THE International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is calling for a complete temporary closure of the purse seine tuna fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) at an important fisheries meeting in Papeete, Tahiti.

“The conservation measures in place right now are not going to get the job done,” ISSF President Susan Jackson said. “A temporary closure of all waters, including archipelagic waters, to purse seine fishing gives stocks a much better shot at a sustainable future.”

When the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) convenes its annual meeting on this week, members will be presented with several assessments from the Scientific Committee that warn Conservation Management Measure (CMM) 2008-01 will not achieve its objectives. The likelihood that the region’s bigeye stock may be entering an overfished state is of particular concern.

“We’re at a crossroads,” said Dr. William Fox, WWF – US, VP for Fisheries and ISSF Board member. “Nations have to decide whether to act now and take the steps necessary to reverse the decline of bigeye and protect yellowfin’s future or maintain the status quo, possibly contributing to a further decline in stock health. We think the choice is obvious.”

ISSF is urging the Commission to amend CMM 2008-01 to include a complete temporary closure to achieve an average of a 43 percent reduction in fishing effort on bigeye as recommended by the WCPFC Scientific Committee. While yellowfin in the WCPO is not overfished, the region where 90 percent of the catch is harvested may not be able to support growth. ISSF supports the Scientific Committee’s recommendation that there be no increase in catch in that area.

Jackson will provide a detailed statement outlining ISSF’s position to the WCPFC meeting attendees. A copy of that paper is available online at ISS-Foundation.org.