PINA

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

By Pita Ligaiula in Da Nang, Vietnam The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has warned 33 MSC-certified tuna fisheries in the region may lose certification if the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) fails to adopt management measures of a harvest strategy for skipjack tuna and demonstrate progress towards delivering harvest strategies for other tuna stocks within the region. These fisheries,...

By Pita Ligaiula in Da Nang, Vietnam Vietnam has expressed its desire to become a full member of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). The announcement was made by Dr Tran Dinh Luan, Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries of the Government of Vietnam in his keynote address at the Tuna Commission Meeting in Da Nang Monday. “I would...

By Pita Ligaiula in Da Nang, Vietnam The Executive director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Feleti Teo says the Commission was severely challenged to adapt and to adjust to a new working environment dictated by the disruptive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on international travels and modes of transacting businesses. This week's WCPFC19 meeting is the first...