Four Ways to Deter Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean – The Pew Charitable Trusts

Report on Aligning Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Management with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: The Imperative for Sustainable Fisheries Management

The Western and Central Pacific Ocean yields over $21 billion in tuna annually, representing a vital economic resource. However, this resource is under significant threat from Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. This illicit activity undermines progress towards several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): IUU fishing directly contravenes Target 14.4, which calls for an end to overfishing and IUU fishing to restore fish stocks.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): IUU fishing is frequently associated with severe labor and human rights violations, including human trafficking, undermining Target 8.7 (end forced labour and human trafficking) and Target 8.8 (protect labour rights).
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): The convergence of IUU fishing with crimes such as money laundering and fraud weakens governance and the rule of law, hindering progress on Target 16.4 (reduce illicit financial flows) and Target 16.6 (develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions).

The upcoming annual meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) presents a critical opportunity for member nations to adopt measures that combat IUU fishing and reinforce their commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Recommended Actions to Strengthen Fisheries Governance and Achieve SDGs

Four key actions are proposed for adoption by the WCPFC to protect marine resources and ensure the long-term sustainability of the region’s fisheries.

1. Enhance Independent Monitoring to Support SDG 14 and SDG 8

   Current observer coverage on commercial longline vessels is only 5%, a level insufficient for effective monitoring and data collection. This inadequacy hampers efforts to verify compliance and gather scientific data essential for sustainable management.

   • Proposed Action: Increase observer coverage requirements for longline vessels to a minimum of 20%, as scientifically recommended. This can be achieved cost-effectively through the implementation of established electronic monitoring standards.
   • SDG Alignment: This action directly supports SDG 14.4 by providing the data and oversight needed to deter IUU fishing. It also contributes to SDG 8.8 by increasing scrutiny of vessel activities, which can help protect fishers from labor abuses.

2. Implement Binding Port State Measures for Institutional Strength (SDG 16)

   Port State Measures (PSMs) are crucial for preventing illegally caught fish from entering the market. The WCPFC’s current PSM standards are non-binding and have not been updated since 2017, creating a significant governance gap. While 23 WCPFC members are signatories to the binding international Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), the Commission’s own rules remain weak.

   • Proposed Action: Make the WCPFC’s PSM rules binding for all members and align them with the higher standards of the PSMA. Establish a fund to support developing States in their implementation efforts.
   • SDG Alignment: This strengthens institutional effectiveness, directly addressing SDG 16.6. It also fosters international cooperation, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by ensuring a harmonized, robust approach to port inspections.

3. Mandate Transparency in Beneficial Ownership to Advance SDG 16

   Complex corporate structures often obscure the identities of the ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) who profit from IUU fishing and associated crimes. This lack of transparency allows key actors to evade accountability.

   • Proposed Action: Require the disclosure of UBO information as a condition for granting fishing access within the WCPFC management area.
   • SDG Alignment: This measure promotes transparency and accountability, directly contributing to SDG 16.4 (reduce illicit financial flows) and SDG 16.5 (reduce corruption and bribery).

4. Modernize Transshipment Regulations to Secure Supply Chains (SDG 14)

   The Western and Central Pacific is the world’s largest region for transshipment, with nearly 1 million metric tons of fish transferred annually. When poorly regulated, transshipment at sea provides a major loophole for laundering illegal catch. The WCPFC’s governing measure is over 15 years old and lags behind international best practices recommended by the FAO.

   • Proposed Action: Update the Commission’s transshipment measure without further delay to align with modern FAO guidelines, as all other major tuna-focused RFMOs have already done.
   • SDG Alignment: Strengthening oversight of transshipment is a critical step in combating IUU fishing, directly supporting the achievement of SDG 14.4 by closing a key vulnerability in the seafood supply chain.

Conclusion: A Commitment to Sustainable Marine Stewardship

By adopting these four measures, WCPFC member governments can take decisive action against IUU fishing. Such reforms would not only protect one of the world’s most valuable fisheries but also demonstrate a tangible commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for the region’s marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The article’s core focus is on the conservation and sustainable management of tuna fisheries in the western and central Pacific Ocean. It directly addresses the threats posed by illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to marine resources and ecosystems.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article links IUU fishing to “labor and human rights violations” and threats to the “welfare, safety and prosperity of rule-abiding fishers.” It also highlights the significant economic value of the tuna industry, which is undermined by illegal activities.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The text describes IUU fishing as a “crime of convergence” associated with organized crime, including “human and arms trafficking, money laundering.” It calls for stronger, more transparent, and accountable institutions (like the WCPFC) and regulations to combat these illicit activities.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article emphasizes the need for international cooperation through the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), a regional fisheries management organization. It calls on member nations to work together to adopt and implement binding measures to protect shared marine resources.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.4: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices…” The entire article is dedicated to proposing measures to combat IUU fishing, such as increasing observer coverage, strengthening Port State Measures (PSMs), and updating transshipment regulations to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks.
   • Target 14.c: “Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law…” The article advocates for the strengthening and binding implementation of regional rules by the WCPFC and aligning them with international treaties like the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA).

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.7: “Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking…” The article explicitly states that IUU fishing is “often linked with human and arms trafficking, … labor and human rights violations.” Measures like increased observer coverage can help deter these abuses.
   • Target 8.8: “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers…” The article highlights that the “welfare, safety and prosperity of rule-abiding fishers” are threatened by IUU fishing, and the proposed measures aim to create a more secure and regulated environment.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.4: “By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows… and combat all forms of organized crime.” The article identifies IUU fishing as a convergent crime linked to “arms trafficking, money laundering,” and calls for measures that would disrupt these criminal networks.
   • Target 16.5: “Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.” The call for transparency regarding the “ultimate beneficial owner” (UBO) of fishing vessels is a direct measure to combat the corporate opaqueness that facilitates corruption and allows perpetrators to evade accountability.
   • Target 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.” The article critiques the WCPFC’s non-binding and outdated measures, urging it to become a more effective and accountable institution by making its rules on PSMs binding and updating its transshipment regulations.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development…” The article is a call to action for the member nations of the WCPFC to collaborate and strengthen their collective management of fisheries. It also mentions the need to support “developing States’ implementation efforts through a fund,” highlighting a partnership approach.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 14 Targets

   • Observer coverage on longline vessels: The article provides a specific, measurable indicator by calling for an increase in observer coverage on longline vessels from the current 5% to a “scientifically recommended level of 20 per cent.” This directly measures monitoring efforts against IUU fishing.
   • Implementation of Port State Measures (PSMs): Progress can be measured by the number of WCPFC members that adopt and implement binding PSMs. The article notes that currently, “only 10 out of 34 Commission members” have opted into the non-binding measures, providing a baseline.
   • Status of transshipment regulations: An indicator of progress is whether the WCPFC updates its transshipment measure, which has not been revised in “more than 15 years.” The adoption of a new, updated measure would be a clear sign of progress.

2. Indicators for SDG 8 Targets

   • Prevalence of labor and human rights violations: While not providing a direct number, the article implies that increased independent monitoring (through human observers or electronic monitoring) would provide better data to measure and ultimately reduce the incidence of labor abuses on fishing vessels.

3. Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

   • Transparency in vessel ownership: A clear indicator would be the establishment of a requirement for fishing operators to share “ultimate beneficial owner” (UBO) information. Progress could be measured by the percentage of vessels in the WCPFC registry for which UBO information is available.
   • Adoption of binding rules by institutions: The article implies an indicator of institutional strength by tracking whether the WCPFC’s rules, such as those for PSMs, are converted from non-binding to binding for all members.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: pew.org