Fiji has voiced strong concerns at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC22) meeting in Manila over the proposed Harvest Control Rule (HCR10) for South Pacific albacore. The Fiji delegation argued that the implementation of HCR10 could severely jeopardize both the albacore stock and the economic stability of Pacific nations.
HCR10 is regarded by many Pacific Island countries as the most lenient approach among the various management options for South Pacific albacore. Each alternative sets specific rules for varying catch or effort limits based on the status of fish stocks. Fiji’s Assistant Director of Fisheries, Nanise Tuqiri, emphasized that WCPFC members are faced with a critical choice: they can either pursue a strategy that may improve catch rates and support fish populations, or maintain a path that has proven ineffective over the last twenty years.
Tuqiri raised alarms that adopting HCR10 would not stabilize the fishery; instead, it would increase catch levels while the stock is still struggling, further endangering connectivity with local processors and potentially leading to job losses, reduced revenue, and threatening the long-term viability of Fiji’s domestic fishing fleet. Such outcomes could worsen the socioeconomic challenges faced by both coastal and urban communities throughout Fiji.
On a broader scale, Tuqiri criticized HCR10 for displaying “an air of impudent optimism,” warning that it dangerously assumes the albacore stock can withstand increased exploitation. She pointed out that while higher catch limits may seem reassuring, they originate from a fragile stock that has shown little improvement.
Fiji’s government views the potential approval of HCR10 as an indication from the Commission that it is willing to overlook the ongoing decline in fish stocks in favor of short-term gains for certain fishing fleets. Tuqiri stressed that this strategy does not address the underlying problems but exacerbates them, increasing biological risks and undermining domestic fisheries like those in Fiji.
As discussions move forward regarding the future of the longline fishery, Fiji has called for the outright removal of HCR10 from the proposals under consideration. This firm stance reflects a commitment to adopting more sustainable and effective fishing management practices. Fiji aims to safeguard both its marine ecosystems and the livelihoods that depend on them, advocating for a future that focuses on sustainability and economic resilience.