From:	FERNANDES, Viv 
Sent:	Friday, July 16, 2021 3:45 PM
Subject:	VMS SWG - Paper and SOPs for comment 
Attachments:	Draft revised VMS SOPs - 16.7.21.docx; VMS SWG Paper - 16 July 2021.docx


OFFICIAL

Dear VMS SWG participants

Thank you for providing comments to our last paper dated 16 March 2021. The VMS SWG continues to 
make progress on considering VMS data gap issues and refining potential recommendations for TCC17 
as to how to address any of those gaps. 

Accordingly, please find attached a new VMS SWG paper for your review and comment. 

We hope the content and intent of the paper is clear. However, we draw your attention to the following 
summary points outlined in the paper:
-	The purpose of this paper is to propose draft VMS SWG recommendations to TCC17, in line with 
the VMS SWG’s tasking from WCPFC16. 
-	This paper provides a synthesised summary of participants’ comments on the proposed 
approaches to addressing identified VMS data gap issues. Proposed approaches that did not 
have general agreement from most participants were not put forward as recommendations to 
TCC17. Proposed approaches that did have general agreement have been consolidated into 
draft TCC17 recommendations. 
-	Participants’ comments on this paper’s draft TCC recommendations will inform the finalised 
VMS SWG TCC17 recommendations. The co-chairs propose that these recommendations be put 
forward to TCC17 via a VMS SWG report. 
-	The co-chairs request that participants closely review the draft recommendations. Where 
possible, participants are requested to focus their comments and edits to the draft TCC17 
recommendation language (ideally in track changes). 

In addition, we attach a draft revised VMS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This is a revised 
version of the currently-in-force version of the VMS SOPs (Dec 2018 - 
https://www.wcpfc.int/doc/commission-vms-standard-operating-procedures), and has been prepared 
by the Secretariat, with input from the co-chairs. These edits seek to capture and clarify a range of VMS 
developments progressed by the Secretariat.

We kindly request that participants provide their comments on the attached two documents by Friday 
13th August 2021. As noted above, for the SWG VMS Paper, where possible please focus any 
comments/edits on the draft TCC17 recommendation language. 

Finally, we have tried to ensure the participant list is updated based on your notified contacts. However, 
we apologies in advance if we have missed any updated details (as our small working group continues to 
grow in size!)

Regards,

Terry and Viv