NORTH PACIFIC MANAGERS ADOPT MUCH-NEEDED FISHERIES REFORMS, SHARK CONSERVATION EFFORT

North Pacific managers adopt much-needed fisheries reforms, shark conservation effort. The annual meeting of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) ended with an important agreement to reform transshipment monitoring and regulations. Transshipment, the transfer of catch from a fishing vessel to a carrier vessel, is a critical part of the seafood supply chain, but loopholes abound, making it easier for illegal activities to take place in the process. By agreeing to close gaps in management, improve vessel authorisation processes, report transshipment of bycatch species, require reporting of IMO numbers, and commitments to develop a regional observer programme, NPFC is joining other fisheries management bodies in much-needed oversight improvements. Approximately 85% of NPFC’s catch is transshipped, and through these changes, the process will be more secure.

NPFC also adopted a measure on shark management, which prohibits finning and requires better reporting of shark catch from NPFC fisheries. This is an important step, but more data on sharks is still needed.

Raiana McKinney, a senior associate with The Pew Charitable Trusts, said the following:

“The North Pacific Fisheries Commission has agreed to strengthen monitoring and regulation of transshipment in its waters, a welcome development that will mean better management of its valuable fisheries.

“Following moves by other regional fisheries bodies in the Indian, Atlantic, and eastern Pacific oceans, NPFC joins a global shift towards improving the oversight and transparency of transshipment, which will help reduce opportunities for illegal fishing while improving the sustainability of high-seas fisheries.

“NPFC’s shark conservation measure prohibits shark finning and requires greater reporting of shark catches from NPFC fisheries. While an important step, it will be critical for NPFC to improve its understanding of the ecosystem impacts of its fisheries and agree to further steps to reduce the impact of fishing. Development of a Regional Observer Program should be prioritized to provide independent data on NPFC fisheries.”

In addition to the effort on transshipment and sharks, NPFC agreed to:

• Improve its compliance monitoring scheme, which is critical to ensuring that vessels operating in its waters are following the rules of the commission.
• Propose a data sharing agreement with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation. When signed by both RFMOs, this will increase transshipment oversight in overlap areas and allow for the sharing of best practices on monitoring, control, and surveillance of fisheries. It will also ensure the sharing of vital scientific and fisheries data.
• Adopt a resolution on climate change calling for its impacts to be considered in future NPFC deliberations.