This Conservation and Management Measure of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) requires Commission Members, Cooperating non-Members and participating Territories (CCMs) to implement, to the greatest extent practical, the International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catches of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOA-Seabirds) and adopts various measures for the protection of seabirds in accordance with Article 5 (e) and 10 (1)(c) of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. Those measures seek to prevent bycatch of seabirds in longline fisheries. Mitigation measures shall annually be reported by CCMs to the Commission and reviewed by the Technical and Compliance Committee (TCC) and the Scientific Committee (SC). CCMs are encouraged to adopt measures aimed at ensuring that seabirds captured alive during longlining are released alive and in as good condition as possible and that wherever possible hooks are removed without jeopardizing the life of the seabird concerned. Research into the survival of released seabirds is encouraged. The Annex contains specifications for gear.
2018-12-01