The International Workshop on RFMO Management of Tuna Fisheries has ended last week in Brisbane, Australia with Japan floating the bold idea that all developed countries, distance water fishing nations, as well as the Philippines would cut their fishing levels by 20% by 2013.
That was one of the many attempts on finding possible solutions to overcapacity, allocations and sustainable tuna fisheries with increased Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) participation and maintenance of profitability.
Interestingly enough, most of the positive suggestions acceptable to the SIDS came from the tuna industry itself and not the governments. During the workshop, the industry was in favour of working to assist in delivery of the aspirations of SIDS, provided that the mechanisms were implemented “fairly, equitably, and were transparentâ€.
The issues of “rights based management†with the incorporation of the transferability of fishing capacity and allocations to SIDS became key discussion points with several solutions suggested, including a freezing of current fishing capacity which was not accepted by SIDS as it would destroy their potential to develop their own coastal/island state tuna fisheries and thus maximize their benefits from the resources in their jurisdiction. In addition, assistance given by big fishing nations in onshore processing to increase SIDS benefits was suggested.
According to the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) director, Mr. SungKwon Soh, the Vessel Day Scheme of the WCPFC and PNA group of nations was lauded as an example of effective capacity management. Mr. Soh stated that the industry participation was very important to the RFMO workshop: “It was interesting to see the issues from the harvesting and marketing side†he ended.
A formal report of the workshop is being prepared and will soon be available to the public.
