Administration of WCPFC Data Access Rules and Procedures

Path 5
Page updated: 01 Sep 2026

Key Messages & Vital Statistics

122
Data Requests
Approved requests in 2025 represent a 10% decrease from 2024, yet remain firmly above pre-COVID levels.
90%
VMS & Transhipment
High seas VMS and transhipment reports comprised ~90% of all approved data requests in 2025.
71
VMS Requests
58.2% of all 2025 requests targeted historical and near real-time VMS data, increasing slightly from 2024.

Data Request Trends & Distribution

Historical Trend of Data Requests (2018-2025)

Data access requests demonstrate that the use of WCPFC data has become an established part of CCM operational MCS activity, remaining stable following post-COVID peak years.

2025 Requests by Reporting Requirement

Breakdown of the 122 requests processed across different Data RaP categories in 2025.

Key Operational Datasets (2024 vs 2025)

Comparison of requests for the two primary datasets utilised by CCMs for monitoring fishing activities, surveillance planning, and port inspections.

System Improvements & Identified Gaps

Streamlining Access & Modernisation

The Secretariat has actively developed improvements to the transparency, efficiency, and accessibility of data requests:

  • API Implementation: Established API access arrangements for VMS and transhipment data have significantly reduced reliance on manual processing and spreadsheet exchanges.
  • Science Research Projects: Updated Guidelines for SC Project Proposals now include a section for the WCPFC SSP to provide feasibility comments on requested data formats ahead of approval.
  • Future Online Tools: Preliminary work has identified options for an online tool allowing CCMs to submit and track requests securely, aiming to reduce administrative workloads.

Emerging Policy Gaps & Port State Controls

Recent operational trends have highlighted gaps regarding real-time data integration and Port State frameworks:

  • Near-Real-Time Expectations: Requests linked to port State controls and vessel risk assessments highlight growing expectations for timely, near-real-time access to MCS activities.
  • CMM 2017-02 Review: The PSMWG has noted issues regarding CNM access to non-public domain data and the potential need for explicit data access provisions within a revised CMM.
  • "Vessels of Interest": Targeted risk assessments are increasingly handled within the scope of single approved requests, complicating granular tracking of individual vessel inquiries.

Conclusions

Based on the administration of WCPFC's non-scientific data holdings in 2025, several critical insights emerge:

  • Embedded Operational Use: With 122 requests processed, access to Commission non-public domain data remains heavily utilised. CCMs are applying WCPFC data in a more targeted, risk-based manner, supported by improved analytical capacity developed over recent years.
  • Dominance of VMS and Transhipment: Constituting 90% of total volume, VMS and transhipment datasets are the undeniable core of compliance verification. The Secretariat's rollout of API access for these streams is a vital modernisation step.
  • Future Accessibility Frameworks: Addressing the operational needs discussed by the PSMWG—particularly regarding real-time secure web-based access and updated rules for CNMs—will be crucial for supporting robust port inspection activities in the future.