The CMM 2024-07 of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission establishes rules to protect cetaceans from impacts of purse seine and longline fisheries across the Convention Area, in line with the Commission’s mandate to conserve associated and dependent species and reduce bycatch. It prohibits purse seine sets on tuna schools when cetaceans are sighted, requires vessels to take all reasonable measures to safely release encircled or entangled cetaceans, bans retention, transshipment, or landing of cetaceans, and obliges reporting of all interaction events with detailed information on species, location, and outcomes. The measure also requires implementation of best-practice handling and release guidelines, prioritizes crew safety, and relies on observer data and Secretariat reporting through the Regional Observer Programme to monitor compliance. It applies to all CCM-flagged vessels, including chartered vessels, across the WCPFC Convention Area.
2025-01-01