By Atuna

The Western and Central Pacific Tuna Commission’s (WCPFC) last meeting, which took place in Busan (Korea) from 8-12 December, established new conservation measures for the recovery of bigeye and yellowfin stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.

Longliners catches of bigeye represent 90% of total catches of the species in the area; and Japan, Indonesia and Korea are the major nations in that activity.

The outcomes of the meeting don’t meet the scientific recommendations of annually reducing 30% of bigeye and yellowfin catches in the area during 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Instead, the final report on Conservation and Management Measure (CMM) states a minimum 30% reduction for purse-seiners and longliners catches to be reached over a 3-year period of time – the reference is the 2001-2004 average catches.

In addition, it establishes the permanent closure of two High Seas Pockets.

The WCPFC’s official report on the conservation measures agreed states that the total catch of bigeye tuna by longline fishing gear will be subject to a phased reduction, such that by 1 January of 2012, the longline catch of bigeye tuna is 70% of the average annual catch in 2001-2004 or 2004’s – 88.486 M/T.

The catch of yellowfin tuna is not to be increased in the longline fishery from the 2001-2004 levels.

The report doesn’t specify how this phased system will occur; as a consequence, interpretations could infer that only in 2011 longliners would have to catch 70% of that average.

Each Commission’s member country that caught less than 2.000 tons of bigeye in 2004 shall ensure that their catch does not exceed 2.000 tons in each of the next 3 years (2009, 2010 and 2011).

Each member or cooperating non-Member that caught an average of more than 2.000 tons of bigeye shall be subject to the following catch limits for bigeye tuna for the years 2009 to 2011 inclusive:

2009: 10% reduction of the catch

2010: 20% reduction of the catch

2011: 30% reduction of the catch

The reference is again the average annual catch in 2001-2004 or 2004.

However, the math of this phased reduction doesn’t meet the 30% reduction expected by 2012. If all the reductions are followed -10%, 20% and 30% - by the end of 3 years the total reduction from 2004 reference number will be only 20%.

The WCPFC report on the provisions for longliners states that the limits for bigeye tuna established shall not apply to small islands developing State members and participating territories in the Convention Area undertaking responsible development of their domestic fisheries.