By Pita Ligaiula in Manila, Philippines
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has issued a stern warning ahead of next week’s Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC22) in Manila, emphasizing that without reliable on-the-water monitoring, efforts to protect tuna stocks and endangered marine species will falter. The organization argues that effective monitoring is crucial for building the transparent supply chains demanded by global markets.
In its statement to the Commission, TNC highlighted that the insufficient monitoring is a significant barrier to sustainably managing tuna populations and conserving affiliated marine species. This lack of oversight hampers efforts to establish supply chains that consumers can trust.
TNC is urging WCPFC22 to advance monitoring reforms, particularly advocating for the incorporation of electronic monitoring (EM) data for compliance and increased monitoring coverage for longline vessels. A key initiative highlighted by TNC is its Tuna Transparency Pledge (TTP), which launched last year and has already received signatories from countries comprising over 15 percent of the global tuna catch, including the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Panama. Prominent retailers and processors such as Walmart, Carrefour, Thai Union, and Aramark have also committed to the pledge.
The TNC aims to expedite the implementation of on-the-water monitoring, with the goal of achieving full monitoring coverage on industrial tuna vessels by 2027. Beyond its advocacy, TNC is actively engaged with Pacific Island fisheries authorities and regional partners to develop and expand EM programs across various fishing fleets.
During WCPFC22, TNC is seeking five key outcomes: the adoption of EM data for monitoring fishing activities, an increase in longline monitoring to 20 percent with plans for full coverage, enhanced seabird conservation measures, improved management of fish aggregating devices (FADs) including biodegradable options, and stronger transshipment regulations.
Additionally, TNC announced recent partnerships, including a $2 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund aimed at scaling up edge-AI tools for the swift analysis of EM footage. TNC is committed to being actively involved at WCPFC22, expressing a keen interest in collaborating with all stakeholders to foster sustainable fisheries management.
TNC insists that meaningful advancements in monitoring and transparency are vital for the enduring health of the region’s tuna fisheries and the communities reliant on them. This positive, proactive approach offers hope for the future of sustainable fishing practices and marine conservation in the Pacific region.