Explore WCPFC's M&E Tools

A Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) is a satellite-based tracking system that shows fisheries managers where licensed fishing boats are in the ocean. It’s like GPS for fishing vessels, helping officials keep watch over vast areas of sea, including national waters and the high seas.

VMS is important because it helps protect fish populations from overfishing. It also makes it harder for unlicensed or illegal fishing vessels to go unnoticed. And if there’s an emergency, it helps authorities know where a vessel is, which improves safety for the crew.

Fisheries authorities and compliance officers use VMS data to check if boats are fishing where and when they’re allowed to. It also helps spot unusual behavior, like if a vessel enters a closed area or stops reporting.

WCPFC's satellite tracking system plays a crucial role in overseeing fishing activities. It monitors over 3,000 authorized vessels around the clock by recording their position, course, and speed 24 hours a day, with vessels required to update their location at least every six hours. This regular reporting helps identify any unusual or suspicious behavior, such as fishing in prohibited areas or engaging in unauthorized transshipments.

The system works together with national vessel 

monitoring systems to offer a complete picture of fishing activity in the region. It uses tamper-proof equipment to ensure that the data remains reliable and unaltered. 

All of this information is managed securely at the WCPFC Secretariat in Pohnpei, where compliance staff review the data to ensure compliance with fishing regulations.

📄The Secretariat prepares Annual Reports on the Commission VMS, which are available in the Technical and Compliance Committee’s meeting documents. 

High Seas Boarding and Inspection (HSBI) is a process that allows authorized officials from one Member to board and inspect fishing vessels from other Members while they are fishing in international waters, specifically, in areas beyond national jurisdictions known as the high seas.

In the context of WCPFC, HSBI is a cooperative enforcement tool that helps ensure all fishing vessels are following the agreed rules of the Commission, even when far from any Member's coastline.

The high seas are vast and remote which can make it difficult to monitor. Without oversight, vessels might:

• Overfish or target protected species.

• Use banned gear or fish in closed areas.

• Underreport or misreport their catches.

HSBI is designed to prevent that by ensuring:

• Fishing vessels are held accountable no matter where they operate.

• All WCPFC Members have confidence that the rules apply to everyone equally.

Under the WCPFC’s High Seas Boarding and Inspection scheme:

• Inspectors from WCPFC Members are authorized to board fishing vessels flying the flag of another WCPFC Member.

• The inspection checks if the vessel is complying with Commission conservation and management measures (such as catch limits, observer requirements, or gear rules).

• Inspectors can review logbooks, catch data, fishing gear, and vessel documentation.

• A standardized procedure ensures that boardings are done safely, respectfully, and within agreed rights and responsibilities.

This system operates under the principle of mutual trust and cooperation among Members of the Commission.

In 2025, the Commission worked intersessionally to develop a series of HSBI voluntary guides to strengthen high seas boarding and inspection efforts. Documents related to the 2025 intersessional work can be found HERE.

📄The Secretariat prepares Annual Reports on the WCPFC HSBI scheme, which are available in the Technical and Compliance Committee’s meeting documents. 

Transhipment is defined in Article 1(h) of the WCPF Convention as "...the unloading of all or any of the fish on board a fishing vessel to another fishing vessel either at sea or in port." 

The WCPFC regulates transhipment activities of all highly migratory fish stocks covered by the Convention, throughout its Convention Area. When transhipment takes place in the port or waters of a coastal nation, the laws of that coastal nation apply, but all WCPFC CCM's who are carrying out transhipment activities in the Convention Area are required to report on those activities to the Commission. 

Why regulate transhipment?

Effective regulation of transhipment activities plays a key role in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It also serves as a valuable mechanism for improving the accuracy of fisheries data and helps ensure that all fishing operations comply with established rules and regulations.

The WCPFC's Transhipment Regulation Scheme is contained in its conservation and management measure CMM 2009-06 and is supplemented by E-Reporting Standards for high seas transhipment declarations and transhipment notices, both of which are described in more detail, below. 

The WCPFC Transhipment Regulation Scheme: The Basics

• In-Port Transhipment: If transhipment happens in a port or in waters controlled by a WCPFC Member, Co-operating Non-Member, or Participating Territory (referred to as a "CCM"), it must follow that country's specific laws.

• No High Seas Transhipment for Purse Seiners (Generally): For purse seine vessels (a type of fishing boat), transhipment at sea is generally not allowed. There are exceptions, but these must be granted by the WCPFC. Information about authorized purse seine vessels can be found on the WCPFC Record of Fishing Vessels.

• High Seas Transhipment (Limited Exceptions): Transhipment in the high seas (international waters) is also generally prohibited. It is only allowed if a CCM determines it's truly impossible for certain vessels to operate without transhipping at sea, and they must inform the WCPFC. Details about carrier vessels and off-loading vessels (the ones receiving the fish) authorized for high seas transhipment by their flag CCM are also available on the WCPFC Record of Fishing Vessels.

📄The Secretariat prepares Annual Reports on Transhipment Reporting, which are available in the Technical and Compliance Committee’s meeting documents. 

E-Reporting Standards for high seas transhipment declarations and transhipment notices

The WCPFC began formal consideration of electronic reporting (E-reporting) in 2014, recognizing its potential to enhance fisheries monitoring in the WCPO. A series of workshops between 2015-2018 culminated in the adoption of the “Standards, Specifications and Procedures for Electronic Reporting” (E-reporting SSPs) in December 2016. These SSPs formed a general framework into which specific E-reporting standards could be added over time. 

The Commission subsequently approved the inclusion of standards for transhipment declarations and notices in 2018, which are voluntary unless the Commission decides otherwise. 

To support transhipment e-reporting, the Secretariat developed a specific IT system called the High Seas Transhipment Electronic Reporting System, or TSER.  TSER allows vessel masters, company managers, and staff of national fisheries management agencies to electronically submit high seas transhipment notifications and declarations to the WCPFC. 

The Secretariat has reported annually on the performance of the application of the Electronic reporting standards since 2018 and those reports can be accessed through the Technical and Compliance Committee meeting webpage for the relevant year. 

Review of Transhipment Regulations

In 2019, the Commission agreed to carry out a review of its transhipment conservation and management measure. Detailed reports and other information related to the review can be accessed through the "Explore Further" section, below. 

WCPFC implements port state measures as a critical tool for monitoring and managing fishing activities. Monitoring of port activities provides a key checkpoint where fishing operations can be verified and cross-checked. When vessels come into port, it is an opportunity to inspect catches, review logbooks, validate transhipment or landing declarations, and ensure compliance with rules on reporting, gear use, and catch limits. This helps detect and deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, supports accurate data collection for stock assessments, and builds trust that everyone is playing by the same rules. By linking what happens at sea with what is recorded and reported on land, port monitoring strengthens the integrity of the entire fisheries management system.

WCPFC's port monitoring procedures support the implementation of port State measures by WCPFC Members. It encourages Members to formally designate specific ports where inspections related to fishing activities can take place. It also requires regular reporting and updating of any port State measures adopted by the Member and that this information is made publicly available, ensuring transparency and accessibility for all stakeholders.

📄The Secretariat prepares Annual Reports on port inspections and implementation of minimum standards for port State measures, which are available in the Technical and Compliance Committee’s meeting documents. 

The WCPFC's Regional Observer Programme (ROP) consists of the national, sub-regional, and regional observer programmes of its Members that have been authorised to participate in the WCPFC's ROP. To be part of the WCPFC ROP, a programme requires authorisation that is granted following a successful audit to ensure the programme meets the Commission Minimum Standards for observer programmes.  

How does an Observer Programme operate?

Human observers serve as the Commission's "eyes and ears", ensuring that fishing activities follow established rules and guidelines. They are essential for gathering accurate, detailed information about fishing operations. For instance, every purse seine vessel must have an observer on board, ensuring 100% coverage of fishing activities by these vessels, with over 800 trained professionals from Pacific Island and other WCPFC Members actively monitoring these trips. For longline vessels, observers are currently present on at least 5% of trips, with plans to increase this coverage in future.

Observers collect in-depth data on the types of fish caught, the methods used, and whether the vessels are complying with regulations such as bycatch handling and restrictions on catching prohibited species. They receive specialized training to safely document any potential violations they encounter. Additionally, by using electronic reporting systems, these observers can transmit their findings back to the Commission in real time while still at sea, enhancing the overall transparency and effectiveness of fisheries management.

📄The Secretariat prepares Annual Reports on the ROP, which are available in the Technical and Compliance Committee’s meeting documents. 

Observer Safety

Despite the value of their work, fisheries observers often operate in remote and challenging environments where they may face long deployments, isolation, difficult working conditions, and in some cases, threats to their safety and well-being. This has led to increasing recognition of the need for robust protections and safety precautions to safeguard observers during their duties. These include clear reporting protocols, access to communication tools, training on safety procedures, legal protections, and mechanisms for investigating incidents of harassment, interference, or harm. Ensuring observer safety is essential not only for their personal well-being but also to maintain the integrity and credibility of observer programs, which are fundamental to effective fisheries oversight.

In 2017, the Commission adopted a conservation and management measure for the protection of observers. 

It sets out minimum standards and responsibilities for flag States, fishing vessels, and other relevant parties to ensure the safety and well-being of fisheries observers deployed under the WCPFC Regional Observer Programme. Key provisions include:

• Prohibiting harassment, intimidation, and interference with observers in the course of their duties.

• Requirements for observer safety, including providing observers with access to communication equipment and safe accommodation.

• Obligations for reporting and investigating observer safety incidents, such as when an observer goes missing, dies, or is injured.

• Steps for disembarkation and repatriation in a timely and respectful manner.

• Emphasis on cooperation between flag States, observer providers, and the Secretariat to ensure effective implementation and follow-up of incidents.

Electronic monitoring (EM) in the fisheries context refers to the use of technology, such as onboard cameras, sensors, and GPS systems, to automatically record and collect information about fishing activities at sea. This technology can capture data on gear deployment, catch composition, bycatch, and compliance with fishing rules, even when human observers are not present. 

EM adds significant value to conservation and management by increasing transparency, improving data coverage, and providing verifiable records that support science-based decision-making. It helps fisheries managers monitor fishing effort, detect illegal practices, and assess the effectiveness of conservation measures, ultimately contributing to more accountable, sustainable, and efficient fisheries management.

In 2024, the Commission adopted interim Electronic Monitoring Minimum Standards, and committed to continued development of an Electronic Monitoring Program for the WCPFC. 

Electronic Reporting replaces traditional paper methods with digital systems to collect, store, and transmit data. This means that instead of filling out handwritten logbooks, captains and observers now use digital tools to record fishing activities. This contributes to more accurate data that is easier to update and generally available more quickly for review.

• Operational catch and effort data in 2016
• Observer data in 2017
• Transhipment notifications and declarations in 2018 (see section on Transhipment)

Management of Fish Aggregating Devices

A Fish-Aggregating Device (FAD) is any floating or suspended object used to attract fish. In tuna fisheries, purse seine vessel operators often use FADs to gather (aggregate) tunas in one place, making it easier and more efficient to catch large volumes of fish.

But a FAD can also gather small fish and other species that are not targeted or of value to the fishers. Managing FADs helps to reduce the capture of small, young tunas that are not as valuable, and this can help ensure that those tunas are able to reach full maturity and thus, more valuable. FAD management also helps to reduce accidental or incidental catch of non-targeted species such as dolphins, manta rays, and sharks.

FAD Management Options Intersessional Working Group (FAD-MO IWG)

A Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) is a system used to track fish from the point of capture through the supply chain. It records information on where, when, and how fish were caught. This helps verify that fish entering markets come from legal and reported sources.

For tuna fisheries, CDS is important for ensuring that catches comply with conservation and management measures. It helps prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing from entering international trade. A CDS provides governments, markets, and consumers with confidence in the origin of the fish.

A CDS requires vessels and companies to submit documentation at key points in the supply chain, such as landing, export, import, and re-export. This allows authorities to confirm that each shipment of tuna matches reported catches.

Managing a CDS helps:

• Ensure compliance with conservation and management rules.
• Block IUU-caught fish from entering markets.
• Increase transparency and traceability across the supply chain.
• Support sustainable tuna management and consumer confidence.

How a CDS Would Work in Practice

Under a WCPFC CDS, every consignment of tuna would require validated documentation before moving through the supply chain.

Key steps would include:

• Vessel operators record catch details at the time of harvest.
• National authorities verify and validate the catch data.
• Documentation follows the product through processing, export, and re-export stages.
• Importing countries check the documentation before allowing market entry.

This process ensures that all tuna traded internationally from WCPFC waters can be traced back to legal and reported sources.

Development of an Electronic CDS for Pacific Bluefin Tuna

The Northern Committee is working toward the establishment of an electronic CDS for Pacific bluefin tuna (ePBCD) to strengthen its monitoring and management of that species. CDS is seen as a practical tool to close market access to IUU fish. In 2025, members of the ePBF Technical Working Group adopted a Working Draft CMM Resolution for Pacific Bluefin Tuna CDS  following discussions at its 6th meeting.