Organization for the Promotion of Responsible Tuna Fisheries

Private initiatives to eliminate IUU tuna Fishing Activities

(1)

Large scale tuna longline fishing vessel and fishing gear

(2)

Motivation of IUU tuna longline fishing vessels = Japanese sashimi tuna market

Nature of Japanese sashimi tuna market

1. Tuna is consumed as sashimi as well as an ingredient in sushi.

(3)

sushisashimi

Motivation of IUU tuna longline fishing = Japanese sashimi tuna market

2. Demand is large and stable.

(4)

3. High price is guaranteed for the fish.

Price of frozen tuna (Japan) (average between 2001 and 2003)

For sashimi

As a canned food ingredient

Bluefin tuna : \800 – 3200/Kg

Bigeye tuna : \400 – 1000/Kg

Yellowfin tuna : \200 – 600/Kg

Yellowfin tuna : \80 – 110/Kg

(5)

1985frozen fresh total

Number of countories /areas 29 17 33tonnage (※) 90,000 17,000 107,000

(※　 processed weight)

2001frozen fresh total

Number of countories /areas 50 56 78tonnage (※) 212,400 71,800 284,200

2002frozen fresh total

Number of countories /areas 40 60 70tonnage (※) 241,000 65,500 306,500

4. International market

Number of countries exported frozen/fresh tuna for sashimi market to Japan

To contribute to the development of tuna fisheries in accordance with international and social responsibility

To promote sustainable use of tuna resource

By reinforcing the conservation and management of tuna recourses 　 Fostering healthy tuna markets 　 Promoting international cooperation among fishermen

OPRT’s Objective(6)

OPRT’s Members

Dec, 2000 2002

Producer’s Organization

Japan, Chinese Taipei

Korea, Philippines,Indonesia

China Ecuador

Number of vessels registered（ As of March 2004 ： 1,460 vessels ）

Japan480

Ecuador5

Philippines17

China105

Chinese Taipei596

Korea174

Indonesia14

(7)

Vanuatu, Seychelles 69

2003 2004

Initiative by Japan Tuna Fishing Industry

Motives behind the initiative

In 1999, 132 (20% of the entire fleet) Japanese large scale tuna longline fishing vessels scrapped.- in response to UN FAO’s IPOA for the management of Fishing Capacity

Effort to restore overfished tunas by the fleet reduction are nullified by IUU / FOC fishing Activities.

(8)

Action Plan by Japan and Taiwan（ Agreed in February 1999 ）

1. Scrapping of IUU tuna longline fishing vessels

Length of the plan ： 3 years （ between 2001 and 2003 ）

Number of vessels ： 26 vessels in the first year （ Others: 3 vessels sank. ） 8 vessels in the second year

5 vessels in the third year （ Others: 1 vessel sank. ）

Total : 39 vessels （ Others: 4 vessels sank. ）

(9)

2. Re-registration to Taiwan : 48 vessels 　

Concrete Actions by private initiatives

4

Inter-industry negotiations with Taiwan

Approach to importers, distributors

Approach to government and Diet members3

2

1

5

Educational efforts, including publicity campaigns for the general public, TV interviews, lecture meetings, and distribution of leaflets

Monitoring of IUU tunas caught by IUU imported to Japan

(10)

Support from an international NGO (Another private initiative)

Aims: The international Coalition of Fisheries Association (ICFA) formed in 1988 to provide a unified voice and representation of the world’s commercial fish industries in international fora.

Objective: to preserve and maintain the oceans as a major food source forPeople of the world.

Members: fishing industry association s and organizations in

Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Norway, New Zealand, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Thailand, United states of America, Vietnam.

ICFA

(11)

ICFA resolution

(12)

* Support OPRT’s initiative to conserve and manage tuna resources, particularly the scrapping of FOC tuna longline vessels,

* request all states and entities to take practical and effective actions to eliminate IUU/FOC fishing as agreed in the FAO’s IPOA on IUU fishing and recommended by the 1999 ICCAT resolution calling for further actions against illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing activities by large scale longline vessels in the convention area and other areas,

* request all states to refrain from accepting former FOC fishing vessels in any manner because such action nullify the effort by OPRT,

* Call upon states to reject import of tuna species managed by global or regional fishing management organizations that can’t present proof that they were obtained under measures approved by those organizations;

* Supports the resolution* adopted by members of the OPRT held in Tokyo on August1, 2002 and requests the Government of Japan and the relevant regional tuna fishery management organizations to take actions consistent with this resolution at the earliest possible time; (* the resolution called for the implementation of Positive List Scheme )

At 2001 Annual Meeting

At 2002 Annual Meeting

Number of IUU large scale tuna longline fishing vessels (its rise and fall)

250 IUU LSTLVs 100 IUU LSTLVs 25 IUU LSTLVs

2000 (2002) (present)

Chinese Taipei origin IUU LSTLVs

About 120 Participants of the

About 100 Cooperative Management 70 (Built before Jan. 2000) Framework***

+ 69

50 (Newly built after Jan.2000)

Japan origin

(second-handed)

about 130

Note ** CPC=Contracting Parties, Cooperative non- Contracting Parties, Entities or Fishing Entites.

*** J uly 2003 is when the Cooperative Management Framework Between J apan, and Seychells or Vanuatu was agreed.

IUU LSTLVsAbout 25

Participants ofthe Scrapping Program

43

ICCAT's CPCs' LicensedVessels**about 65

Participants ofthe Re-registration Program

44

Participants ofthe Re-registration Program

48

Participants ofthe Scrapping Program

43

ICCAT's CPCs' LicensedVessels**about 65

(13)

Are private initiatives a possible way forward?

The long-term private initiative has been effective in the elimination of IUU large longline tuna fishing vessels that target the Japanese sashimi market.

(14)

Conclusion 1

- Private initiative is not enough -

Conclusion 2

Requirements of the elimination of IUU fishing vessels

A ． Collaboration of all the parties concerned (Governments, international organizations, and private sectors)　　B ． Development of a legal framework by governments and international organizations　　・ Ban on international transactions of tuna caught by IUU fishing vessels　　・ Embargo on IUU fishing vessels ・ Ban on transshipments of tuna from IUU fishing vessels to carrying vessels and others.

C. Efforts at the international level　　

Future of OPRTFurther promotion of responsible tuna fisheries

Control of fishing capacity - Longline tuna fishing vessels

Issue of the bycatch of non-target species - Efforts toward the conservation of marine ecosystem （ seabirds, sharks, sea turtles ）

Encouragement of the introduction of responsible purse seine fisheries - Concerns over the rapid increase of fishing pressure by large scale purse seine fishing vessels.

(15)