The 21st Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting begins Thursday in Suva. Photo: Giff Johnson
Protections for workers and reducing seabird bycatch are critical measures being sponsored by New Zealand when the 21st Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting, which begins Thursday in Suva.
The WCPFC brings together Pacific Island states and the distant-water fishing nations to discuss the welfare or otherwise of fish stocks, particularly the various tuna species, in the region.
New Zealand intends to lead or co-lead on three issues.
In a statement, the Ministry for Primary Industries said New Zealand wants a new measure adopted requiring fishing vessels to implement binding crew labour standards.
It said New Zealand is leading work to strengthen the rules to prevent the capture of seabirds by long line vessels fishing in the region.
New Zealand is also backing the implementation of standardised electronic monitoring on vessels.
It said this would mean data can be collected for compliance monitoring and be used for research.
The Ministry said New Zealand also wants to see improvements to the rules governing transhipment at sea, particularly for longline vessels.
Non-governmental organisations, such as, the Pew Charitable Trusts are also strongly in favour of these measures, and say clearer rules around transshipment will help.