WCPFC – Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

2026 RFMO Advocacy Asks

Harvest Strategies: Adopt management procedures for Pacific bluefin and bigeye tunas.

  • Harvest Strategies: Adopt measures to implement the South Pacific albacore management procedure (in coordination with joint IATTC working group), including catch limits and improved, independent monitoring.

  • Transparency: Immediately increase observer coverage rates – human and/or electronic – for large-scale longline vessels from the current 5% requirement and adopt a timeline to reach 100% coverage.

NGO RFMO Map - WCPFC

All-RFMO Priorities for Immediate Action

View PDF of RFMO Priorities

  • Harvest Strategies: Adopt and implement comprehensive, precautionary harvest strategies (management procedures) for tunas and other targeted stocks, including blue sharks, swordfish and billfish.
  • Transparency: Require 100% observer coverage (human and/or electronic) for industrial tuna fishing vessels, including those engaged in at sea transshipment.
  • Transshipment: Strengthen at-sea transshipment measures to be in line with best practices, such as those recommended in the NGO Tuna Forum’s Aligned Guidance on At-Sea.
  • FAD Management: Strengthen FAD management provisions to at least the level defined in the NGO Tuna Forum’s Aligned Guidance on FAD Management.
  • Bycatch: Implement and strengthen measures to effectively minimize bycatch and fishing mortality of non-target, non-retained, and ETP species in line with NGO Tuna Forum’s Aligned Bycatch Mitigation Expectations.
  • Fins Naturally Attached: Require that fins remain naturally attached for all (i.e., fresh and frozen) sharks without exceptions, adopting the globally acknowledged best practice to prevent finning.
  • Compliance: Strengthen compliance mechanisms to ensure RFMO processes are transparent and robust, members are held accountable for the implementation of all conservation management measures and data reporting requirements, and there are clear responses to non-compliance.
  • Worker Rights: Establish and implement labor (worker rights) and safety standards for crew and observers on fishing vessels that are based on relevant international labor conventions.
  • WIFI for Crew: In the interest of crew safety and well-being, adopt vessel standards and requirements that provide for regular and consistent WIFI access for fishers at no cost to them.

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