A Study Of Mechanism On High Seas Boarding And Inspection In Western And Central Pacific Ocean

The tuna catch from the Western and Central Pacific Ocean amounted to more than half of World’s tuna catch. Its Conservation and Management have shown special characteristics and have significant impact the Tuna-RFMOs(Tuna Regional Fishery Management Organizations). WCPFC(Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission), as the unique one in Tuna-RFMOs which has built High Seas Boarding and Inspection, was established by the Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean which entered into force on 19 June 2004.WCPFC promotes compliance with CMMs(Conservation and Management Measures) by Commission members through implementing the High Seas Boarding and Inspection.Since 2006,some countries and areas have started to board and inspect fishing boats in high seas of WCPFC Convention areas. Strictly implementing CMMs such as High Seas Boarding and Inspection result in great challenges to Chinese tuna fleet because our fleet shall meet the requirements of CMMs adopted by Commission.Firstly, by reviewing the development of the tuna fishery of the WCPFC Convention areas, this paper pointed out that WCPFC has established a new management mechanism, which harmonize interests of Pacific Islands Countries and distant-water fishing States. Furthermore, Study outlined WCPFC’s responsibilities, organization structure, Policies & Decision-making mechanisms, Compliance promoting, International cooperation and major challenges etc.Secondly, the study summarized the laws and regulations in the Geneva Convention, UNCLOS and other laws, elaborated evolution and development of High Seas Boarding and Inspection, which has contained legal system and highlighted local complexity and specificity.Thirdly, this study introduced the implementation of High Seas Boarding and Inspection since implementing. The High Seas Boarding and Inspection has the characteristics of growing participation, diversity of inspection objects, pertinence of inspection range and content. This paper also identified limitations of the scheme, and proposed a number of suggestions to improve the future performance of High Seas Boarding and Inspection.In the end, this paper analyzed the implementation and characteristics of WCPFC High Seas Boarding and Inspection since implementing,and explored the categories and causes of the violations by Chinese fishing boats since 2011. In order to ensure the sustainable development of China tuna fishery in WCPFC Convention areas, this paper put forward suggestions for four compliance bodies namely the Government,Enterprises, Associations and Scientific&Research agencies, should enhance the capacity building of complying with the CMMs, avoid violations of rules by fishing boats and fulfill relevant international obligations. Specifically, Government should strengthen the construction of supervision system and raise the threshold of fishery access, increase input of the tuna fishery research, and fulfill international obligations by strengthen international cooperation; Enterprises should promote staff’s capability by conducting training sessions, build reporting mechanism and supervision system; Associations, especially China Overseas Fishery Association, should serve enterprises initiatively, promote communication between Government, Associations and Scientific&Research agencies, help Government for coordinating domestic fishery and international affairs. Scientific&Research agencies ought to assist management decision and improve the training of national scientific observe which promoting compliance when fishing.