Update on ACAP’s intersessional group on RFMO seabird measure monitoring

At SBWG5/AC7, an ACAP intersessional group was formed to identify methods appropriate to review the effectiveness of tuna RFMO seabird bycatch conservation and management measures. This group developed a paper that was submitted to CCSBT, leading to a CCSBT workshop in November 2014. This paper reports on how the outcomes of the November 2014 CCSBT workshop are being progressed in 2016 and onwards, including through:
1. The BirdLife South Africa element of the FAO-GEF Common Oceans Tuna, which has a programme of outreach work aimed at building national scientist capacity, particularly in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans
2. The ICCAT and IOTC seabird bycatch reviews, which are starting in 2016.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That ACAP continues to support a two-tier approach to RFMO review of the effectiveness of RFMO seabird conservation and management measures, combining regular monitoring by RFMOs with periodic, more detailed, joint RFMO assessment.
2. That ACAP parties input into the ICCAT, IOTC and WCPFC seabird reviews in 2016