21st Regular Session of the Commission: Full Annotated Agenda

The 21st Regular Session of the Commission will begin at 8:30am (Fiji time) with opening remarks from the meeting host, the Commission Chair, and the WCPFC Executive Director. 

Delegations may present opening statements or submit written statements for the record.

In accordance with Rule 13 of the WCPFC Rules of Procedure (“The Executive Director shall make an annual report, and such supplementary reports as are necessary, to the Commission at its regular session on the work of the Commission”), the Executive Director will present her Annual Report on the 2024 Activities of the Commission. 

The report will provide an overview of the Commission's work in 2024, including Secretariat activities in support of the Commission's work programme. 

A current list of Members, Participating Territories, and Cooperating Non-Members (collectively "CCMs"), as well as a list of observers is maintained on this page of the WCPFC website.

Information on the Commission's implementation of Article 30 of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention relating to the Special Requirements of Developing States can be found on this page of the WCPFC website.

Reports from the Commission’s 2024 meetings of the subsidiary bodies will be presented, focusing on recommendations requiring action by the Commission. The Summary Report from the 2nd Science-Management Dialogue (SMD02) will be taken as read and discussions will focus on harvest strategy papers presented by the WCPFC Scientific Services Provider (SSP).

Recommendations from the 2024 subsidiary body meetings will be considered in Plenary session. The Commission will discuss whether any recommendations require further consideration through a small working group at WCPFC21. All Summary Reports from the 2024 subsidiary body meetings and the SMD02 will be adopted under Agenda Item 9. 

The order of presentations will be as follows, with opportunities for questions and discussions following each presentation: 

1. Status of the WCPO Stocks will be presented by the WCPFC Scientific Services Provider (SSP) and International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean (ISC). The Evaluation of the Tropical Tuna Measure contained in WP34 will also be presented at this time.
2. NC20 and NC20/2 Outcomes will be presented by the NC Chair for consideration and adoption by the Commission (link to NC20 Summary Report and NC20/2 Summary Report). Proposed new or amended CMMs from the Northern Committee are in WP33.
3. SC20 Outcomes not covered by other Agenda Items will be presented by the SC Chair for consideration and adoption by the Commission. The SC20 Summary Report is available on the SC20 meeting webpage.
4. Harvest Strategies: The SSP will present four working papers (WP29, WP30, WP31, and WP32), to be followed by plenary discussions. The outcomes contained in the reference paper at WP10 from SC20, SMD02, and TCC20 relating to Harvest Strategy issues (SP-ALB, BET/YFT, SKJ) will be taken as read.
   • The Harvest Strategy Workplan will be considered electronically throughout the meeting and adopted under Agenda Item 9. (link to current indicative Harvest Strategy Workplan adopted at WCPFC20.) 
5. TCC20 Outcomes that are not covered by other Agenda Items will be presented by the TCC Chair for consideration and adoption by the Commission.
   • The 2025 IUU Vessel list found in WP11a will be presented here, along with updates to the VMS SOPs in WP11b, both outcomes of TCC20. 
   • During this session, the TCC Chair will also present WP11c TCC Workplan 2025 - 2027, and the TCC Vice-Chair will be invited to present WP11d Draft Audit Points for consideration and adoption by WCPFC21.
   • TCC20 also recommended that the Commission renew CMM 2021-04 on Charter Notifications, which is set to expire on 28 February 2025, and a proposed revised CMM is found at WP11f.
6. Impacts of climate change on WCPO fisheries will be presented by the SSP, followed by a presentation from the climate change co-leads on the outcomes from the Commission’s 2024 intersessional work relating to the development of a Climate Change Workplan. The co-leads will also provide an update on the draft Terms of Reference for the assessment of CMM susceptibility to the impacts of Climate Change.

Please see the Latest Schedule that is linked on front page of the WCPFC21 meeting webpage for more information. 

Reports on the Commission’s 2024 intersessional activities will be presented from the leads of established Intersessional Working Groups and other Commission activities that have taken place since the conclusion of WCPFC20:

1. IWG-ROP (Regional Observer Programme) - link to IWG-ROP page

2. EM&ER IWG (Electronic Monitoring and Electronic Reporting) -  link to ERandEM IWG page

   These two TCC20 information papers are also relevant to the ER&EM IWG report: TCC20 Information Paper 13 Governance of Electronic Monitoring (EM) Systems for Industrial Tuna Fisheries - WWF and TCC20 Information Paper 14 Implementing Electronic Monitoring (EM) Governance for RFMO-Managed Fisheries - WWF

3. TS-IWG (Transhipment) - link to TS-IWG page
4. FAD-MO IWG (FAD Management Options) - link to FAD-MO IWG page
5. Crew Labour Standards WG - link to Labour Standards page
6. Seabirds (Informal) - link to informal consultations in 20 Feb 2024 and 7 May 2024
7. SP-ALB Roadmap IWG (South Pacific Albacore) - link to 11 Oct 2024 IWG meeting
8. Port State Measures lead

In addition to reports from intersessional activities, the Commission will also consider any new proposals and planned activities for future intersessional work. Any recommendations or new proposals requiring further consideration by the Commission at WCPFC21 may be assigned to a small working group. 

CCMs with new proposals (not covered under Agenda Item 7) will be invited to present them to the Commission. The Chair will provide an opportunity for limited discussion on clarifying questions, and the Commission will determine a way forward for each proposal, including establishing additional small working groups (SWGs). 

CCMs with new proposals or amendments to existing proposals are required to complete an Audit Points Checklist and a CMM 2013-06 Evaluation.

Decisions on new proposals will be taken under Agenda Item 9. 

The Commission will consider the outcomes of small working groups and plenary discussions requiring adoption at WCPFC21. 

This will include:

1. Adoption of new or revised CMMs/obligations/audit points/standards (Agenda items 6, 7, and 8).
2. Adoption of Harvest Strategies and Workplan (SPA, SKJ, BET, YFT) (Agenda Item 6).
3. Adoption of a Climate Change Workplan (Agenda Item 6).
4. Adoption of the 2025 IUU Vessel List (Agenda Item 6).
5. Adoption of the final CMR and List of Obligations for 2025 CMS (Agenda Item 6).
6. Adoption of CNM participatory rights for 2025 (Agenda Item 4.3).
7. Adoption of future tasks to subsidiary bodies, IWGs, and any other intersessional activities for 2025 (Agenda items 6, 7, and 8).
8. Adoption of NC20, SC20, and TCC20 reports including recommendations (Agenda Item 6). 

The Commission will consider the report of the 18th Session of the Finance and Administration Committee (FAC18), which will begin its meeting on 27 November and continue in the margins of WCPFC21. The Commission will consider FAC18’s recommendation on the proposed 2025 Budget, and indicative budgets for 2026 and 2027, for adoption.

The Commission will review its 2024 activities with other organizations such as the IATTC, CCSBT, NPFC, and other regional fishery bodies with which the WCPFC has formal MOUs in place. 

The Commission will also consider information and updates on global ocean agreements and activities that may have linkages with WCPFC’s work. This will include updates on the UN Fish Stocks Agreement Review Conference Process and the Treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), and the 2025 UN Oceans Conference.

The Commission will consider seeking Observer status from the International Seabed Authority (ISA). 

The Commission will consider other matters that may be raised when the agenda is considered under Agenda Item 1.1: Adoption of Agenda. 

The Chair will invite closing statements before declaring WCPFC21 as closed.