By Pita Ligaiula in Manila, Philippines
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Chair Dr Josie Tamate says the final barrier to securing a long-awaited management procedure for South Pacific albacore comes down to one politically sensitive decision – agreeing on a single Harvest Control Rule (HCR) and where it applies.
With the Tuna Commission heading into its most consequential talks in years, starting today, Dr Tamate told PACNEWS the science is done, the options are on the table, and the Commission now has nowhere left to hide.
“The biggest sticking point from my perspective is agreeing on a Harvest Control Rule (HCR),” she said.
“There are still too many options at this point,” she told PACNEWS.
After more than a decade of promises, the South Pacific albacore harvest strategy is the centrepiece of WCPFC22 in Manila a meeting viewed by Pacific states, markets and observers as a test of whether the Commission can finally deliver modern, science-based management.
Dr Tamate said the scientific groundwork is complete, and members cannot claim a lack of information.
“Our science service provider – SPC provided all the analysis and has done an incredible job in responding to the requests from the members,” she said.
But the political hurdle remains.
“The Commission will need to agree on which HCR to use and also the area of application,” Dr Tamate explained.
That geographic decision comes with two options each with major implications for longline fleets operating across the region.
“There are two options: (a) apply from the equator going down south, or (2) apply only from 10 degrees south,” she told PACNEWS.
For years, Pacific Island countries have pushed for a framework that stabilises catch rates, rebuilds economic viability for domestic longline fleets, and ends the unpredictable “boom and bust” cycles that have undermined investment.
Dr Tamate said members have worked hard this year, through workshops and consultations, to narrow those gaps.
But agreement on the final HCR is the core decision the Commission must take – without it, the harvest strategy cannot be adopted.
WCPFC chair’s message in Manila this week is clear- the Tuna Commission must choose.
With market pressure rising, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification deadlines looming, and Pacific economies relying on a functioning longline sector, this week’s decision will determine not only the future of South Pacific albacore, but the credibility of the WCPFC itself.
Whether the Commission can bridge the final divide on the Harvest Control Rule is now the defining question of WCPFC22.
