Transhipment
In 2019, WCPFC15 agreed to conduct a review of the existing transhipment measure (CMM 2009-06) 547.63 KB, with the review to commence through an electronic intersessional working group, with the group led by two co-chairs, from RMI and the United States.
WCPFC17 received an intersessional progress report by the Review of the Transhipment CMM IWG (WCPFC17-2020-TS_IWG). The Commission also acknowledged the intention of the Transhipment-IWG to finalise in early 2021 the draft Scope of Work for the analysis of transhipment information, to support the review of the Transhipment Measure (CMM 2009-06) through the Transhipment- IWG during the intersessional period in 2021. WCPFC17 also appointed Mr. Felix Toa Ngwango (Vanuatu) as co-Chair of the Transhipment Review IWG and agreed that Dr. Alex Kahl (United States) would continue to co-chair the Transhipment Review IWG. In March 2021, the Co-Chairs have confirmed the adoption of the Scope of Work by the IWG.
WCPFC19 considered several TCC18 recommendations in respect of observer monitoring of transhipments and adopted Minimum data fields for Observer transhipment monitoring as data fields to be collected by transhipment observers during transhipment events as of 1 April 2023. The Agreed Minimum Standards and Guidelines for the Regional Observer Programme was amended to require that for transhipments on the high seas, transhipment ROP providers shall send the ROP Minimum data fields to the Secretariat within 90 days of the disembarkation of the observer from the Carrier. A workplan was adopted by the Commission at WCPFC19 to guide the work of the TS-IWG in 2023. In 2023, the Secretariat is tasked to work with SPC-OFP to provide an update to TCC19 and WCPFC20 on the progress related to the implementation of the observer monitoring of transhipment outcomes. An electronic meeting of the TS-IWG is scheduled for 17 May 2023 (TS-IWG01).
Copies of relevant documentation related to the Intersessional Working Group to review the transhipment CMM are provided below:
To assist the work of this IWG, reports related to transhipment presented in previous meetings are collated below.
Annual transhipment reports to past TCC meetings
Papers related to impracticability (CMM 2009-06 para 34)
| Symbol | Title | Date of Issue |
|---|---|---|
| WCPFC-TCC9-2013-17 | Guidelines for determining impracticability - high seas transshipment | 30 Aug 2013 |
| WCPFC-TCC12-2016-15_rev2 | Draft Guidelines on Impracticability of Transshipment (Rev 2) | 22 Sep 2016 |
| WCPFC-TCC14-2018-DP05 | The Impracticability Exemption to the WCPFC's Prohibition on Transhipment on the High Seas RMI | 14 Sep 2018 |
Other papers/studies relevant to the review
| Symbol | Title | Date of Issue |
|---|---|---|
| MOC on the endorsement of WCPFC ROP observers for observing transhipments of SBT on the high seas in the WCPFC Convention Area | 5 Jun 2017 | |
| WCPFC-TCC14-2018-15A | Information that could be usefully gathered around bycatch mitigation equipment and their application, during high seas transhipment processes | 29 Aug 2018 |
| WCPFC-TCC14-2018-15B | Update on transhipment MOC with the CCSBT | 13 Sep 2018 |
| WCPFC-TCC15-2019-OP04 | Report finds transhipments in Western and Central Pacific likely underreported The Pew Charitable Trusts | 13 Sep 2019 |
| WCPFC-TCC15-2019-OP05 | Transhipment in the Western and Central Pacific - Report The Pew Charitable Trusts | 13 Sep 2019 |
| WCPFC-TCC15-2019-OP06 | Observer Reporting of Transhipments in the WCPFC World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) | 17 Sep 2019 |
| WCPFC18-2021-OP06 | Pew Charitable Trusts | 5 Nov 2021 |
| WCPFC18-2021-IP10 | Secretariat | 12 Nov 2021 |