Tuna management in action: assessing the contribution of the WCPFC to the SDGs

ABSTRACT

The tuna fishery in the Western and Central Pacific ranks among the most valuable fisheries in the world and is an important source of income and livelihood in this region. This fishery is managed by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), which has the important task to promote sustainable fisheries practices in this area. The sustainable use of marine resources is the objective of one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global initiative which seeks to achieve a sustainable future. This commentary focuses on the 16th regular session of the Commission of the WCPFC, which convened in December 2019 and aims to link topics which were discussed at this meeting with the objectives of the SDGs.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the MSC for awarding her the MSC scholarship as part of the MSC scholarship research program, which made it possible to attend the 16th regular session of the WCPFC.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Note on contributors

Bianca Haas is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania. She holds a Bachelor of Sciences from the Karl-Franzens University in biology and a Master of Science from the University of Hamburg in marine ecosystems and fisheries science. Her PhD project is about the possible contribution of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations towards the SDGs.

ORCID

Bianca Haas http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7322-2929

Notes

1 FFA members: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

2 PNA members: Federal States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Marine Stewardship Council Scholarship.