21st Regular Session of the Northern Committee: Full Annotated Agenda

  • 1. OPENING OF THE MEETING
    • 1.1 Opening of the meeting

      The Chair Masanori Miyahara (Japan) will open the Twenty-First Regular Session of the Northern Committee (NC21) of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), held at WOHLFAHRT TOYAMA, Toyama prefecture of Japan, from 14 (Monday) to 15 (Tuesday) July 2025.

    • 1.2 Adoption of agenda

      The Chair will introduce the Provisional Agenda (WCPFC-NC21-2025/02). Any other matters raised here can be discussed under Agenda Item 9.4 (Other business).

    • 1.3 Meeting arrangements

      The Chair will outline the schedule, achievement targets, and the rapporteur for the meeting.

    • 1.4 Report from the ISC and SC
      • 1.4.1 Report from the ISC

        NC21 will receive a report on the key outcomes of the 24th ISC Plenary Meeting, which was held in Busan, Korea, from June 16 to 20, 2025.

      • 1.4.2 Report from SC

        As the 21st Regular Session of the WCPFC Scientific Committee will be held on 13 – 21 August 2025, no report from SC21 will be available at NC21. 

  • 2. CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR THE NORTHERN STOCKS
    • 2.1 Pacific Bluefin Tuna (CMM 2024-01)

      According to the Work Programme for the Northern Committee, NC tasks for 2025 include:

      a. Review the compiled members’ reports on their implementation of CMM for Pacific bluefin tuna and identify and rectify shortcomings.

      b. Work in the JWG to complete the harvest strategy for PBF through MSE.

      c. Review members’ MCS measures and discuss additional measures

      d. Consider the establishment of CDS.

      e. Review effectiveness of Pacific bluefin tuna measure

      NC21 will review the outcomes of the JWG-10 meeting and consider any further refinement of the CMM 2024-01 and CMM 2024-02 as needed.

       

    • 2.2 North Pacific albacore (CMM 2019-03)
      • 2.2.1 Reports from CCMs and Observers

        According to the Work Programme for the Northern Committee, NC21 will review the effectiveness of CMM 2019-03, including members’ compiled reports on catch and effort data, their interpretation and implementation of fishing effort controls, and will identify any remaining questions or concerns to address potential shortcomings.

      • 2.2.2 Application of Harvest Strategy for North Pacific Albacore Fishery

        NC21 will continue considering the following issues raised at NC20 (paras 41-42, NC20 Summary Report):

        1. Review of exceptional circumstances
        2. Translation of fishing intensity into management controls
        3. Correlation between spawning per recruit and effort in albacore longline fisheries

         

      • 2.2.3 Review of the CMM for North Pacific Albacore (CMM 2019-03)

        NC21 will review the effectiveness of the CMM for NP Albacore for possible amendment, if available.

    • 2.3 North Pacific swordfish (CMM 2023-03)

      According to the above Work Programme and requests, NC21 will

      • Consider appropriate amendments to the CMM.
      • Consider responses from the ISC to NC requests on the possible use of MSE and the timeline for its introduction.
      • Consider and recommend appropriate TRP and associated HCR.
      • Review effectiveness of North Pacific swordfish measure.

       

      • 2.3.1 Reports from CCMs and Observers

        NC21 will review the effectiveness of CMM 2023-03 based on CCMs’ reports, as requested in paragraph 4 and Annex 1 of the CMM. It will provide recommendations, as necessary, for any amendments to the measure."

      • 2.3.2 Development of a management framework

        NC21 will review ISC’s feasibility study on implementing an MSE for NPO SWO, including its potential timeline and human and financial resource needs.

  • 3. CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR OTHER STOCKS
    • 3.1 North Pacific striped marlin (CMM 2024-06)

      The last stock assessment for the NP striped marlin was conducted in 2023, with the following assessment scheduled for 2027. A large-scale biological sampling program is underway to develop a new growth curve by 2027, addressing one of the primary sources of uncertainty in the current assessment.

      At WCPFC21, the Commission requested the ISC to conduct updated projections for North Pacific striped marlin in 2025, incorporating the catch allocations described in paragraph 5 of CMM 2024-06. These projections should evaluate whether the adopted allocations are consistent with achieving the rebuilding target outlined in the rebuilding plan. 

      NC21 will review information provided by the ISC that may inform management advice for the rebuilding plan and will provide recommendations for any necessary revisions.

  • 4. CLIMATE CHANGE

    The Commission undertook a consultancy to conduct a CMM Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment. Following the Commission-adopted Terms of Reference, the results of this work are to be presented to NC21 to support CCMs’ discussions on climate change impacts. 

    The Commission agreed to include the following CMMs in the assessment in 2025 and 2026:

    2025:

    CMM 2011-03 (cetaceans)

    CMM 2019-05 (mobulid rays) 

    CMM 2022-03 (sharks)

    CMM 2017-04 (marine pollution) 

    CMM 2010-01 (NP MLS)

    2026:

    CMM 2023-01 (tropical tunas) 

    CMM 2018-04 (sea turtles)

    CMM 2018-03 (seabirds)

    CMM 2013-04 (Record of Fishing Vessels)

    If available, NC21 may also review information considered by ISC25 regarding the integration of climate-related considerations into the management of northern stocks, as well as associated data and information gaps.

  • 5. REGIONAL OBSERVER PROGRAMME

    NC21 may review any information regarding the implementation of the regional observer program (CMM 2018-05) for fishing vessels operating in the area north of 20°N. 

    NC21 will also continue discussing the ongoing development of an e-monitoring system in the WCPFC. 

  • 6. DATA

    The 2025 work plan includes:

    • CCMs participating in the NC submit complete data on fisheries for northern stocks to the Commission.
    • Encourage submission to Commission of Pacific bluefin tuna, North Pacific albacore, North Pacific striped marlin, and swordfish data from all CCMs and make available to ISC.

    NC21 will review the progress of data submission and identify and rectify any additional data gaps.

  • 7. COOPERATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
    • 7.1 ISC

      NC21 will exchange views on further efforts to strengthen the cooperation with ISC. Specifically, NC21 will consider NC20’s request that Members consult each other and consider ways to streamline the ISC’s work in relation to NC work and strengthen their support for the ISC.

    • 7.2 IATTC

      NC21 will continue to exchange views on cooperation with IATTC, especially regarding management measures for Pacific bluefin tuna and North Pacific albacore.

  • 8. FUTURE WORK PROGRAMME
  • 9. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
  • 10. ADOPTION OF THE SUMMARY REPORT OF THE 20th REGULAR SESSION OF THE NORTHERN COMMITTEE

    NC21 will adopt the Summary Report of its 21st Regular Session. It will make every effort to adopt its Summary Report by consensus. If consensus is not reached, the Summary Report will reflect the majority and minority views and may include the differing views of the representatives of the Members on all or any part of the Summary Report.

  • 11. CLOSE OF THE MEETING

    The meeting is scheduled to close at 5 pm on 15 July 2025.