Byline: Pita Ligaiula

PNA grouping threatens to withdraw from Tuna Commission

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By Pita Ligaiula, Manila

MANILA, 07 DECEMBER 2017 (PACNEWS)—– Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) have threatened to pull out of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) if the fishing nations and coastal states who make its membership fail to agree on new rules for all-important tropical tuna.

Current rules for the fishery – known as the Tropical Tuna Measure – expire at the end of this year.

Delegates at the WCPFC have only until the end of today to reach agreement on new rules or face the prospect of a free-for-all in the fishery.

Forum Fishery Agency and PNA countries have been working hard to achieve an agreement as has the Chair of WCPFC Rhea Moss-Christian who has come up with a compromise proposal – a new revision of her proposed Tropical Tuna Bridging Measure.

But the PNA and FFA are still frustrated by two Distant Water Fishing Nations (DWFNs) United States and Japan failure to agree on key demands.

PNA CEO Ludwig Kumoru explained how he saw progress with negotiations: “First ..I thought it wasn’t going to get anywhere. At the end of the day I thought .. we were just going to fall back to status quo (by extending the current rules). But (now) I think there has been some positive progress.”

But substantive issues that could bring the negotiations to a halt are still outstanding.

”The big ..ticket (item) which is the control on the high seas, the high seas FAD closures vs the in-zone FAD closures hasn’t been resolved yet,” Mr Kumoru said.

At the moment Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) which result in a large accidental catch of vulnerable bigeye tuna are banned in the high seas as a conservation measure.

Allowing FAD fishing, or any increase in fishing in the high seas, would have a substantial impact on vital fisheries income for PNA states and risk depleting the stock.

While the PNA is cautiously hopeful about negotiations a collapse in the talks cannot be ruled out.

In that eventuality the PNA has a clear plan.

“For PNA, and I don’t have to speak for FFA, its simple – you just pull PNA out of the commission. Take the EEZs of PNA out of the commission,” Ludwig Kumoru told journalists in Manila.

Anything is possible,” Kumoru stressed.

The FFA and PNA have a joint position for the Tropical Tuna Measure that they will not allow the stocks to be further depleted.

“Any further than that, especially for bigeye, if you relax any of those measures, it’s not good. So even though the science says that stock is in a healthy state there’s still a lot of uncertainties – so the bottom line for us is that we don’t go below what we have currently,” Kumoru explained.

Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Director General, James Movick agreed: “The 2017 measures seemed to have achieved the conservation limit the scientists have been asking for. So that’s been good,” He said.

The FFA is also keen to see progress on rules governing the albacore tuna fishery which is important to the 11 FFA nations that are members of the Tokelau Arrangement.

“In addition to that we would like to see some progress in the southern albacore as a region. And the adoption of a target reference point would be good, even a relatively flexible or liberal one would be good – at least it begins the process, “ he said.

The FFA is also seeking commitment to move to harvest control rules – a more systematic way of managing the fishery less vulnerable to politicking – and a commitment from the commission that from 2019 it would look to the adoption of measures regarding access and allocation of High Seas rights.

But an immediate solution to high seas fishing is more urgent.

“If everything collapses there is no deal and there is no agreement to continue the 2017 measures – that would be a disaster as there would be no management regime at all in place, Mr Movick warned.

“Everyone would go out and try and harvest as much as they can and we clearly want to avoid that,” he added.

…ENDS

Calls for civil society organisations to be more engaged in tuna negotiations

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By Pita Ligaiula, Manila

MANILA, 07 DECEMBER 2017 (PACNEWS) —– Calls have been made to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) for more engagement with Civil Society Organisation in the Tuna negotiations.

Secretary General of Pacific Council of Churches (PCC), Reverend Francois Pihaatae told the media in Manila that CSOs represent their communities but are on the margins at WCPFC not part of the decision-making process.

“We are always put on the side as (official) Observer and not participate in that dialogue,” Reverend Pihaatae said.

“Some of the NGO are asked to do some research, they are the one who are doing the work on the ground, searching for, researching and doing statistics and all to make decisions, they are not part of the decision making and I think that’s one point that we wanted to stress,” he said.

“How can we engage, dialogue and also how (can) these top people and the CSO can sit together and talk about all these issues?” he asked.

Rev Pihaatae is concerned that Distant Water Fishing Nations (DWFNs) are making decisions about a resource that belongs to Pacific people.

“We raise the issue on IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing) by some of the big fleets here especially in the Pacific.

“Some of them are members of this big acronym WCPFC but on the side they are doing illegal fishing,” said a dismayed Reverend Pihaatae.

Pacific countries are represented at WCPFC by their national governments and regional organisations such as the Forum Fisheries Agency and the Parties to the Nauru Agreement secretariat.

Tuna Industry representatives are sometimes included in national delegations or are able to attend as official Observers.

CSO’s also attend as official Observers but Reverend Pihaatae said new high registration fees, which many civil society organisations can’t afford, are the main obstacle to their participation.

Each of the first two representatives sent by CSOs have to pay USD$500 to attend, with each additional rep paying USD$350.

“It is very expensive, for us it is a closed door to NGOs to come and sit and listen to what is going on because of the registrations we cannot afford to pay,” he said

Jovelyn Kiofe, from the Philippines, who works with the Locally Managed Marine Area Network (LMMA) said it’s important for CSOs like hers to be part of the decision-making process because they work directly with the community.

“How can you (the WCPFC) provide mechanism, formal mechanism for CSOs and communities to be heard and not just the big NGO but other NGOs as well, it’s frustrating that you pay your registration but you cannot speak,” she said

“We are working with communities and then helping them manage the resource but they’re not consulted or they are not participating. So for us its not just CSOs but the community voice (that is needed) in all this engagements, in all these meetings,” Kiofe explained .

“How can communities be involved in this kind of arena in terms of policies and influencing regulations that affect their lives and lively hood?” she asked.

“Because the communities we work with are basically engaged with resource management, they manage the resource so they have fish and other resources from the sea, our main impression is where are they in this kind of engagement?” ……PACNEWS

Japan defends proposals on code of conduct for fisheries observers

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By Pita Ligaiula in Manila, Philippines

MANILA, 06 DECEMBER 2017 (PACNEWS) —- Japan has come out in defence of its proposals at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting for a code of conduct for fisheries observers – the independent eyes and ears of tuna science and compliance initiatives on board commercial fishing boats.

The proposal from Japan and South Korea has been condemned by Pacific nations and environment organisations attending the WCPFC in Manila.

Fisheries observers risk of intimidation, harassment and even death during long stints at sea.

At last year’s Commission meeting the Pacific won a raft of new measures to enhance observer safety despite opposition from Japan.

In Manila yesterday the Head of Delegation for Japan, Shingo Ota told the media when the issue of a code of conduct was raised at the WCPFC last year, there was no objection from members.

“We raised this question — on the code of conduct because, you know, our fishing industry is experiencing many incidents. But last year, many people say that the observers’ safety is much more priority than the observer code of conduct.

“I said on the floor: establishment of a code of conduct is not our final objective.

“Our objective is to reduce unfortunate incidents caused by the observers and most of the observer incident are actually happening on land, not on boat fishing vessels, and particularly, before embarkation, you know, many observers are drunkard and destroy public facilities or steal bicycles or something, and some of them are actually arrested by the police,” Mr Ota said

“Whenever these types of incidents happen, the fishing vessel owner goes to the police and apologise and compensate for the damage, and bring observer back to that fishing vessel. So, we just want to see reduction of these incidents,” Ota stressed.

He argued the number of incidents has increased in the last five years.

“That is why we got a code of conduct. But again, code of conduct itself is not important.

The important thing is just we want to see more better behaviour of observers before embarking on fishing vessels and after disembarking fishing vessels.

“I know that FFA has a code of conduct for observer. That is why we have been asking FFA to provide their code of conduct so that our proposal can take into account their code of conduct,” Ota said.

“However, they didn’t provide their observer code of conduct upon WCPFC. So, it was too late, you know, at that time. Then suddenly Korea submitted a proposal and we didn’t know that then therefore we know that there is no option other than to become a co-sponsor of Korean proposal for us,” he explained.

He said the fisheries observers come from other countries including the Pacific countries but admitted he doesn’t know there is a FFA complaints mechanism in place

“Including Pacific countries. Many of them, actually.

“I don’t know about complaints mechanism but there is a system to transmit to them the complaint to the observer provider. But they know things are not getting better despite our repeated requests to rectify the situation,” said Ota.

He mentioned the need for more training for observers on the issue to avoid the problems from recurring.

“Ah, selection process or training or, I don’t know. Something must be done to rectify the current situation. That’s our feelings, strong feelings.

But Ota failed to suggest the code of conduct for crew members be extended to boat captains.

“We heard some members saying on this point, but if you have the incidents and collect evidence, and if Japanese, you know, the fishing master is doing, then we will of course do investigate the case, you know. But we haven’t received any.

“On the floor, , some members, were talking about this point. But I didn’t hear directly from Pacific Island countries about behaviour of Japanese fishing masters. There could be, I don’t deny, but on the other hand, I received a lot of complaints from industry about misbehavior of observers, particularly on land.

Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Director James Movick said the code of conduct was not needed and questioned Japanese and South Korean motives saying he hoped they are not to divert attention from moves by Pacific countries to improve conditions and safety for observers.

In the past year, one observer had to be rescued after going missing from his vessel and another, from PNG, died after falling overboard.

Movick told journalists in Manila that improving observer safety and welfare continues to be a high priority for FFA members, including offering them insurance……..PACNEWS

Need to control longline fishing on the high seas

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By Pita Ligaiula in Manila, Philippines

MANILA, 05 DECEMBER 2017 (PACNEWS) —-The Pacific has called for the control of longline fishing on the high seas at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) currently underway in Manila.

The Western and Central Pacific Ocean is the source of about 2.8 million metric tons of tuna valued at US$5.3 billion, representing 79 percent of the aggregate catch in the entire Pacific Ocean and 56 percent of the global tuna catch.

WCPFC is a regional fisheries-management organisation that governs fishing activities, particularly of tuna, in the high seas or waters that do not belong to any country.

Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Director General, James Movick says although there has been an improvement in the data that has been collected from vessels operating in the High Seas there clearly is not sufficient or robust controls over the High Seas longline fleet activity.

“The other aspects of High seas that need to be considered carefully is the control of Longline fishing on the High Seas which is a flag-based measure (one that is based around rights of the nationality of the fishing vessel)at the present time. And although there has been an improvement in the data that has been collected from vessels operating in the High Seas there clearly is not sufficient or robust controls over the High Seas longline fleet activity.

“And it is important as the Longline fleet is the major source of bigeye (tuna) mortality,” Movick said

“Whereas on the purse seine side we’re able to have 100% observer coverage, much more verification of catches etc…Unfortunately at the present time we don’t have a similarly high degree of confidence in the data we’re receiving from High Seas activities targeting the big bigeye tuna and the longline fishery.

There needs to be better control over the Longline fishery in the High Seas,” Movick told regional journalists in a media briefing in Manila.

Although it has been difficult getting data off longline boats and putting independent fisheries observers on board, Movick said the task is possible to achieve.

“I think we can achieve it. We’re experimenting. We have trials underway and the commission itself is seeking to develop standards for e-monitoring and e-reporting and work quite well in other fisheries around the world,” Movick said.

“So we’re looking to see how we can adapt those for operating conditions in the Pacific so we should see a higher degree of monitoring capability for these boats. I don’t think it is an impossible task.

Parties to Nauru Agreement (PNA) CEO, Ludwig Kumoru said, with the way PNA is implementing the Vessel Day Scheme (VDS) for the longline fleet, having reliable data will be achievable within 5-years.

“First of all we need to get it done within our (200-mile exclusive economic) zones, then and only then can we look to extend it to the High Seas. But again, when it comes to the High Seas we’ll going to need the whole grouping – but its easier to do it within zones. And that’s the importance of ‘zone-based management’ because we can make the decision and just carry on,” said Kumoru.

Movick said: “The point is, we’ve always taken the principle in the Pacific that this resource belongs primarily to us – the countries from whose EEZs the vast bulk of this fish is caught.

“And with all our management responsibilities, we should also be able to have a degree of management say in the High Seas as well.

“So as a matter of equity, right from the very beginning we’ve always said that countries of the Pacific, SIDS, should also be able to benefit from the entire fishery and participate in the entire fishery given their development aspirations, given their different geographical placement etc, relative to where the main fishing activity takes place. But that’s not been something that this commission has been able to address up until now.

“What we’re saying is this aspect of the commission does need to be addressed because this resource is one that is being taken care of by all the Pacific island countries who have worked strenuously over the last 30+ years since the establishment of the 3rd Law of the Sea (Conference), working collectively to ensure that this resource is the most robust and well managed tuna fishery in the world. It’s a burden that’s been placed on all of us so we need to recognise that, and give shape to everybody’s different aspirations, rights and everything to the resource,” said Movick.

The WCPFC’s annual meetings are aimed at protecting highly migratory fish stocks with rules known as conservation and management measures. …..PACNEWS

Kiribati minister makes heartfelt plea to global fishing powers in a bid for better understanding

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Pita Ligaiula, PacNEWS

3 Dec 2017, WCPFC14, Manila— Kiribati’s Fisheries Minister has used his opening statement to 14th Western Central Pacific Commission (WCPFC) to highlight the importance of high-seas and FAD (fish aggregating device) fishing for his country.

Fisheries Minister and Marine Resources Development Tetabo Nakara explained his country has little land but a massive 200-mile ocean-based Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of about 3.5 million square kilometres.

So huge are the ocean distances between Kiribati’s three Island groups that each has a separate EEZ with large areas of high seas in between.

“We in Kiribati have no land-based natural resources available as a means of stable and secure livelihood for our people as our lands are made of poor coralline soils thus prompting Kiribati to look elsewhere for a sustainable source of revenue,” Nakara said.

“Our vast non-contiguous EEZs is our only viable source of economic survival and stability.

Mr Nakara stressed the importance of right to fish on the high seas for Kiribati and the impact the annual three-month closure of FAD fishing has on Kiribati’s domestic economy.

“Access fees from tuna fishing contributes more than 80% toward the total Government’s annual expenditure that supports, amongst others, crucial funding for our education system, medical care, other basic needs that the Government is obligated to deliver as services to its 110,000 inhabitants, as well as salaries of Government civil servant,” Nakara told members of the Commission.

He said Kiribati has managed to set up a tuna processing plant and it creates employment for the people in the island nation.

“This processing plant provides employment opportunities, through tuna loin processing, tuna fishing, tuna marketing, to name a few, not just for those in the urban areas of Kiribati but also for those living in rural areas.

“Like all processing plants, our small tuna processing plant cannot operate without having in place a consistent and reliable supply of raw materials. With a few domestic fishing vessels, Kiribati is struggling to meet the raw materials needed to viably operate this tuna-loin processing plant.

“Imagine then, what the likely ramifications will be if our domestic fishing vessels are further restricted from fishing on FADS for 12 months in addition to the 3 months that we have been able to tolerate over the years, or if they are deprived of fishing tuna in the adjacent high seas?,” he asked.

Nakara said this clearly demonstrates that tuna is of paramount importance for the viability of Kiribati sustainable development for its future generation.

Kirbati has done much to protect tuna.

“In safeguarding this valuable resource, Kiribati unanimously closed off 11% of its combined EEZ area, known as the Phoenix Island Protected Area (PIPA).

PIPA was formally gazetted in 2006, and extended in 2008 to become (at the time) the largest Marine Protected Area in the world, with an ocean surface area of over 408,000 square kilometres.

The results of the various oceanographic expeditions and research surveys conducted in this closed area where commercial fishing is forbidden, illustrates that it acts as an important spawning ground for tuna and other marine resources.

Mr Nakara told the Tuna Commission Kiribati regards the high seas pockets between its EEZs as part of its planned fishing areas.

He called for more understanding of Kiribati’s special circumstances as a struggling small economy and asked that his country not be asked to take on a disproportionate financial burden as a result of rules decided by the WCPFC.–ENDS

Calls for ban on rampant tuna transhipment in the high seas

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by Pita Ligaiula , PacNEWS

4 Dec 2017, WCPFC14, Manila— Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) attending the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) have called for the ban of transshipment of tuna on the high seas.

This practice, which occurs out-of-sight of land in areas of ocean beyond the control Pacific governments are able to assert in their 200-mile exclusive economic zones, allows vessels fishing illegally to evade monitoring and enforcement measures, offload their cargo, and resume fishing without returning to port.

Global Tuna Conservation Director for PEW Charitable Trusts Amanda Nickson believes transshipment should be banned until there are sufficient controls in place to ensure that it does not operate as a loophole for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) activities.

“We always hope that the Commission meetings will take up the issue of transshipment and continue to discuss and improve the situation,” Nickson said.

“Our position remains very clearly that transshipment at sea should be banned until there are sufficient controls in place to ensure that we don’t have it operating as a loophole for IUU activities.

“At this point I don’t see that we’re seeing a great deal of political will to address the issue as we would like but we certainly hope to see improved discussion,” Nickson told regional media in Manila.

Jamie Gibbon, Officer for Global Tuna Conservation (GTC) at PEW said 52 percent of longliners operating in the WCPFC have authorisation to transship, without any clear guidelines.

“One of the biggest issues in the region is that WCPFC initially envisioned transshipment as a rare occasion; that basically it will only occur at sea if that was the only way that a fishing industry could operate.

“Unfortunately, because WCPFC has not formalised the guidelines like they were supposed to, they basically rubber stamp any request for longliners to transship.

“So at this point, 52% of longliners operating in the WCPFC have the authorisation to transship. And that is not what the WCPFC envisioned when they put these regulations in place.

“One of the other issues is independent Observer reports are often not submitted to the Secretariat. Last year (2016) there were approximately 900 at sea transshipments, only one observer report made it to the Secretariat,” said Gibbon.

“I think it’s important that the Commission looks at the whole process. Who is transshipping, what are they transshipping, what’s getting reported? Is that report audited? Is there enough information out there? Right now we feel like transshipment is a black hole of information.

“There is no central repository for all that information it’s almost impossible for authorities to cross check information. So we really can’t tell you exactly what’s going on and that’s the biggest issue,” he said.

Gibbon said the issue requires regional cooperation from all relevant authorities; the he observer programs making sure that their observer reports are submitted both to the national, sub-regional and the WCPFC secretariat.

“Its going to take those authorities working together to cross check between the catch reports of the fishing vessels, the transshipment reports of what actually is transferred and then also the landing reports and making sure that all that information make sense,” explained Gibbon.

Speaking at the WCPFC14 plenary in Manila, Fiji’s Fisheries Minister Semi Koroilavesau said the need to “control efforts in the high seas” has not been successfully addressed.

“Such inaction of the commission is negatively contributing to over- capacity in the high seas resulting in low catches in zone. We do not want to see this to continue as our fishery may all collapse under the pressure that is being forcefully exerted upon us by Distant Water Fishing Nations (DWFNs),” said Koroilavesau in Fiji’s opening country statement.–ENDS