AN ANALYSIS OF THE GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL PACIFIC FISHERIES COMMISION FROM CHINA'S PERSPECTIVE

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission is the regional fisheries management organization responsible for the conservation and management of tuna and tuna-like species in the western and central Pacific Ocean. This paper argues that the conservation and management measures adopted by the Commission have played an important role in several areas of international fisheries management: recognizing trends in international fisheries management cooperating in catch data filing and reporting, raising awareness for the conservation and protection of sharks and sea turtles, developing and improving the national tuna observer program, and promoting close cooperation of Pacific Island Countries with China. In the conclusion, future work is suggested with regard to other issues: boarding and inspection activity, cooperation between the distant water fishing nations or the fishing entity (also known as Chinese Taipei) and the Pacific Island Countries in the observer programme, updating the vessel monitoring system, establishing regulations for monitoring at-sea transshipment, increasing the compatibility between the conservation and management measures of the Commission and those of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission to improve the effectiveness of the measures and help the Commission reach its objectives.