• With growing concern over the increased number of fishing vessels, declining fish stocks and pirate fishing in the Pacific region, it is time to take action.
• Through the new Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, the Pacific community has the power and tools to protect its fisheries and its way of life for future generations.
• Good governance - which includes integrity in fisheries management, transparency and access to decision making by all parties affected, is key to the success of fisheries regulation.

The Pacific States now have greater power to ensure sustainable and equitable fisheries, a healthy marine environment and stable and prosperous island communities.

Through the new Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), the Pacific has its first treaty for conserving and managing fish stocks, in particular the four key tuna species. As a regulator of the fisheries, the Commission leads the world in setting strong guidelines for all members.

Communities who rely on fishing have a right to be involved in decisions affecting fishing in the region.

It is important that communities, local fishers and governments all work together. You can encourage your government to implement the Commission's regulations [see box]. Communities and stakeholders can get involved in fisheries management directly. Some suggestions are:

Talk to your government. Find out how you can participate in fisheries management decision-making. Let them know that you are concerned about fisheries management and good governance.

Get engaged. Go to fisheries management consultative meetings and learn about the issues. Support strong fisheries management and good governance.

Work together. Discuss fisheries management with other stakeholders and the media throughout the region. Share skills, resources and information.

Kick out pirates from the Pacific and banish them from ports. By organising meetings, writing letters and talking to the media, encourage your government to implement national and regional regulations that ban access to ports by unlicensed vessels.

Support your government in implementing the regulations of the WCPFC to: - Determine ecologically sustainable catch levels and strict management controls for the region. - Limit and reduce fishing licence numbers so that catch levels are ecologically sustainable. If fishing operations can't be policed don't licence. - Strengthen and maintain regional solidarity to promote local participation and ownership. Pacific unity is essential; the weakest link will be exploited in negotiation with distant water fishers. - Demand 'environmental best practice' from foreign investors. By working together, governments, industry and coastal communities can ensure their food supply and way of life are not destroyed. - Promote good governance: Transparency and consultation means ensuring that Pacific Island states inform stakeholders and the media of fisheries' issues and genuinely participate in decision-making. Implementation means ensuring that Pacific Island states legislate and implement agreed measures such as 'minimum terms and conditions' for vessels.

Q and A

What is the aim of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)?
The new Fisheries Commission aims to conserve and manage the highly migratory fish species in the region, with its main focus on the four key tuna species: Skipjack, Yellowfin, Bigeye and Albacore.

What will the Commission do?
The Commission will set limits on the number of fish caught, who can catch them, how they can be caught, and develop tough rules to stop pirates from stealing fish.

The new Commission gives Pacific states a greater say in the protection and management of our fisheries. Pacific Island states are equal members alongside distant water fishing states such as China, Japan, Korea, and the United States. The European Union and Taiwan are expected to join soon.

What's the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)?
Pacific Island states, Australia and New Zealand created the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) in 1979 to oversee the Western and Central Pacific tuna fisheries. This agency has developed innovative management measures, particularly for monitoring, control and surveillance. This includes the minimum terms and conditions (MTCs) for foreign fishing vessel access.

What do Minimum Terms and Conditions (MTCs) do?
The minimum terms and conditions (MTCs) established by the FFA are some of the strongest monitoring, control and surveillance measures in the world. However, they are often let down by poor national implementation and a lack of regional resources. It is vital that Pacific Island governments rigorously implement the MTCs and ensure that the WCPFC builds upon these and includes them within its regulations.

Quote: Good Governance "The national institutions charged with fisheries management need to be strengthened. Fundamental to all this is political will and good governance. Too often stories abound of corruption by fisheries officials. Corruption in fisheries not only impacts on the countries where these officials work but also on neighbouring countries; its effects are trans-boundary. In the management of a migratory resource such as tuna, it is important that a homogenous management regime applies to all the vessels fishing in the region whether they are domestic or foreign. If vessels that fish in more than one Pacific Island country are subject to different management regimes, then the effectiveness of these measures are undermined - no one can manage tuna unilaterally." - Dr Transform Aqorau, October 2003