Western & Central Fisheries Commission Challenged Over Tuna Fishery Management
A global non-governmental initiative committed to openness and accountability in international fisheries decision making is challenging the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to uphold U.N. Fish Stocks Agreement obligations.
An organization called Accountability.Fish, with employees in six countries, issued a statement from Reykjavik, Iceland on Sept. 7 expressing concerns over the alleged lack of transparency within the Fisheries Commission, which governs nearly 60% of the world’s tuna supply.
The WCPFC Secretariat said in an email response to the allegations on Sept. 20 that while challenges remain, the evidence suggests that the Fisheries Commission is largely meeting its conservation goals, benefiting both the environment and the communities reliant on these vital resources.
“WCPFC has been transparent about its stock assessments and management measures, and claims suggesting otherwise often fail to take into account the complexity of fisheries management in a region that covers nearly 60% of the world’s tuna supply and collaboration with over 40 countries and territories,” the Commission stated.
“The commission has accredited 60 observer organizations to participate in the organization’s work, representing NGOs and IGOs,” the statement continues. “This commitment to transparency is outlined in the WCPFC Convention and reflects the organization’s dedication to inclusive and open governance.”
The WCPFC, headquartered in the Federated States of Micronesia, is required to hold an annual meeting and can call any other meetings as it deems necessary to carry out its functions. The WCPFC scheduled its fifth South Pacific albacore roadmap intersessional working group meeting to be held online only on Oct. 11 and its 21st regular session of the commission for six days, beginning Nov. 28 in Suva, Fiji.
According to Accountability.Fish global director Ryan Orgera, 17 member states of Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) actively block observers from attending key sessions of its Technical and Compliance Committee meeting. That equates to a failure to uphold obligations as signatories of the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA), he said.
Accountability.Fish has also named Canada, the European Union, France, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and the United States of America as “complicit” nations that turn a blind eye to the WCPFC’s lack of transparency thereby contradicting their own commitment to sound governance.
The WCPFC said many observer organizations in fact work closely with WCPFC members and contribute positively to the commission’s work.
“These contributions include valuable scientific research and support for key initiatives, such as improving fisheries observer safety,” the commission said. “This collaborative approach enhances the commission’s ability to address complex challenges in fisheries management.”
