Implementing Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission: Challenges and Prospects

The ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) is considered one of the key management approaches for addressing global resource decline and promoting the health and resilience of ecosystems. This paper explores how the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), which manages t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fishes 2023-04, Vol.8 (4), p.198
Main Authors: Shen, Huihui, Song, Liming
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Associated species
Biodiversity
Bycatch
Climate change
Commercial fishing
conservation and management measures
Decision making
ecosystem approach
Ecosystem approach to fisheries
Ecosystem assessment
Ecosystem resilience
Ecosystems
Environmental economics
Exclusive economic zone
Fish
Fisheries
Fisheries management
Fishery conservation
Fishery management
Fishing
Fishing vessels
human factor
Human factors
Integrated approach
Labour
Management tools
Marine fishes
Maritime law
Methods
Risk assessment
Sustainability
Tuna fisheries
WCPFC
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Summary:The ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) is considered one of the key management approaches for addressing global resource decline and promoting the health and resilience of ecosystems. This paper explores how the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), which manages tuna fisheries, has incorporated the ecosystem approach into its management and decision-making system. This study finds that (1) the WCPFC lacks incentives to adopt EAFM as a whole due to its management priorities on target species and some key bycatch species; (2) inadequate scientific information on associated species and the environment hinders ecosystem risk assessments, leading to delays in EAFM-related decisions; and (3) the organization has given little consideration to human factors. The authors suggest developing an EAFM vision with a clear roadmap to guide the implementation of EAFM and applying area-based management tools in cases where there is limited data and scientific information. The proposed coordination mechanism aims to address growing concerns about labor issues by involving multiple stakeholders in the development of a management measure on labor standards.
ISSN:2410-3888
2410-3888
DOI:10.3390/fishes8040198