Fiji has issued a stern warning at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC22) meeting in Manila regarding the proposed Harvest Control Rule (HCR10) for South Pacific albacore. The Fiji delegation asserted that adopting HCR10 would adversely affect both the albacore stock and the economies of Pacific nations.
HCR10, one of several options under consideration by the WCPFC for managing South Pacific albacore, is viewed by Pacific Island countries as the most lenient and least cautious approach. Each HCR option establishes distinct rules for adjusting catch or effort limits based on the health of the fish stock.
Fiji’s Assistant Director of Fisheries, Nanise Tuqiri, emphasized the need for WCPFC members to choose between a fishery that could enhance catch rates, bolster vulnerable fish populations, and restore profitability, or one that would perpetuate years of ineffectiveness. She noted that the current management strategy has failed to deliver results over the past two decades.
Tuqiri expressed concerns that adopting HCR10 would not only fail to stabilize the fishery but would exacerbate the situation by increasing catches while the fish stock remains underperforming. This option, she warned, would significantly impact Fiji by limiting the fish supply available for local processors, leading to job losses, reduced industry revenue, and jeopardizing the long-term viability of the domestic fishing fleet. These repercussions could deepen socioeconomic vulnerabilities in coastal and urban communities across Fiji.
At a broader level, Tuqiri criticized HCR10 for its “air of impudent optimism,” suggesting it recklessly assumes the albacore stock can handle further exploitation despite concerning indicators. She cautioned that while higher catch limits might give a false sense of stability, they are built on an unstable stock that is not showing improvements.
Fiji’s government views the endorsement of HCR10 as a signal from the Commission that it is prepared to accept ongoing declines in fish stocks in exchange for temporary relief for certain fleets. According to Tuqiri, this approach not only fails to resolve existing issues but worsens them, increasing biological risks and undermining domestic fisheries like Fiji’s.
As negotiations progress towards a decision on the longline fishery’s future, Fiji has called for the complete removal of HCR10 from consideration, underscoring the need for more sustainable and effective fishing management practices. This bold stance reflects a commitment to preserving both the marine ecosystem and the livelihoods of communities reliant on fishing, aiming for a future that prioritizes sustainability and profitability.