Eastern Tuna fishery to implement international shark retention ban

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has agreed at its 26-30 March meeting to ban the retention of all Oceanic Whitetip Sharks, a move that will impact Australia’s Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery.

AFMA will consult with industry on how best to implement this measure.

At the 8th Regular Session of the WCPFC, held in Tumon, Guam, USA, the commission also agreed to extend, with minor amendments, the current longline catch for Bigeye Tuna and Yellowfin Tuna and purse seine effort limits for the remainder of 2012. These limits will be revisited at the next WCPFC meeting in December 2012. 

The WCPFC also agreed to an Australian proposal to ban the intentional setting of purse seine gear on cetaceans (whales and dolphins) but did not agree to a similar proposal to protect whale sharks. Such setting practices are not permitted in Australian purse seine fisheries.

The WCPFC considered a proposal to strengthen the management of Albacore Tuna on the high seas. This proposal was not agreed, but South Pacific Albacore Tuna management will be reconsidered at the December 2012 WCPFC meeting.

For more information please contact Trent Timmiss, Senior Manager Tuna and International Fisheries on 02 6225 5313 or trent.timmiss@afma.gov.au.