
A global non-governmental initiative committed to openness and accountability in international fisheries decision making has challenged the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to uphold United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement obligations.
The organization Accountability.Fish issued a statement on Sept. 7 expressing concerns over an alleged lack of transparency within the WCPFC, which governs the majority of the world’s tuna supply.
The WCPFC Secretariat said in a Sept. 20 response to the allegations that while challenges remain, the evidence suggests that the commission is largely meeting its conservation goals, benefiting both the environment and the communities reliant on these vital resources.
“WCPFC has been transparent about its stock assessments and management measures and claims suggesting otherwise often fail to take into account the complexity of fisheries management in a region that covers nearly 60% of the world’s tuna supply and collaboration with over 40 countries and territories,” the commission said.
“The commission has accredited 60 observer organizations to participate in the organization’s work, representing NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and IGOs (intergovernmental organizations). This commitment to transparency is outlined in the WCPFC Convention and reflects the organization’s dedication to inclusive and open governance.”
According to Ryan Orgera, global director of Accountability.Fish, 17 member states of Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) actively block observers from attending key sessions of its Technical and Compliance Committee (TCC) meetings. That equates to a failure to uphold obligations as signatories of the U.N. Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA), he said.
The FFA members accused of blocking attendance of observers at TCC meetings include Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Accountability.Fish also has named Canada, the European Union, France, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and the U.S. as “complicit” nations that turn a blind eye to the WCPFC’s lack of transparency, thereby contradicting their own commitment to sound governance.
The WCPFC said many observer organizations in fact work closely with its members and support the commission’s work.
“These contributions include valuable scientific research and support for key initiatives, such as improving fisheries observer safety. This collaborative approach enhances the commission’s ability to address complex challenges in fisheries management,” the commission said.
The WCPFC, based in Micronesia, is required to hold an annual meeting and may call other meetings it deems necessary to carry out its functions.
It has scheduled its fifth South Pacific albacore roadmap intercessional working group meeting, online only, on Oct. 11, and its 21st regular session of the commission for six days, beginning Nov. 28, in Suva, Fiji.