NEWS:
The WCPFC has adopted procedures for the enforcement authorities of each of the Contracting Parties to the Convention to board and inspect the fishing vessels of other Contracting Parties on the high seas in the WCPF Convention Area. Be advised that this may affect your vessel, officers, and crew if your vessel operates on the high seas in the WCPF Convention Area. See this letter for details: Letter to permit holders on Boarding and Inspection of U.S. fishing vessels on the high seas in the western and central Pacific Ocean (May 2008, pdf 471 kB)

2007 U.S. Annual Report to WCPFC (Jul 2007, pdf 1.9 MB)

FR 2007 02Feb 26 Notice of Intent, Environmental Assessment, Implementation of WCPF Convention (Feb 2007, pdf 62 kB)

The objective of the Convention is to ensure, through effective management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks (HMS) in the western and central Pacific Ocean in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea  and also the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement.  The Convention has established a Commission and Secretariat (WCPFC) based in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

The United States played a very active role in supporting the negotiations and the development of the Convention and signed the Convention when it was opened for signature. The United States’ domestic procedures for ratification of the Convention were completed in June 2007.

The Convention applies to all species of highly migratory fish stocks (defined as all fish stocks of the species listed in Annex I of the 1982 Convention occurring in the Convention Area and such other species of fish as the Commission may determine ) within the Convention Area, except sauries.

United States Priorities
The Convention applies to waters of the Pacific Ocean including areas around Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands and U.S. Pacific remote island areas: Wake, Palmyra, Kingman, Jarvis, Howland, and Baker and therefore encompasses the operational area of significant U.S. purse seine, longline, and distant-water troll fisheries, as well as local HMS fisheries.

Through the Commission, the United States will be directly engaged in the development of management arrangements for the fisheries for which the Commission is responsible including: measures to manage and conserve bigeye, yellowfin, and albacore tunas, and measures to minimize impacts on the non-associated and dependent species (NADS), such as sea turtles and seabirds.  The development of an equitable and operationally effective Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Scheme that includes boarding and inspection arrangements, a regional observer program and a vessel monitoring system (VMS) is now a high priority.

For questions about United States participation please contact us

Map
Click here for a map of the Convention area.
 
Members
Australia, Canada, China, Cook Islands, European Community, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France (extends to French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna), Japan, Kiribati, Korea, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand (extends to Tokelau), Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu and the fishing entity of Chinese Taipei (Taiwan). Indonesia is a Cooperating Non-Member.

Organizational Structure
The Commission’s primary sub-bodies are the Scientific Committee, Technical and Compliance Committee, and Northern Committee. In addition to these permanent bodies the Commission also employs ad hoc working groups as required. Click here for an organizational chart.

Meetings
Sessions of the Commission are typically held annually in December.  The Scientific Committee and the Technical and Compliance Committee meet annually in advance of the Commission meeting to facilitate Commission members acting on the most recent scientific and compliance advice. 
The 2008 meetings of the Commission are:

• 4th regular session of the Scientific Committee, 11-22 August, port Moresby, PNG;
• 4th regular session of the Northern Committee, 9-11 September, Tokyo, Japan;
• 4th regular session of the Technical and Compliance Committee, 2-7 October, Pohnpei, FSM; and
• 5th regular session of the Commission, 8-12 December, Busan, Korea.

Decisions of the Commission
Commission decisions, such as Conservation and Management Measures (e.g. Bigeye and yellowfin tuna) and Resolutions (e.g. Sea Turtles) are on the Commission's website, http://www.wcpfc.int/decisions.htm

Important Documents

Location & Contact Information
WCPFC Secretariat
PO Box 2356
Kolonia, Pohnpei State
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
Phone:  +691 320 1992 or 320 1993
Fax:       +691 320 1108
email:      wcpfc@mail.fm
website: www.wcpfc.int

For questions about United States participation in WCPFC please contact us.