8 December 2014: The Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) Tuna project launched its shark and bycatch activities at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Annual Meeting in Apia, Samoa. The project aims to reduce the impact of tuna fisheries on marine ecosystems, support implementation of sustainable, efficient fisheries management practices and reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing through strengthened and harmonized monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS).

As part of its work on shark assessment and management, the project will conduct four new shark stock assessments and compile a catalog of assessment methods to support shark conservation and management measures in regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs). The project will also work to improve and harmonize data on sharks through a data inventory, post-release mortality tagging and identification of data gaps.

In collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the project will update and enhance the WCPFC’s Bycatch Management Information System (BMIS). It will also organize two paired workshops on data preparation and data analysis in the Pacific to generate new bycatch findings to include in the BMIS.

The project officially launched its activities at the WCPFC’s Sharks and Bycatch Consultative Committee (SBCC), which took place in conjunction with the WCPFC annual meeting. The 11th regular session of the WCPFC took place from 1-5 December 2014.

The ABNJ Tuna Project is one of the Common Oceans Program’s four areas of work. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) supports the program, which is implemented by the FAO and 19 partners, including the five tuna RFMOs. [FAO Press Release] [Common Oceans Press Release] [Project Website] [Project Report to the WCPFC]