MSC certification issue not in Tuna Commission agenda at WCPFC19: Teo
By Pita Ligaiula in Da Nang, Vietnam
The outgoing executive director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) says the threat by Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) that 33 MSC-certified tuna fisheries in the region may lose certification is not on the Commission agenda this week.
Feleti Teo made the clarification after MSC said if WCPFC fails to adopt management measures...
Climate change to be a permanent regular item for WCPFC
By Pita Ligaiula in Da Nang, in Vietnam
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has adopted a resolution for climate change to be part of its meeting agenda item.
This was confirmed to journalists in Da Nang, Vietnam by WCPFC chair, Jungre Riley Kim.
“We made some progress report regarding climate change. In Port Moresby, the Commission adopted a resolution on...
State of play: Skipjack Tuna management measures to be adopted at WCPFC19
By Pita Ligaiula in Da Nang, Vietnam
Senior executives of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) are adamant the Commission will adopt management measures of a harvest strategy for skipjack tuna before the meeting wraps in Vietnam this week.
The long-term sustainability of the world’s most important tuna stocks, those in the Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) will be...
New WCPFC executive director will trail blaze for young women and girls in the Pacific
By Pita Ligaiula in Da Nang, in Vietnam
The chair of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has praised the appointment of Rhea Moss-Christian as the first Pacific women to lead the Commission.
Speaking to journalists WCPFC chair, Korean Jungre Riley Kim said Rhea Moss-Christian has a proven record of her excellent leadership when she was chair of the...
Calls for concrete binding measures on fishers’safety, security and well-being regulation at WCPFC 19
By Pita Ligaiula in Da Nang, Vietnam
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) observing at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC 19) meeting this week in Vietnam have raised concerns about the implementation of a new conservation and management measure (CMM) for the safety, security and well-being of fisher crews.
They also called for key safeguards and enhancements of the proposed regulation...
Op-Ed: In a sea of climate disappointment, the ocean must take centre stage in all future climate discussions
By Henry Puna, Pacific Ocean Commissioner and Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum
This year, our Leaders endorsed the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, setting out our collective approach to achieving sustained security, development, and prosperity for all peoples in the Pacific.
In charting this ambitious course, our Leaders are well aware that climate change remains the single greatest threat...
More needs to be done to control rampant tuna transhipment in the high seas
By Pita Ligaiula, in Da Nang, Vietnam
Civil society organisations (CSOs) attending the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting in Vietnam believe transhipment in the high seas have increased in the last three years due to COVID-19.
This practice, which occurs out-of-sight in areas of ocean beyond the control of Pacific governments, allows vessels fishing illegally to evade monitoring...
Rhea Moss-Christian first Pacific woman to be WCPFC executive director
By Pita Ligaiula in Da Nang, Vietnam
A candidate from the Northern Pacific in the Micronesian subregion is the first woman appointed to be the executive director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
Rhea Moss-Christian from Marshall Islands is the new director of the Commission beating fellow Pacific islander and candidate from Cook Islands Dr Lara Manarangi-Trott for...
Pacific Tuna will not collapse next year if WCPFC fails to adopt management measures
By Pita Ligaiula in Da Nang
An expert in the tuna industry in the Pacific says the fishery will not collapse next year if the Tuna Commission (WCPFC 19) meeting in Vietnam this week does not adopt management measures of a harvest strategy for skipjack tuna.
Francisco Blaha told PACNEWS the threat by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to suspend 33...
WWF support the prohibition of shark lines and wire leaders
By Pita Ligaiula in Da Nang, Vietnam
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is hopeful the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC 19), meeting this week will take a decision to prohibit the use of wire leaders and shark lines.
The U.S and Canada are seeking a ban in the Pacific on the two fishing devices that have proven...