SC19 advances recommendations on all 6 WCPFC tuna, billfish and non-target species
The Nineteenth Regular Session of the Scientific Committee (SC19) of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC or the Commission) was held in Koror, Palau, at Ngarachamayong Cultural Center, from 16 to 24 August 2023.
SC19 concluded with agreement on a comprehensive set of recommendations and management advice to advance to the Commission’s 20th Annual Session later this year. Recommendations were adopted that cover all six of the WCPFC’s tuna, billfish, and non-target and dependent species managed under the WCPFC Convention. These recommendations, together with the additional body of research and information presented to SC19 about the WCPFC fisheries, will serve as the foundation for the Commission’s management measures and decisions.
The meeting opened with introductory remarks by the Chair of the Commission, Dr. Josie Tamate, WCPFC Executive Director Rhea Moss-Christian, and SC Vice-Chair Emily Crigler, who was required to fill the role of acting SC Chair following the departure of SC Chair Dr. Tuikolongahau Halafihi earlier this year. SC19 agreed to nominate Ms. Crigler as Chair for the next two years, for the consideration and adoption by WCPFC20 in December.
As decided at SC8 in 2012, each SC plenary session falls under one of four themes: Data and Statistics, Ecosystem and Bycatch, Management Issues and Stock Assessment. Theme convenors are appointed to coordinate the sessions under each theme. The Scientific Services Provider of the WCPFC, the Oceanic Fisheries Programme of the Pacific Community (SPC-OFP), contributes substantially to most sessions. At SC19, the team of science professionals from SPC-OFP presented research and updates on numerous ongoing research projects and answered participants’ questions about stock statuses and running and monitoring management procedures.
Plenary sessions on Day 1 of SC19 discussed topics including data gaps, reference points for tuna and billfish and indicators for skipjack. Day 2 covered yellowfin stock assessment, ecosystem and climate change indicators and non-entangling fish aggregating devices (FADs). Day 3 focused on stock assessment of bigeye and south Pacific albacore and management and monitoring strategies for skipjack. Day 4 reviewed North Pacific stocks, management procedures for south Pacific albacore and harvest strategies for the WCPFC. Day 5 considered the latest research on sharks, rays and seabird population associated with WCPFC tuna fisheries. Days 6-8 focused on finalizing the provisional report and recommendations under each theme for adoption by WCPFC20.
In addition, steering committee meetings were held for the Japan Trust Fund, the Pacific Tuna Tagging Project, and the WCPFC Pacific Marine Specimen Bank.
SC19 was a hybrid meeting, with both in-person participation and virtual participation through Zoom. An online discussion forum (ODF) accessible to SC19 participants was used to facilitate discussions on the 2023 SC projects and any other items as requested by SC19 meeting document authors. The ODF was open prior to SC19 and through Day 3 of the meeting.
The Commission will confirm the venue for SC20 in 2024 at WCPFC20, with a tentative offer put forward by the Government of Tonga. WCPFC20 will be hosted by the Government of the Cook Islands in Rarotonga from 4 to 8 December 2023.
For further information, please contact: wcpfc@wcpfc.int
About WCPFC
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is one of five global tuna regional fisheries management organizations, responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks, particularly tuna, in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. Established in 2004, the WCPFC comprises 34 member countries and territories, and seven cooperating-non-members dedicated to promoting the sustainable management of the world’s largest tuna fishery. The WCPFC Secretariat is headquartered in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.