worlds
commercial fish industries in international
fora. Objective to preserve and maintain the
oceans as a major food source for People of the
world. Members fishing industry association
s and organizations in Australia, Brunei
Darussalam, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Iceland,
Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia,
Norway, New Zealand, Philippines, Russian
Federation, Singapore, Thailand, United states of
America, Vietnam.
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ICFA resolution

• Support OPRTs initiative to conserve and
  manage tuna resources, particularly the scrapping
  of FOC tuna longline vessels,
• request all states and entities to take
  practical and effective actions to eliminate
  IUU/FOC fishing as agreed in the FAOs IPOA
  on IUU fishing and recommended by the 1999 ICCAT
  resolution calling for further actions
  against illegal, unregulated, and unreported
  fishing activities by large scale longline
  vessels in the convention area and other areas,
• request all states to refrain from accepting
  former FOC fishing vessels in any manner because
  such action nullify the effort by OPRT,
• Call upon states to reject import of tuna
  species managed by global or regional fishing
  management organizations that cant present
  proof that they were obtained under measures
  approved by those organizations
• Supports the resolution adopted by
  members of the OPRT held in Tokyo on August1,
  2002 and requests the Government of Japan
  and the relevant regional tuna fishery
  management organizations to take actions
  consistent with this resolution at the earliest
  possible time ( the resolution called for
  the implementation of Positive List Scheme )

At 2001 Annual Meeting
At 2002 Annual Meeting
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Number of IUU large scale tuna longline fishing
vessels (its rise and fall)
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Are private initiatives a possible way forward?
Conclusion 1

• The long-term private initiative has been
  effective in the elimination of IUU large
  longline tuna fishing vessels that target the
  Japanese sashimi market.

Conclusion 2
- Private initiative is not enough -

• Requirements of the elimination of IUU fishing
  vessels
• A.Collaboration of all the parties concerned
  (Governments, international organizations,
  and private sectors)
• B.Development of a legal framework by governments
  and international organizations
• Ban on international transactions of tuna
  caught by IUU fishing vessels
• Embargo on IUU fishing vessels
• Ban on transshipments of tuna from IUU
  fishing vessels to
• carrying vessels and others.
• C. Efforts at the international level

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Future of OPRT

• Further promotion of responsible tuna fisheries
• Control of fishing capacity
• - Longline tuna fishing vessels
• Issue of the bycatch of non-target species
• - Efforts toward the conservation of marine
  ecosystem (seabirds, sharks, sea turtles)
• Encouragement of the introduction of responsible
  purse seine fisheries
• - Concerns over the rapid increase of fishing
  pressure by large scale purse seine fishing
  vessels.