5th Regional Observer Programme Intersessional Working Group

Within the CCFS, there are three types of cases that are based on Observer Trip Monitoring Summary Data:

• OAI: Observer Obstruction Alleged Infringements which have a clear link to CMM 2018-05 15(g)).

• POL: Marine Pollution Alleged Infringements which link to marine pollution CMM 2017-04 02 or 03-07.

• PAI: The remaining ROP Pre-notification data elements (other than alleged observer obstruction incidents (OAI) and marine pollution incidents (POL)) that were answered in the affirmative by a ROP observer on the WCPFC Observer Trip Monitoring Summary.

The reason that the OAI, POL and PAI cases are notified through the CCFS stems from a previous Commission decision from WCPFC12 (December 2015).  This was the Commission Adopted pre-notification process from observer providers to flag CCMs of possible alleged infringements by their vessels and to coastal State CCMs of possible alleged infringements in their waters” (WCPFC12 Summary Report paragraph 569, Attachment U. This decision tasks the SPC-OFP and the Secretariat to prioritise data entry for the observer trip monitoring data and to facilitate the notification of any affirmative answers on the Observer Trip Monitoring Summary to the responsible flag CCM with a view to providing flag CCMs earlier notification of potential alleged infringements by their vessels. 

Some current issues identified include, but are not limited to:

• The remaining Observer Trip Monitoring Summary Data Fields codes presently don’t have a clear link to an obligation in a WCPFC CMM or a specific requirement in the Convention;
• The Commission has acknowledged the PAI cases are an issue and at WCPFC14 accepted the TCC13 recommendation that TCC not consider the information contained in the ROP Pre-notification List for the purpose of assessing any obligations for which it was relevant, except for those cases related to observer interference or obstruction in future years;
• Noting the scale of PAI cases in the CCFS, resolving the issue of PAI cases is a priority task for the ROP-IWG in its 2023-2025 workplan;
• In practice, the current Observer Trip Monitoring Summary Data Fields do not provide sufficient information necessary to support data management procedures used to define if the observed trip should be classified as ROP or non-ROP data.  Consequently, the earlier notification to flag CCMs that was envisaged has not been practical to implement.
• In 2024, some suggestions were made as part of ROP-IWG discussions of ways to utilise debriefing information in supporting reviews of PAI cases, these are noted in Working Paper 02, Annex A.

Participants in the virtual meeting will be invited to share views, proposals and comments.  The Chair will lead a discussion on the next steps.