Tuna Commission

Shark tagging study for Pacific

That follows the meeting of a group of scientists and academics from around the world in Wellington last month at New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

A spokesperson for the project, Shelley Clarke, said a sample of about 200 sharks in the Pacific will be electronically tagged and tracked.

"One of the things that we talked about at this workshop we held recently is the idea of understanding how stress relates to the long-term and even short-term health of the shark, which is very poorly understood."

Obstacles to improved safety of vital tuna boat observers

Observers, many of whom come from Pacific countries, play a vital but dangerous role collecting data on catch sizes, species taken and other marine creatures that get caught accidentally.

The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency recommended several measures for deliberation at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission this week.

However late yesterday afternoon FFA Deputy Director General Wez Norris described it has a “fairly frustrating process of negotiations so far.”

Call from the top for Tuna Commission to save tuna stocks

Speaking at the opening of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission 13th annual meeting in Nadi Fiji yesterday, WCPFC Executive Director Feleti Teo said he hoped the Commission would find a way forward this week to lay the foundation for recovery plans of the bigeye tuna and Pacific Bluefin tuna.

Tuna commission chair says body needs to be selective

Speaking to Pacific media on the eve of the 13th session of WPCFC or the Tuna Commission, Rhea Moss-Christian, said most members come to the annual meeting with a wish list.

But Ms Moss-Christian said it is necessary for the commission to be selective and small steps are progress in an organisation with more than 20 members, each with different interests and perspectives.

The Commission said the tuna stock is at 16 percent of acceptable stock levels.

PNA "deeply disappointed" at meeting failure over tuna

The PNA chairman Eugene Pangelinan says they had presented a balanced package of longline and purse seine proposals for the meeting and they had received wide support for their proposals.

But he says they would come away without a meaningful measure on tropical tuna species Bigeye, Skipjack and Yellowfin.