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Wednesday, 12 August 2009 20:52

The first Tuna Data Workshop (TDW-1) was one output of the Global Environment Facility’s Oceanic Fisheries Management Project (OFMP), which endeavors to support PICTs in the initial operational phases of the new Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC, see Figure 1). The project’s long-term aspirations are to improve both the information and knowledge on migratory fish resources of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) Warm Pool Large Marine Ecosystem; as well as aiming to improve the governance of those resources. The Japan Trust fund subsequently  recognised the value of these tuna data workshops and provided its encouragement and financial support for further workshops.

 

Workshop invitations are typically extended to participants from most PICTs (Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tokelau, Tuvalu and Vanuatu).  These countries recognise that they are the collective custodians of one of the world’s largest marine ecosystems within which resides the world’s largest tuna resource. They stride to manage it sustainably.

The precautionary approach to fishery management, which is now widely established and accepted by fishery managers around the world, requires good quality data. In recognition of this principle a specific component was included in the GEF project to improve tuna data monitoring. These associated monitoring workshops provide PICTs the opportunity to collectively explore, discuss and revise their own national tuna data collection, management and reporting practices, and the time to assimilate the associated skills. Furthermore, as signatory members of the Forum Fishery Agency (FFA), SPC and WCPFC these countries and territories have a history of implementing standardised tuna fishery monitoring methods, and thus these workshops provide a beneficial forum to review and develop regional monitoring standards.

 
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