Report of the Joint Meeting of tuna RFMOs on the implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management [at WCPFC]

Also published as IOTC-2017-WPEB13-INF09.

This meeting, initiated by ICCAT and supported by the Common Oceans ABNJ Tuna Project implemented by FAO and funded by the GEF, brought together scientists from the five t-RFMOs and national experts. The goals of the meeting were to (1) establish a sustained dialogue across t-RFMOs on the issues of EAF and its implementation, (2) understand common challenges in its implementation and (3) identify case specific solutions.

During the meeting, participants from each of the t-RFMOs presented a summary of the progress towards implementation of the EAF and EBFM and FAO presented the work of the organization on EAF. A comparative assessment of progress across the five t-RFMOs in implementing the ecological component of EBFM was also presented. In addition, Australian and US experiences in implementing the EAF and EBFM within their national jurisdictions were presented. It was noted that many of the elements necessary for an operational EAF or EBFM are already present in most t-RFMOs but challenges remain in implementing a holistic and integrative view of EAF and EBFM.

Below are listed some of the key points discussed during the meeting:...