WWF and the Association of Professional Observers (APO) are calling on the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to protect at-sea observers and promote their professionalism.

Fisheries observers play a critical role. Credit: NOAA

Fisheries observers play a critical role. Credit: NOAA

Member states of the WCPFC will meet on 26 September in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, to discuss problems related to IUU fishing and conserving and managing tuna in the region.

WWF and APO have expressed concerns over anticipated declines in funding for the observer programme and observer support and asked the WCPFC and associated scientific and management support agencies to improve operational standards to ensure robust observer programmes.

Fisheries observers play a critical role in ensuring the sustainability of fisheries resources through the extensive information they collect on the harvest of fish stocks globally, and also perform an extremely important monitoring function that helps deter and prosecute IUU fishing.

However, faced with deployments onboard fishing vessels that last weeks or even months, these observers are also potentially subject to bribes, harassment, threats, intimidation, and even injury or death at the hands of captains and crew who fail to appreciate and respect the observers monitoring and oversight role.

“Observers absolutely must have unquestioning confidence that the regulatory structure, including the observer programme providers and management agencies, will stand behind them if they are subject to threats, harassment, or potential injury.” said Elizabeth Mitchell, the executive director of the APO.

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