Title: Organization for the Promotion of Responsible Tuna Fisheries
1Organization for the Promotion of Responsible
Tuna Fisheries
(1)
Private initiatives to eliminate IUU tuna Fishing
Activities
2(2)
Large scale tuna longline fishing vessel and
fishing gear
3(3)
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.
sushi
sashimi
4(4)
Motivation of IUU tuna longline fishing
Japanese sashimi tuna market
3. High price is guaranteed for the fish.
2. Demand is large and stable.
- Price of frozen tuna (Japan) (average
between 2001 and 2003)
For sashimi
Bluefin tuna \800 3200/Kg
Bigeye tuna \400 1000/Kg
Yellowfin tuna \200 600/Kg
As a canned food ingredient
Yellowfin tuna \80 110/Kg
5(5)
4. International market
Number of countries exported frozen/fresh tuna
for sashimi market to Japan
6(6)
OPRTs Objective
- 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
7(7)
OPRTs Members
Producers Organization
Dec, 2000
2002
2003
2004
Japan, Chinese Taipei
China
Ecuador
Korea, Philippines,Indonesia
Number of vessels registered(As of March
20041,460 vessels)
Japan 480
Chinese Taipei 596
Korea 174
Philippines 17
Indonesia14
China105
Ecuador5
Vanuatu, Seychelles 69
8(8)
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 FAOs IPOA for the
management of Fishing Capacity
Effort to restore overfished tunas by the fleet
reduction are nullified by IUU / FOC fishing
Activities.
9(9)
Action Plan by Japan and Taiwan(Agreed in
February 1999)
1. Scrapping of IUU tuna longline fishing
vessels Length of the plan3 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.)
2. Re-registration to Taiwan 48 vessels
10(10)
Concrete Actions by private initiatives
Inter-industry negotiations with Taiwan
1
Approach to importers, distributors
2
Approach to government and Diet members
3
Educational efforts, including publicity
campaigns for the general public, TV interviews,
lecture meetings, and distribution of leaflets
4
Monitoring of IUU tunas caught by IUU
imported to Japan
5
11(11)
Support from an international NGO (Another
private initiative)
ICFA
Aims The international Coalition of Fisheries
Association (ICFA) formed in 1988 to provide a
unified voice and representation of the worlds
commercial fish industries in international
fora. Objective to preserve and maintain the
oceans as a major food source for People 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.
12(12)
ICFA resolution
-
- Support OPRTs 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 FAOs 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 cant 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
13(13)
Number of IUU large scale tuna longline fishing
vessels (its rise and fall)
14(14)
Are private initiatives a possible way forward?
Conclusion 1
- The long-term private initiative has been
effective in the elimination of IUU large
longline tuna fishing vessels that target the
Japanese sashimi market.
Conclusion 2
- Private initiative is not enough -
-
- 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
-
15(15)
Future of OPRT
- Further 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.