Philippines Continued Efforts to Improve Monitoring of Tuna Fisheries
Manila, Philippines - May 25, 2024 – A series of workshops aimed at improving the Philippines' capacity to collect, monitor, and analyze tuna catch data were held from May 20-24, 2024. The workshops gathered experts and stakeholders as part of the Western Pacific East Asia Improved Tuna Monitoring Project (WPEA-ITM). This initiative is currently funded by the Government of New Zealand and overseen by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
The workshops were designed to strengthen the Philippines' efforts in monitoring their tuna fisheries, focusing on enhancing the accuracy of catch data by species and by gear. Accurate data collection is fundamental for effective regional tuna stock assessments in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). These sessions provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among various stakeholders, paving the way for improved fisheries management and sustainable tuna harvesting practices in the region.
The outcomes and recommendations from these workshops are expected to significantly contribute to the overall goal of ensuring sustainable tuna fisheries, benefiting both the environment and the fishing communities dependent on these tuna resources.
WCPFC’s Assistant Science Manager, Elaine Garvilles, provided in-person support to the workshops, and representatives from WCPFC’s Science Services Provider at the Pacific Community (SPC) joined virtually.
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 33 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.
The objective of the Western Pacific East Asia Improved Tuna Monitoring Project (WPEA-ITM) is to build capacity in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam to fully engage in regional initiatives to conserve and manage fisheries for highly migratory fish stocks.