Convention on the conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean

SUMMARY OF:

Convention on the conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

Decision 2005/75/EC on the accession of the Community to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE CONVENTION AND DECISION?

It aims to ensure, through effective management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (see summary) and the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement.
The decision ratifies the agreement on behalf of the European Union (EU).

KEY POINTS

Scope

The convention applies to all species of highly migratory fish with the exception of sauries.
The exact geographical range of the convention (the ‘Convention Area’) within the Pacific Ocean is set out in Article 3.

General principles

Parties to the convention must apply a number of general principles, adopting a precautionary approach. These include:

taking measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of these fish within the area using the best scientific evidence available;
assessing the impacts of fishing, other human activities and environmental factors on target species, non-target species and species belonging to the same ecosystem or dependent upon or associated with the target species;
adopting measures to minimise waste, discards, catch by lost or abandoned gear, pollution from fishing vessels and the catch of non-target fish and non-fish species;
promoting the development and use of selective, environmentally safe and cost-effective fishing gear and techniques;
protecting biodiversity in the marine environment;
taking measures to prevent or eliminate overfishing.

In applying the precautionary approach, the parties must:

be more cautious when information is uncertain, unreliable or inadequate;
not use the absence of adequate scientific information as a reason for failing to take conservation and management action;
for new or exploratory fisheries, adopt cautious conservation and management measures, including catch limits and effort limits.

Organisation

The convention creates the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), with members from each contracting party meeting annually.
There are three subsidiary bodies: a Scientific Committee, a Technical and Compliance Committee and a Northern Committee.
The WCPFC can also set up other subsidiary bodies to meet the convention’s aims.

Conservation and management

The WCPFC’s responsibilities require it to decide on a wide range of measures including:

the quantity of any species or stocks which may be caught;
the level of fishing effort;
the limitations of fishing capacity, including measures relating to fishing vessel numbers, types and sizes;
the areas and periods in which fishing may occur;
the size of fish of any species which may be taken;
the fishing gear and technology which may be used.

The WCPFC must also set up cooperative mechanisms for effective monitoring, control, surveillance and enforcement, including a vessel monitoring system.

The WCPFC must also set up a regional observer programme to collect verified catch and effort data, other scientific data and additional information related to fishing activity and its impacts on the marine environment.

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

The convention entered into force on 19 June 2004.

BACKGROUND

Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Convention on the conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (OJ L 32, 4.2.2005, pp. 3–36).

Council Decision 2005/75/EC of 26 April 2004 on the accession of the Community to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (OJ L 32, 4.2.2005, pp. 1–2).