Page 22 - IB Jan 2018

Fisheries Aviation ascent Indian company to Partnership Aviation agreement
build US$1m control tower in PNG
boosts airlinres P27

From Page 21 responsible tropical tuna fishing manage-
“So that’s sort of an indicator of the Allowing existing ment into 2018 and beyond.
level of fishing on the stock whereas ‘ “What we have achieved is a balanced
previously with the old assessment that fleets to increase measure that aims to protect the national
level was down to less than 20 per cent.” their levels of and commercial interests of all members,
It’s that finding that sent the larger from small island developing states to
fishing nations into a literal feeding catch and effort large fishing nations, while also being
frenzy, pushing for concessions for more sustainable.”
days of activity in the region and greater really does make a Other key features of the agreement
allowances for catches. big impact on how were:
They refused to consider sustainability 1. Measures designed to ensure stocks
of future stocks, pointing instead to the difficult it is to are maintained at recent average levels
science. and capable of producing Maximum
Ironically, the same nations – led by develop your own Sustainable Yield
Japan- refused to accept the scientific domestic fleet 2. A Harvest Strategy for Pacific Bluefin
findings which showed that Big Eye was Tuna Fisheries - total fishing for Pacific
at a critical level and needed intensive into the future Bluefin tuna north of 20 Degrees North
conservation measures if they were to ‘ to stay below 2002–2004 annual average
remain sustainable. levels; all catches of Pacific Bluefin tuna
And much of the information which led less than 30 kg shall be reduced to 50 per
to the scientific findings was gleaned by and in the purse seine fishery, a three- cent of the 2002–2004 annual average
the same fisheries observers Japan had month FAD closure in EEZs and two levels; all catches of Pacific Bluefin tuna
tried to censure. more on the high seas),” Nickson said. 30kg or larger shall not be increased from
Hampton said that while surveys Despite scientific findings and warn- the 2002-2004 annual average levels.
showed that Big Eye stocks were health- ings, the 14th WCPFC decided on mea- 3. A more effective standard for e-
ier than before, conservation measures sures which included a 10 per cent reporting of fishing vessel observer data.
were still necessary. increase in long line catch allowed across The standards relate to summaries, activ-
“We should have management mea- the region, knocking back conservation ity logs, vessel and gear data, crew and
sures that keep the spawning biomass, measures made in 2015. trip-level data and also pollution reports.
the adult part of the stock, to the level it National delegations haggled over The standards will enable more effective
is now or estimated to be now so that’s at issues until after 2am on December 8 – monitoring and management by enhanc-
about 32 per cent of the unfished level,” well after the commission had officially ing the work of observers in enabling
Hampton said. ended - to agree on an outcome. the entry of near real-time observer data
“And also keep the fishing mortality so WCPFC Chair, Rhea Moss-Christian directly into the database systems of
that the rate at which we’re fishing is at described the meeting as being particu- monitoring and scientific agencies.
a level that is consistent with that objec- larly successful in agreeing to a range of In a major concession, delegates agreed
tive. I think that is in large measure what measures and initiatives that will ensure to support the continued operation of Sa-
this meeting is about, its about trying ongoing environmental and commercial moa’s domestic longline fleet that fishes
to design a suite of management mea- sustainability of tuna management. exclusively in Samoa’s EEZ.
sures which meet that advice from the Prior to the talks Moss-Christian had The amendment will allow this fleet
WCPFC Scientific Committee as closely warned delegates that the failure to reach to directly offload to American Samoa
as possible. an agreement would be a disgrace. instead of landing and containerising
“But also meet all the other political Countries agreed to a Tropical Tuna fish in Samoa.
positions that parties take and of course Bridging Measure to replace the current The current practice is costly, impacting
there’ll be compromises necessary on all agreement which expires on December on the economic hardship experienced
parts to achieve something like that.” 31. by Samoa as a result of prolonged re-
The Pew Trusts’ Nickson agreed. This includes a Fish Aggregating ductions in catch rates in the albacore
“Commission members should ensure Devices closure for five months on the fishery.
negotiations start immediately toward a high seas and three months in national In reality it is the Pacific which will
stronger measure next year, to ensure to fishing zones. keep American Samoa alive because the
precautionary, science-based manage- Countries agreed to wait for 12-months US fleet takes tuna from the region but
ment of its fisheries,” Nickson said. for further scientific stock assessments in off-loads it elsewhere.
“The health of tropical tunas in the 2018 to determine further management Any real gains at these talks were
Pacific, and the communities who depend measures of the purse seine fishery, high made not by the owners of the fish but
on them, requires it, and cannot wait seas purse seine effort control and bigeye by the countries with the money.
another year.” catch limits in the longline fishery. As Pacific Conference of Churches
Nickson said the scientific findings on “Negotiating a new measure such as General Secretary, Reverend Francois
Big Eye had led countries to act without this is an extremely complex process,” Pihaatae told delegates: “Where is the
precaution and roll back controls too far. Moss-Christian said. justice when you take our fish and then
“In the longline fishery, this means a “It has been gratifying to see Com- sell it back to us at your prices as if they
reversal to 2016 catch limits (which is a mission Members cooperating so well are yours?’
10 per cent increase compared to 2017), to produce a measure that will ensure r netrika66@gmail.com

22 Islands Business, January 2018