Is it possible to discuss sustainable tuna?
WWF expresses disappointment over the inability of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to effectively address tuna overfishing and the issue of excessive vessel capacity in the Cairns, Australia region. The measures put in place by the WCPFC for 2014 were deemed ineffective and diluted.
Additionally, they are postponing taking action until later years. It is truly disheartening to witness this occurrence. Several member states have recognized the critical condition of the fishery and have made efforts to address the issue. This is primarily due to immediate economic gain. That’s as well as other narrow-minded motives. These remarks were partly made by Bubba Cook. Bubba serves as the Tuna Programme Manager for WWF’s Smart Fishing Initiative.
The Commission has also finally reached a decision after a week of disagreement among certain members. Yet there has been minimal advancement towards resolving the issue. The approved Conservation and Management Measure is still lacking in strength. Most importantly, it includes provisions that may not effectively decrease overfishing of bigeye tuna.
According to Sylvester Pokajam, the Managing Director of the National Fisheries Authority of Papua New Guinea, during the meeting it was acknowledged by the member countries of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) and Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) that Asian countries are willing to reach a compromise with them. However, the European Union and the United States are not willing to compromise on the conservation of bigeye tuna. As a result, the decision that was made was met with disappointment. Therefore, the PNA will persist in advocating for their initial proposal in the upcoming year.
The concept of sustainability is essential for the preservation of Bigeye Tuna.
The overfishing of bigeye tuna is leading to the potential collapse of the species. Experts have pinpointed the growing efficiency of fishing vessels. I mean it’s specifically due to unregulated use of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). Especially as a significant contributor to this decline. This is despite the existence of scientific research and management strategies. All because it seems there is a lack of collective political motivation. That’s the political will to implement them and safeguard the long-term viability of tuna populations in the area.
According to Cook, the stock of bigeye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean is a crucial component of an intricate ecosystem. Failing to take action now could result in damaging the entire system. That’s not just the bigeye tuna population in the region. Cook emphasized that delaying action would only make it more challenging to make important management decisions as the stock health continues to decline.
Juvenile bigeye tuna have a tendency to be found near floating structures, such as FADs, where commercial fishing boats often use purse seine nets to catch skipjack tuna. Unfortunately, this also results in the unintentional capture of a significant number of bigeye tuna as bycatch.
The Commission for Sustainable Tuna is responsible for promoting sustainable practices in the tuna industry.
In 2008 and 2012, the commission introduced certain actions to address the issue of overfishing of bigeye tuna. The aim was to impose restrictions on the usage of FADs. However, these measures proved to be insufficient as overfishing persisted and even escalated.
The newly approved measure shows minimal improvement towards significant reductions and essentially only upholds the existing state of affairs. It also postpones any potential future actions. Despite the determination of numerous small island nations to tackle the ongoing decline of the South Pacific albacore tuna stock, there was no agreement on how to control the excessive number of fishing vessels in the albacore longline fishery.
According to Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Fisheries and Forests, Mr. Inoke Wainiqolo, they have been addressing the concerns regarding the fishery for a number of years, but it has not been given the appropriate attention in the Commission’s process. The Chinese fleets, which are heavily subsidized, pose a threat to the domestic fleets and there are fears that the catch rates for South Pacific albacore tuna will decrease to the point of causing the domestic fleets to disappear.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, the future of bigeye tuna in the Western Pacific is at risk due to unsustainable practices. A photo of the Bigeye trevally, also known as Bigeye jack, shows them gathering in groups for protection against predators like sharks. The image, captured by Cat Calloway and copyrighted by WWF, was taken in Fiji.
Source: WWF Photo: Bigeye trevally or Bigeye jack (Caranx sexfasciatus) congregate in schools for safety from attack by predators such as sharks. Fiji from Cat Calloway copyright WWF
