WCPFC Ecosystem & by-catch Conservation and Management Measures Simon Nicol SPC- OFP Ecosystem Monitoring and Analyses

Outline Role of WCPFC – ie to manage straddling stocks and harmonise policy Sustainability is assessed by the community using two criteria – impact on targets and impact on ecosystem Species with higher vulnerability to impacts of fishing Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs)

WCPFC The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) was established by the Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPF Convention) which entered into force on 19 June 2004. 41 members and co-operating non members

WCPFC Harmonise policy for highly migratory/ straddling stocks (ie stocks whose distribution extends beyond country boundaries). Ensure that the stocks are managed sustainably and no single country exerts fishing pressure to the detriment of other members. Sustainability is achieved through the implementation of the commission rules and conservation and management measures. These are agreed to by all members.

Sustainability Measured by 2 criteria under the convention: Target species stocks are harvested sustainably. Non-target species, the ecosystem and dependent species are not detrimentally impacted by the fishing for target species.

Vulnerability to fishing Analyses have been undertaken to identify which species or species group are most vulnerable to fishing (Ecological Risk Assessment – see Kirby SC papers from 2005-2009). Species which have higher rates of interaction and low rates of population increase (long-lived, low fecundity, low natural mortality) are in general most vulnerable. Sharks, turtles, marine mammals and seabirds typically fall into this category

Vulnerability to fishing WCPFC has developed and implemented Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs) for these species groups. CMMs also developed for target species caught at below optimal size classes (yellowfin and bigeye). Monitoring and enforcement of these CMMs is implemented through the rules of the WCPFC.

Conservation and Management Measures for non target species. Regional Observer Programme (CMM 2007-01) Seabirds (CMM 2007-04) Sea Turtles (CMM 2008-03) Sharks (CMM 2010-07) Striped marlin - target (CMM 2006-04 and CMM 2010-01) Swordfish - target (CMM 2009-03) Worth noting that there are also CMMs for minimising the catch of species at non optimal size classes (eg. BET and YFT in purse-seine fisheries) (CMM 2008-01). Each CMM has a reporting requirement – either in Part 1 or Part 2 of the Commission member annual reports to the WCPFC

Established the Regional Observer Programme CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURE FOR THE REGIONAL OBSERVER PROGRAMME (CMM 2007-01) Established the Regional Observer Programme The objectives of the Commission ROP shall be to collect verified catch data, other scientific data, and additional information related to the fishery from the Convention Area and to monitor the implementation of the conservation and management measures adopted by the Commission.

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURE FOR THE REGIONAL OBSERVER PROGRAMME (CMM 2007-01) Scope of the Commission ROP The Commission ROP shall apply to the following categories of fishing vessels authorized to fish in the Convention Area in accordance with CMM 2009-01 (Record of fishing vessels and authorization to Fish): vessels fishing exclusively on the high seas in the Convention Area, and vessels fishing on the high seas and in waters under the jurisdiction of one or more coastal States and vessels fishing in the waters under the national jurisdiction of two or more coastal States. Obligations of Commission Members Each Commission Member shall ensure that fishing vessels fishing in the Convention Area, except for vessels that operate exclusively within waters under the national jurisdiction of the flag State, are prepared to accept an observer from the Commission ROP if required by the Commission.

Seabirds (CMM 2007-04) Commission members shall, to the extent possible, implement the International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catches of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOA-Seabirds) if they have not already done so. Commission members shall require their longline vessels to use at least two of the mitigation measures in Table 1, including at least one from Column A in areas south of 30 degrees South and north of 23 degrees North.

Seabirds (CMM 2007-04)

Seabirds (CMM 2007-04) Column A Side setting with a bird curtain and weighted branch lines Night setting with minimum deck lighting Weighted branch lines Tori line Column B Tori line Weighted branch lines Blue-dyed bait Deep setting line shooter Underwater setting chute Management of offal discharge

Seabirds – WCPFC Reporting Each Commission member with longline vessels that fish in the Convention Area south of 30°S or north of 23°N shall submit in part 2 of its annual report for 2007 (due in 2008) information describing which of the mitigation measures in Table 1 they require or will require their vessels to use, as well as the technical specifications for each of those mitigation measures. Each such Commission member shall also include in its annual reports for subsequent years any changes it has made to its required mitigation measures or technical specifications for those measures.

Sea Turtles (CMM 2008-03) Commission members will implement, as appropriate the FAO Guidelines to Reduce Sea Turtle Mortality in Fishing Operations and to ensure the safe handling of all captured sea turtles, in order to improve their survival. Beginning in 2009, Commission members shall report to the Commission in Part 2 of their annual reports the progress of implementation of the FAO Guidelines and this measure, including information collected on interactions with sea turtles in fisheries managed under the Convention.

Sea Turtles (CMM 2008-03) CMMs specifies the requirement to follow handling guidelines for all sea turtle interactions which are based on minimising interactions and mortalities.

Sharks (CMM 2010-07) FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (IPOA Sharks) in Part 2 of the annual report report on implementation of the IPOA Sharks, including, results of the assessment of the need for a National Plan of Action and/or the status of their National Plans of Action for the CMM of Sharks.

Sharks (CMM 2010-07) Each Commission member shall include key shark species in their annual WCPFC reporting. Includes annual catch and fishing effort statistics by gear type, including available historical data, in accordance with the WCPF Convention and agreed reporting procedures. Commission members shall also report annual retained and discarded catches in Part 2 of their annual report. Commission members shall as appropriate, support research and development of strategies for the avoidance of unwanted shark captures (e.g. chemical, magnetic and rare earth metal shark deterrents).

Sharks (CMM 2010-07) Full utilization required. This means retention by the fishing vessel of all parts of the shark excepting head, guts, and skins, to the point of first landing or transhipment. Implement the 5% rule vessels to have on board fins that total no more than 5% of the weight of sharks on board up to the first point of landing. Commission members that currently do not require fins and carcasses to be offloaded together at the point of first landing shall take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the 5% ratio through certification, monitoring by an observer, or other appropriate measures. Commission members may alternatively require that their vessels land sharks with fins attached to the carcass or that fins not be landed without the corresponding carcass. the % figure expected to be regularly updated as new information becomes available

Sharks (CMM 2010-07) Commission members shall take measures necessary to prohibit their fishing vessels from retaining on board, transhipping, landing, or trading any fins harvested in contravention of this Conservation and Management Measure (CMM). In fisheries for tunas and tuna-like species that are not directed at sharks, Commission members shall take measures to encourage the release of live sharks that are caught incidentally and are not used for food or other purposes.

Southwest Striped marlin CMM 2006-04 Limit the number of fishing vessels fishing for MLS south of 15°S to the number in any one year during 2000-2004 Commission members shall report annually to the catch levels of their fishing vessels that have taken striped marlin as a bycatch as well as the number and catch levels of vessels fishing for striped marlin in the Convention Area south of 15°S

Northern Striped marlin (CMM 2010-01) The total catch of North Pacific Striped Marlin will be subject to a phased reduction such that by 1 January 2013 the catch is [80%] of the levels caught in 2000 to 2003. Commission member with vessels fishing in the convention area north of the equator shall be subject to the following catch limits : a. 2011 [10%] reduction of the highest catch between 2000 and 2003; b. 2012 [15%] reduction of the highest catch between 2000 and 2003; c. 2013 and beyond: [20%] reduction of the highest catch between 2000 and 2003; Each commission member decide on the management measures required Each commission member shall report in their Part 2 annual reports their implementation of this measure, including the measures applied to reduce their catch and the total catch taken against the limits

Swordfish(CMM 2009-03) Limit the number of fishing vessels fishing for swordfish south of 20°S to the number in any one year during 2000-2005 Limit the amount of swordfish caught to the amount caught in any one year during 2000-2006 Commission members shall not shift their fishing effort for swordfish to the area north of 20°S

2011 workshop Not planning on dissecting the CMMs further although if enough interest this could be the topic for next year Mitigation measures Provide a synopsis on the effectiveness of some mitigation measures for LL (Steve Beverley). Demonstrate and provide some basic training in the use of the BMIS (Larissa Fitzsimmons) The BMIS provides access to information on CMM and mitigation measures, references and ultimately maybe useful for consolidating WCPFC reports

2011 workshop Sharks Using sharks as example, provide estimation of catches of non-target species (Tim Lawson) Demonstrate and provide some basic training in the use of the STAGIS (Lea Protoy) It is clear that our observer programs are the key to monitoring the implementation of CMMs. Using a recent analyses from New Caledonia we will highlight how the observer information is used and some of the gaps (Valerie Allain). Provide information on the recent scientific meeting on the implementation of ecosystem monitoring and indicators (Valerie Allain)