Staff recommendations for the implementation of an Electronic Monitoring System for the tuna fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Citation
Román-Verdesoto MH, Lopez J, Cleridy E. Lennert-Cody, et al (2021) Staff recommendations for the implementation of an Electronic Monitoring System for the tuna fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean. In: IATTC - 1st Meeting of Workshop on an Electronic Monitoring System (EMS). EMS-01-01, Electronic Meeting
Abstract

The Commission has acknowledged that electronic monitoring (EM) is a promising tool for monitoring and improving data collection for both purse-seine and longline vessels that do not carry onboard observers, as well as for vessels with observers onboard as a mean to complement the observer’s data-collection. Accordingly, the Scientific Advisory Committee during its 10th meeting in 2019, and pursuant to paragraphs 9 and 10 of Resolution C-19-08, requested the IATTC staff to draft minimum standards and data collection and reporting requirements for electronic monitoring (EM) for both the purse-seine and the longline fleets operating in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO), to be presented for consideration to the Commission. In 2020, the staff prepared the document
SAC-11-10 “An electronic monitoring system for the tuna fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean: objectives and standards”. This document, which received positive feedback from several global experts on the matter, was presented at the 11th meeting of the SAC, in October 2020. However, because the meeting was held by video conference, it was not possible for members to provide appropriate feedback. Thus, it was proposed that a workshop be held in 2021 to further discuss some of the elements contained in document SAC-11-10, as well as a workplan for the implementation of an EM system (EMS) in the EPO (EMS-01-02). This proposal was endorsed by the Commission during its 96th meeting (extraordinary) and it was agreed that the workshop should be held in April 2021, before the SAC 12th meeting.

Using SAC-11-10 and the results of the ongoing EM pilot study on purse seine (Project D.2.a; SAC-10-12) as a baseline, the present document intends to provide Members with a set of recommendations on the implementation of an EMS in the EPO. In so doing, it only focuses on the different elements of EMS, including standards and other components, as well as the most immediate actions which should be taken, for discussion and adoption as appropriate, by the Commission. Members should refer to, among others, document SAC-11-10 for getting other important background information related to better understanding the use of EMS in the region.