WCPFC’s 19th Regular Session of the Technical Compliance Committee (TCC) is underway in Pohnpei for the first time since 2019.
September 18, 2023, Pohnpei, FSM. The WCPFC’s 19th Regular Session of the Technical Compliance Committee (TCC) begins its work in Pohnpei, soon, convening in person for the first time since 2019. Pohnpei has been the permanent home of the TCC with the exception of TCC2 and TCC14, which were held in Brisbane, Australia and Majuro, Marshall Islands, respectively. When the WCPFC Secretariat was established in Pohnpei in 2004 following the successful bid put forward by the FSM, an unwritten agreement was acknowledged at that time that the Commission would commit to holding at least one of its regular annual meetings in Pohnpei as a demonstration of the Commission’s commitment to supporting the local community of its host nation.
TCC19 is set to review two full years of implementation by Members of nearly 100 obligations relating to monitoring of and reporting on management measures adopted by the Commission. The process takes place under the Commission’s Compliance Monitoring Scheme, with the results serving as a “report card” of the organisation. TCC19 will also review any submissions by Members of vessels suspected of engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which is an annual, core task of the TCC.
Dr. Lara Manarangi-Trott (pictured third from left), who heads up the WCPFC’s Compliance section in the Secretariat, commented that “TCC19 provides the opportunity for Members to reflect on the progress of development of the Commission’s compliance work, and consider any adjustments that may be needed to strengthen the Commission’s management framework. Equally important is the opportunity for TCC to assess Members’ individual performance against obligations and identify solutions for improvements, where needed.”
TCC19’s outcomes, including any recommendations it adopts, will be forwarded to the Commission’s 20th Annual Session taking place in December in the Cook Islands. Together with the Scientific Committee which met in August 2023, the TCC’s work serves an important role in managing the world’s largest tuna fishery. Members have the opportunity to share updates on their on-the-water surveillance activities, as well as review the functioning of the Commission’s monitoring systems such as the vessel monitoring system (VMS) and the high seas boarding and inspection scheme (HSBI).
The WCPFC Secretariat was established in 2004 and joins its host nation and the state of Pohnpei in welcoming TCC19 delegates to WCPFC’s headquarters for the next several days.
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.