The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has made a commitment to long-term sustainable fisheries management.
The Australia-led ‘Conservation and management measure on establishing a harvest strategy for key fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean’, which sets out a clear framework for the development of harvest strategies, was adopted at the 11th annual meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission in Samoa last week.
“Acceptance of the principle that good fisheries management requires the application of harvest strategy policy, including formal decision rules and target and limit reference points for key stocks, is an important step forwards,” said Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Senator Richard Colbeck.
“There remain substantial challenges within the Commission that need to be resolved in order to ensure the sustainable management of the stocks, but this is a good show of faith by members.”
Senator Colbeck said that while there is still work to be done to develop a formal harvest strategy for each WCPFC fishery, this decision lays a foundation for science based fisheries management. He also said that Australia is committed to working closely with regional neighbours to promote sustainable fisheries management to ensure the resource can be enjoyed for many generations to come.
The measure was drafted by Australia and presented as a Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) members’ proposal. The FFA is made up of 17 Pacific Island countries including Australia and New Zealand.
