WCP Tuna Commission Opens New Offices In Pohnpeiff

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s brand new office has officially been opened in the Federated States of Micronesia.

The commission discusses practical ways to better conserve and manage the region’s tuna stocks.

The Commission’s Executive Director Andrew Wright says the new two story building, paid for by China, is the largest building in Pohnpei.

“This building was donated to the Federated States of Micronesia by the People’s Republic of China. It has been completed for some time now, but there’s been a process to work through administrative authorities here to get to a stage that the Commission can actually plan on occupying that building.”

For five days beginning Sept. 27, 2007, some 33 participants from member countries of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission met at the Commission’s headquarters in Pohnpei to discuss practical ways to better conserve and manage the region’s rich tuna stocks.

Taking advantage of the visit to Pohnpei by commission members, FSM Vice President Alik L. Alik formally opened the commission's new headquarters building in Kolonia.

The WCPFC Technical and Compliance Committee meeting’s primary task is to provide advice and recommendations on compliance issues in WCPO tuna fisheries to the WCPF Commission that will next meet in Guam on Dec. 3-7, 2007. The TCC has now met thrice since the Commission started operations in July 2005