By Pita Ligaiula in Manila, Philippines
As Pacific fisheries officials gather in Manila for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting next week, major global seafood markets are emerging as the strongest force pushing members toward tougher, more transparent management of the region’s tuna stocks.
Bubba Cook, Policy Director at Sharks Pacific, told PACNEWS that market pressure particularly from big retailers is now too significant for WCPFC members to ignore.
“Markets, including the big buyers and major retailers, are playing an increasingly important role in driving some of these important sustainability decisions,” Cook said.
He highlighted the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA) as one of the major coalitions using its purchasing power to demand stronger management across all tuna regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs).
“We see organisations like the Global Tuna Alliance bringing major markets together to call for stronger management measures across all the RFMOs,” he said.
Cook highlighted the Pacific Islands Tuna initiative led by the Republic of the Marshall Islands as a clear example of market expectations shaping fisheries behaviour. Under this initiative, major buyers such as Costco and Walmart have signalled support on the condition that fisheries adopt strong and transparent management systems, backed by robust supply-chain traceability.
“Additionally, we see initiatives like the Pacific Islands Tuna initiative in the Republic of Marshall Islands, where large markets like Costco and Walmart have committed support under the expectation that strong and transparent management is implemented in their fisheries subject to strong supply chain traceability,” he said.
He said these market forces, combined with growing pressure related to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, are converging to push WCPFC members toward decisions anchored in transparency and accountability.
“These issues, along with MSC certification pressures, are converging to drive management decisions toward greater transparency, traceability, and, ultimately, accountability,” he said.
Cook stressed that the balance of power is shifting, with markets increasingly steering the direction of WCPFC decisions.
“Money talks, so when these markets say they want something implemented, members are more likely to ensure that happens,” Cook told PACNEWS.
