Bottom Fishing Measures

of the SPRFMO

by Johanne Fischer

Executive Secretary

South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation

South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO)

02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO 2

Entered into force: 24 August 2012

Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean

Article 2 - Objective

The objective of this Convention is, through the application of the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach to fisheries management, to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources and, in so doing, to safeguard the marine ecosystems in which these resources occur.

02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO 3

Members of the Commission

02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO 4

AustraliaChile

Cook Islands

Cuba

Ecuador

Kingdom of Denmark in respect of the Faroe Islands

Korea

Chinese Taipei

Russian Federation

Vanuatu

ColombiaPanama

Peru

Liberia

USAChinaEuropean Union

Member of the CommissionCooperating non-Contracting Party

New Zealand

South Pacific Ocean

9/08/2016 South Pacific RFMO 6

South Pacific Seamounts(from the SPRFMO BFIAS)

SPRFMO Fishery Resources

02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO 7

Conservation and Management Measures

CMM 1.02 GillnetsCMM 2.06 Vessel Monitoring SystemCMM 2.07 Minimum Standards of Inspection in PortCMM 3.04 Boarding and Inspection ProceduresCMM 3.05 Regulation of Transhipment and Other Transfer ActivitiesCMM 4.01 Trachurus murphyiCMM 4.02 Data Standards CMM 4.03 Bottom FishingCMM 4.04 List of IUU VesselsCMM 4.05 Commission Record of Vessels Authorised to Fish CMM 4.09 Minimising Bycatch of SeabirdsCMM 4.10 Compliance and Monitoring SchemeCMM 4.13 New and Exploratory FisheriesCMM 4.14 Exploratory Fishing for ToothfishCMM 4.15 Vessels without Nationality

02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO 8

Conservation and Management Measures relating to

Bottom Fisheries

CMM 1.02 Gillnets; 2013

CMM 4.02 Data standards; 2016

CMM 4.03 Bottom Fishing; 2016

CMM 4.04 IUU vessels; 2016

CMM 4.05 Record of Vessels; 2016

CMM 4.13 Exploratory Fisheries; 2016

CMM 4.14 Exploratory Toothfish Fishing; 201602 Aug 2016 SPRFMO 9

CMM 4.03 refers to:

Article 3.1(a)(i) and (vii): Adopt CMMs that take into account of international best practice and protect the marine ecosystems, particularly ecosystems with long recovery times following disturbance

• Article 3.1(b) and (2): Apply the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach

• Article 31.1: Cooperate with other RFMOs, the FAO, other specialised agencies of the UN and other relevant organisations on issues of mutual interest

02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO

Some relevant provisions of the Convention

Some relevant provisions of the Convention

•CMM 4.03 refers to:

•Article 8. Functions of the Commission

•Article 20: CMMs adopted by the Commission “shall include measures to … protect the habitats and marine ecosystems in which fishery resources and non-target and associated or dependent species occur from the impacts of fishing, including measures to prevent significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems and precautionary measures …”.

02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO

Management of Bottom Fishing (CMM 4.03; 2016)

• Closely follows UNGA resolutions 61/105, 64/72 & 66/68• Promotes sustainable management of bottom fisheries,

protect marine ecosystems and prevent SAIs on VMEs• Applies to all bottom gear types• Bottom fishing is allowed only for flags that provided:

• Bottom-fishing footprint (2002-2006)• Fishing impact assessment

• Observer coverage• 100% in trawl fisheries • 10% in all other fisheries

• VME provisions• Member defined thresholds• move-on rules• mandatory reporting of encounters

02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO 12

SPRFMO Bottom Fishery Impact Assessment (IA) Standard (2012)

1. Introduction2. Purpose of the Standard3. Area of Application4. Bottom Fishing IA Process5. Bottom Fishing IA6. Distribution of VMEs7. Bottom IA Sections8. New and Exploratory Fisheries9. References10. Appendix

02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO 13

From the Australian BFIA

SPRFMO Bottom Fishery Impact Assessment Standard

02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO 14

9/08/2016 South Pacific RFMO 15

Open bottom fishing areas

“The Commission shall establish appropriate cooperative procedures for effective monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing and to ensure compliance with this Convention and the conservation and management measures adopted by the Commission”.

02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO 16

Article 27

Monitoring, Compliance & Enforcement

Article 27

Monitoring, Compliance & Enforcement

•Record of authorised vessels

•Vessel Monitoring System

•At-sea and port inspection programme

•Regulation and supervision of transhipment

•Non-discriminatory market-related measures including catch documentation schemes

•Reporting on violations, outcomes of investigations, and enforcement actions taken;

•IUU vessels list02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO 17

Bottom fishingSPRFMO achievements

• Implementation of the FAO guidelines for deep-sea fisheries in the high seas

• Effectively < 1% of the SPRFMO Area is open to bottom fishing for vessels from two Members

• Progress in the development of stock assessment models for deep-sea species (particularly orange roughy)

• Ongoing development of methods to identify, locate and predict VMEs

• Numerous conservation and management measures addressing bottom fishing, MCS, catch reporting, VMES, by-catch, IUU, etc

02 Aug 2016 SPRFMO 18