Search Climate Insights Directory

The Regional Tuna Programme (RTP) addresses two primary climate threats in the Pacific: the loss of coral reef fish as a protein source and the eastward shift of tuna biomass away from national exclusive economic zones (EEZs). The programme will deploy 333 anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) to help coastal communities catch tuna, improve the distribution of industrial tuna bycatch to urban areas, and develop an Advanced Warning System (AWS) to provide high-resolution forecasts of tuna redistribution. This AWS is intended to serve as an economic planning tool to help tuna-dependent nations negotiate the retention of fishing license revenues. The project targets 790,000 direct beneficiaries and 2.5 million indirect beneficiaries across 14 participating countries.

Earthjustice, on behalf of the Conservation Council for Hawai'i and Moana Ohana, advocates for the adoption of 'Alternative 3' in a regulatory amendment to mandate monofilament leaders and the removal of trailing gear for oceanic whitetip sharks. The document argues that monofilament leaders alone are insufficient and should be combined with the elimination of shallow hooks, the use of corrodible circle hooks, and mandatory crew training to maximize survival rates. It further recommends that the U.S. leverage these domestic measures to advocate for similar international requirements through Regional Fishery Management Organizations, including increased observer coverage and a ban on shark lines.

The report examines how WTO rules targeting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfished stocks, and overcapacity would affect the Southern Longline (SLL) tuna fishery. While target stocks like South Pacific albacore are healthy, the fishery suffers from 'economic overfishing' characterized by falling catch per unit effort (CPUE). Analysis suggests that vessels from China and Chinese Taipei may be heavily dependent on subsidies to remain viable, whereas Fijian-flagged vessels appear marginally profitable without them. The report argues that while subsidy prohibitions could reduce overall effort and improve CPUE, they must be balanced with the development aspirations of Pacific Island countries (PICs), who rely on tuna for GDP and employment.

The document assesses how WTO subsidy disciplines regarding illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfished stocks, and overcapacity would affect the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) southern longline (SLL) fishery. It focuses on six fleets (China, Chinese Taipei, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and French Polynesia) and finds that vessels from China and Chinese Taipei are most likely to be impacted by prohibitions on operating cost subsidies, as their revenues may not cover costs without financial assistance. While target stocks like South Pacific albacore are healthy, the fishery faces economic overfishing characterized by falling catch per unit effort (CPUE). The report suggests that while subsidy rules could reduce overall effort and potentially improve profitability for remaining vessels, they may also create short-term revenue losses for Pacific Island countries (PICs) and disadvantage their domestic fleets due to higher local fuel costs.

The document analyzes the existing legal framework provided by UNCLOS and the SSA for resolving fisheries disputes and evaluates lessons from other international bodies like the WTO, ILO, and the Montreal Protocol to suggest a graduated, transparent, and science-based dispute resolution system for the Western and Central Pacific.

The research paper argues that the effectiveness of international fisheries management depends on the support and input of non-governmental stakeholders. It analyzes the 'three pillars' of public participation—access to information, access to decision-making, and access to justice—as established by the Rio Declaration, Agenda 21, and the Aarhus Convention. The author compares the participatory practices of Rio-era conventions (Climate Change, Biological Diversity, and Desertification) with those of various RFMOs, such as the WCPOFC, NAFO, and ICCAT. The document concludes that broad NGO participation enhances decision-making quality and legitimacy, and recommends that RFMOs adopt open-access policies for meetings and documents to ensure sustainable resource management.