Brussels, 08/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission regrets the lack of progress made at the 11th meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), which was held in Apia, Samoa, from 1 to 5 December.
The EU regrets the lost opportunity to reinforce the following in the Western and Central Pacific: management measures for stocks of tropical and other tunas; - the protection of sharks and seabirds; - the fight against illegal fishing ('state of port' measures).
The European Commission was hoping for more ambitious measures to rebuild stocks of bluefin tuna in the Western and Central Pacific and notes with satisfaction the adoption by this regional fishing organisation of a harvest control strategy for Albacore. (LC)