10 Nov
2006 - Hobart, Tasmania – A number of fishing
nations led by the European Community refused
to agree to any responsible fishing management
measures in the South Pacific Ocean as the negotiations
associated with the interim management of the
high seas in the region foundered.
Despite the best interests and
efforts of the United States, Australia, Chile,
Pacific island countries and New Zealand, which
stepped up to the challenge of voluntarily restraining
their fishing effort and calling for sound ecological
management, the European Community refused to
accept interim measures at a meeting of the South
Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation
to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks and
to protect the broader marine environment.
Of particular note was the Chilean
government, stating that it is constraining its
own national fishing effort out of concern for
the sustainability of pelagic mackerel stocks,
which are of great economic significance to the
coastal communities of Latin America.
In contrast, a group led by
the European Community wanted the freedom to rapidly
expand its catch levels of mackerel without due
regard for those in developing countries who rely
on the health of these fish stocks for their livelihoods
or for the health of marine ecosystems underpinned
by these small pelagic stocks.
“It is clear that some governments
seem bent on delaying any decision to cap levels
of fishing so that they have the opportunity to
rapidly expand their fishery exploitation, to
the point that by the time we get any precautionary
management measures in place, commercial fish
stocks will have collapsed,” said Alistair Graham
from WWF International.
“We are concerned to see these
historical patterns of fisheries management failure
being played out yet again in the South Pacific.”
WWF-Australia spokesperson Lorraine
Hitch said: “Eight months ago at the first session
in Wellington, these same governments agreed to
adopt voluntary interim arrangements for the South
Pacific Ocean at this meeting. Yet now it seems
that even exercising restraint in their fishing
activities as an interim step is unacceptable
to governments such as the European Community
despite their obligations under international
law."
“Unless we see a major change
in attitude and a significant show of good faith
by all participants at the third negotiating session
in Chile early next year, the future of this new
proposed South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management
Organisation already appears bleak.”
Alistair Graham, WWF International
Lorraine Hitch, WWF-Australia,
