Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)

The Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (the Convention) established the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to conserve and manage migratory fishery resources in the western and central Pacific Ocean.

The Convention was negotiated at a series of multilateral high-level conferences (MHLCs), which included participants from Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and distant water fishing nations. At the Seventh meeting of the MHLC in September 2000 the delegates adopted the text of the Convention. After consultation with states, territories and industry groups, Australia ratified the Convention in September 2003. On 19 June 2004, the Convention entered into force and the Commission met for the first time in December 2004 in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

Objective

The objective of the Convention is 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 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and also the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement. The Convention draws upon the principles of sustainable use, long-term conservation, effective monitoring, control and surveillance and the precautionary approach.

The Commission seeks to manage all highly migratory fish stocks within the Convention area including tuna, billfish such as swordfish, marlin, sailfish, mackerel and sharks. These fisheries are a very valuable resource to the Australian fishing industry.

Australian priorities

The Convention applies to waters of the Pacific Ocean including an area off the eastern coast of Australia. PICs and Australia's partcipation in WCPFC serves to protect the fisheries resources that migrate through our exclusive economic zone.

Participation in WCPFC allows Australia to be directly engaged in the development of management arrangements for the fisheries the Commission is responsible for, including measures to manage and conserve bigeye, yellowfin and albacore tunas.

Through the Commission, Australia will be directly engaged in the development of management arrangements for the fisheries for which the Commission is responsible including measures to manage and conserve bigeye, yellowfin and southern albacore tunas. The development of an operationally effective Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Scheme that includes boarding and inspection arrangements and a Commission vessel monitoring system (VMS) is now a high priority.

Regional Engagement

The Convention holds particular significance for PICs. Many of these nations rely heavily upon their fishing resources for their national income. WCPFC seeks to establish effective management of the fisheries to ensure that they are utilised in a sustainable way. Australia has a considerable interest in the economic stability and development of neighbouring PICs. Many PICs have developing economies and the effective management of their fisheries will allow them to improve their economic self-reliance.

Binding Treaty Action

Australia has undertaken binding treaty action on the Convention on the basis that it is a ground-breaking management regime that will best serve to protect Australia’s interest in the highly migratory fish stocks of the western and central Pacific. The National Interest Analysis and text of the Treaty were tabled in Parliament on 17 June 2003 with its instrument of ratification lodged with the depository (New Zealand) on 22 September 2003.

Convention Map PDF [298kb]

Members

Australia, China, Canada, Cook Islands, European Union, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Japan, Kiribati, Korea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Chinese Taipei, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu.

Participating Territories

American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna.

Cooperating Non-member(s)

Belize, Indonesia, Senegal, Mexico, El Salvador, Ecuador, Vietnam.

Meetings

Sessions of the Commission are held annually in December. The Scientific Committee and the Technical and Compliance Committee meet annually in advance of the Commission meeting in order for Commission members to act on the most recent scientific and compliance advice.

Contact
WCPFC Secretariat
PO Box 2356
Kaselelieh Street
Kolonia, Pohnpei State 96941
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
email: wcpfc@mail.fm
website: www.wcpfc.int/