The Electronic Reporting and Electronic Monitoring Intersessional Working Group . Formed in 2014, its purpose is to modernize how fisheries data are collected and monitored in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. In simple terms, this working group explores and promotes the use of electronic tools – such as digital reporting systems and onboard camera monitoring – to improve the management of tuna and other highly migratory fish stocks. By harnessing technology, the group aims to make data collection faster, more accurate, and more comprehensive, ultimately supporting the WCPFC’s mission of sustainable and responsible fisheries management.
Background and Purpose
In the early 2010s, WCPFC members began experimenting with Electronic Reporting (ER) (submitting catch and vessel data electronically) and Electronic Monitoring (EM) (using cameras and sensors on fishing vessels to record activities). A 2014 workshop highlighted that while these technologies held great promise, there was a risk in moving forward without coordination – without common standards and policies, different countries’ systems might not work well together, leading to fragmented data, security concerns, and higher long-term costs. Recognizing this, the Commission established the ERandEM Intersessional Working Group in 2014. The group’s formal objective was “to consider how EM and ER technologies could benefit the work of [members] and the Commission, in supporting the objective and implementation of the Convention”. In other words, the working group was tasked with figuring out how digital reporting and video monitoring could help WCPFC and its members better achieve their conservation goals.
This working group is open to all WCPFC member countries and participating territories, as well as observers (such as industry groups and environmental organizations). It operates “intersessionally,” meaning it works between the Commission’s annual meetings to develop recommendations. Much of its work is done via correspondence and online, with occasional face-to-face or virtual meetings. The WCPFC Secretariat (administrative body) supports the group with technical advice and coordination. From the start, the ERandEM-IWG has emphasized collaborating with regional organizations and experts, and being mindful of the needs of small island developing states (many of whom are WCPFC members) when introducing new high-tech monitoring tools.
Why Electronic Reporting and Monitoring?
Traditional fisheries monitoring relies heavily on paper logbooks and human observers onboard vessels. These methods, while important, have limitations – paper reports can be slow and error-prone, and placing human observers on every vessel is often not feasible (especially across the vast Pacific Ocean). Electronic reporting and monitoring offer complementary solutions:
- Electronic Reporting (ER): Using electronic logbooks, tablets, or shipboard computers, fishers and observers can record catch data, vessel positions, and other information digitally. This data can be transmitted in near real-time via satellite or internet. ER improves data accuracy and efficiency, reducing manual paperwork and avoiding duplicate reporting. It means fisheries managers get the information faster, and with fewer transcription errors, enabling quicker analysis and response.
- Electronic Monitoring (EM): Using cameras, GPS, and sensors installed on fishing vessels to independently record fishing activity. Video footage and sensor data (for example, boat movements or net deployments) can later be reviewed by trained analysts. EM acts as an extra set of “eyes” on the vessel, complementing human observers. It is especially useful when observer coverage is low or when safety/logistics make it hard to have people onboard. EM systems can help verify catches and compliance with rules (like whether a fishing vessel is following catch limits or using required bycatch mitigation). In the long run, EM can greatly expand coverage of monitoring – potentially every trip can be monitored in some form, which improves transparency and accountability.
By introducing ER and EM, the WCPFC expects multiple benefits. The ERandEM working group has noted that electronic reporting can enhance data accuracy and streamline data submission for both vessel operators and national fisheries agencies. Digital data collection means information goes directly into databases, saving time and reducing mistakes from manual data entry. Likewise, electronic monitoring provides a more extensive and objective record of fishing activities, which can be crucial for both science (collecting better catch and bycatch data) and compliance (ensuring fishing rules are followed). Importantly, these technologies can help fill monitoring gaps – for instance, if there aren’t enough human observers for all vessels, cameras can help cover the rest. During events like the COVID-19 pandemic (when observer deployments were limited), having EM in place is especially valuable to maintain oversight.
The working group also stresses that adopting ER and EM should not overwhelm any member nation. Part of its mandate is to develop standards and practices that are feasible for all participants, including developing states, and to share experiences so everyone can learn the best ways to implement these systems. By working together on common standards, WCPFC members can ensure that data from different electronic systems are compatible and securely handled. This collaborative approach – involving member governments, regional bodies, and even NGOs – has been a hallmark of the ERandEM-IWG’s efforts.
Historical Highlights
Since its inception, the ERandEM Intersessional Working Group has made steady progress in bringing electronic reporting and monitoring from concept to reality. Some key milestones include:
- 2014 – Establishment: The WCPFC formally creates the ERandEM Working Group at its annual meeting. The decision follows a March 2014 workshop that identified the need for a coordinated approach to electronic technologies. The group’s Terms of Reference are adopted, outlining its objectives and scope.
- 2015–2018 – Laying the Groundwork: The working group holds its first meetings: in July 2015 (Nadi, Fiji), August 2016 (Bali, Indonesia), and August 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). During these early sessions, members share their initial experiences with ER/EM pilot projects and begin drafting regional standards for electronic reporting. There is a focus on defining what data fields and formats should be used for electronic submissions to the Commission. The group notes that many members are trialing e-reporting or e-monitoring in their national programs and encourages continued information exchange and cooperation. By the end of this period, draft standards for electronic reporting (such as common data formats for logbooks and observer reports) are taking shape.
- 2019 – Defining EM Program Goals: As momentum builds for electronic monitoring, the WCPFC at its 16th Regular Session endorses the objectives for a future Commission-wide Electronic Monitoring Program. These objectives are “to collect verified catch and effort data, other scientific data, and additional information related to the fishery... and to monitor the implementation of the Commission’s conservation and management measures”. In essence, the Commission makes clear that any electronic monitoring system should serve the dual purpose of science (data collection) and compliance (oversight), much like the existing human observer program. This high-level endorsement gives the working group a clear mandate to develop the technical standards to achieve these goals.
- 2020 – Virtual Meeting: The fourth meeting of the ERandEM-IWG is held in October 2020 as a virtual session (due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Despite global challenges, participants continue to advance the work. Discussions cover the outcomes of recent studies and trials – for example, comparing EM data with human observer data to evaluate accuracy, and identifying what information should be captured by cameras. The pandemic underscores the value of electronic monitoring, as travel restrictions and health concerns limit the deployment of human observers. The working group uses this time to refine draft standards and consider how an EM program could be implemented in practice.
- 2022 – Drafting Electronic Monitoring Standards: After a brief hiatus, the fifth meeting (July 2022) is convened virtually. By this time, the push for a WCPFC-wide Electronic Monitoring program has accelerated. The working group, under a new Chair from Australia, circulates the first draft Standards, Specifications, and Procedures (SSPs) for an Electronic Monitoring Program – a comprehensive set of guidelines for how a regional EM program might operate. These draft standards cover technical aspects (like camera system requirements), data to be collected, and how programs should report results. In late 2022, a coalition of Pacific Island countries (through the Forum Fisheries Agency, FFA) presents a refined draft of EM standards. The Commission agrees to use these as interim guidelines – essentially a trial set of standards – until final versions can be formally adopted. This is a significant milestone, as it marks the first time WCPFC has something akin to regional EM guidelines on the table.
- 2023 – Work Plan and New Leadership: Mid-2023 brings a change in the working group’s leadership, with a new Chair from New Zealand taking over the role. The group continues its intensive work through email and online consultations. At WCPFC’s annual meeting in November 2023, the Commission adopts a detailed work plan for advancing electronic monitoring and reporting. This plan tasks the ERandEM-IWG with finalizing a set of “interim EM standards” by 2024, which the Commission could then consider for adoption. The new Chair acknowledges the solid foundation built by his predecessor and the FFA members’ contributions, and he brings additional real-world experience – notably, New Zealand’s domestic EM rollout. (In fact, in August 2023 New Zealand launched an initiative to equip up to 300 of its fishing vessels with cameras; the first 23 vessels started operating with the new camera systems, providing valuable lessons for the region.)
- 2024 – Finalizing Interim Standards: The sixth meeting of the working group is held virtually in May 2024, drawing participants from 14 member countries and many observer organizations. Over 2023 and 2024, the IWG develops a comprehensive package of proposed Interim Electronic Monitoring Standards – including agreed definitions of EM terminology, technical requirements for equipment and data handling, the list of data fields that an EM system should capture, and reporting obligations for programs. By mid-2024, only a few points remain to be settled, and a consolidated draft is submitted for review by the Scientific Committee and Technical and Compliance Committee (two expert bodies of WCPFC). The expectation is that these standards will be presented for adoption at the WCPFC’s annual meeting in late 2024:contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}. Adopting these standards would pave the way for an official Commission-wide Electronic Monitoring Program to begin.
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
As of 2025, the efforts of the ERandEM Working Group are coming to fruition. The interim EM standards package developed in 2024 represents the culmination of years of collaborative work. If and when the Commission formally adopts these standards (and any accompanying conservation and management measure), it will mark the launch of a WCPFC Electronic Monitoring Program. Under such a program, members who choose to use EM could have their electronic monitoring data officially recognized for meeting certain monitoring requirements – for example, using EM coverage to satisfy obligations for observer coverage or reporting in some fisheries. The Commission has also discussed how EM might tie into management measures; one idea, for instance, is that members with robust EM coverage might be allowed certain operational flexibilities, such as higher catch limits in specific cases, as an incentive for electronic monitoring.
Even before a formal program is in place, many WCPFC members are moving ahead with electronic monitoring and reporting on their own. Several Pacific Island countries, as well as distant-water fishing nations, have run pilot projects with onboard cameras or electronic logbook systems. These national initiatives are often supported by regional agencies and conservation groups, and they feed into the working group’s knowledge base. By sharing successes and challenges, the working group helps all members learn how to effectively implement ER and EM. For example, the introduction of solar-powered camera systems in longline fleets, or the development of machine learning tools to automatically analyze video footage, are the kinds of innovations being watched closely by the group.
The ERandEM-IWG’s work is also part of a broader trend in global fisheries management. Other tuna regional fisheries organizations (RFMOs) around the world are likewise exploring electronic monitoring, and the WCPFC group has been staying informed about those efforts. This ensures that the Pacific’s standards are compatible with international best practices and that lessons learned elsewhere can be applied regionally.
For the general public, what does this all mean? In essence, it means more eyes on the ocean and better information about what’s happening in the tuna fisheries that supply much of the world’s tuna. By using technology, WCPFC and its members can improve transparency – verifying that fishing is legal and sustainable. It can help detect problems like illegal fishing or misreported catches and provide data for scientists to understand the health of fish stocks and the impact of fishing on the ecosystem. Ultimately, the ERandEM Working Group is about bringing fisheries management into the digital age, making sure that decision-makers have accurate, timely data and that the rules meant to conserve fish stocks are effectively monitored and enforced.
The journey from 2014 to now has been one of careful consensus-building and technical problem-solving. There have been challenges: agreeing on standardized data formats, addressing the costs of equipment and training (especially for small island nations), and ensuring that electronic records can be used as credible evidence for enforcement. However, the progress to date – interim standards, pilot programs, and increasing buy-in from all stakeholders – shows a strong commitment to overcoming these challenges. As the WCPFC moves forward, the work of the ERandEM-IWG will help ensure that fisheries in the western and central Pacific are managed with 21st-century tools, benefiting both the resource and the communities that depend on it.