Accountability.Fish, a global non-governmental organization focused on enhancing transparency and accountability in international fisheries governance, has issued a strong critique of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) for its lack of openness.
In a statement, the organization named Papua New Guinea (PNG) as one of 17 member states of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) that have obstructed civil society observers from participating in crucial Technical and Compliance Committee (TCC) meetings—an action that undermines the commitments of signatories to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA).
The WCPFC, responsible for regulating nearly 60% of the world’s tuna supply, has been accused of maintaining closed-door meetings that prevent civil society representatives from participating in discussions that significantly impact the sustainability of tuna fisheries. This exclusion practices reflect a troubling trend in governance that Accountability.Fish says is damaging not only to non-governmental organizations but also to market players, academic researchers, and conservationists seeking to engage in the decision-making processes.
Accountability.Fish Global Director Ryan Orgera stated, “By excluding observers from these vital compliance discussions, the WCPFC stands alone among tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) in blocking civil society’s ability to accurately monitor sustainability. This lack of transparency is detrimental to a wide range of stakeholders who have a vested interest in the sustainable management of our fisheries.”
The NGO’s assertion comes amidst ongoing concerns over the transparency of WCPFC, which has been criticized for its steadfast reluctance to incorporate external oversight. The report drafting sessions of the TCC, where crucial regulatory decisions are made, have not allowed observers since the Commission’s founding nearly two decades ago.
In addition to naming the 17 FFA members, which also include Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, and New Zealand, Accountability.Fish has identified several nations, including Canada, the EU, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, and the United States, as “complicit” in perpetuating this lack of transparency by overlooking the WCPFC’s opaque practices.
Despite widespread ratification of the UNFSA by WCPFC members, which mandates observer access to meetings and processes, the Commission continues to shield discussions from public scrutiny. Some member nations have voiced concerns about the potential for NGOs to “air dirty laundry,” but Accountability.Fish contends that such attitudes are counterproductive to achieving effective fisheries governance.
“More proactive measures are essential for aligning WCPFC with its transparency policy and international obligations,” Orgera added. The organization is calling on the 17 identified FFA countries, including Papua New Guinea, to reform their practices and open these vital discussions to civil society engagement.
Achieving transparency in fisheries governance has never been more critical, as the global demand for tuna continues to rise. Accountability.Fish believes that by fostering an environment of open dialogue, the WCPFC can enhance its credibility and better fulfill its mandate to ensure the sustainability of the world’s tuna stocks. “Our only goal is to ensure more transparent and accountable processes in RFMOs, which we believe is the key to sustainable outcomes,” Orgera concluded, urging member states to uphold their commitments and invite civil society to participate in the crucial governance of international fisheries.