The Conservation and Management Measure 2024‑01 for Pacific bluefin tuna, adopted by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, establishes a regulatory framework to ensure the long‑term sustainability and rebuilding of Pacific bluefin tuna stocks in the North Pacific Ocean. It implements a harvest strategy by requiring Members and cooperating non-members (CCMs) to limit fishing effort to historical levels, set and manage catch limits differentiated by size classes (<30 kg and ≥30 kg), apply carry-over and transfer rules between quotas, and promote reductions in juvenile catches to protect spawning biomass. The measure further provides for monitoring, reporting and compliance obligations, including annual data submission, strengthened monitoring systems, and cooperation in enforcement, as well as the development of a catch documentation scheme to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It also emphasizes scientific research, international coordination (including with IATTC), and periodic review of the measure based on stock assessments, climate change impacts, and evolving management objectives.
2024-01-01