1. Update on WCPFC initiatives ERandEMWG & SC Project 93
Dr Lara Manarangi-Trott
Compliance Manager,
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
Presentation to SPC/FFA/PNAO DCC Longline Electronic Monitoring Planning Workshop
16 – 18 October 2019, Honiara, Solomon Islands

2. WCPFC Background:
In 2013/14 status of trials and implementation of E-reporting and E- monitoring technologies were reviewed
Consultants report – Potential for E-Reporting and E- Monitoring in the Western and Central Pacific Tuna Fisheries
A WCPFC workshop - in Honiara, Solomon Islands
Electronic monitoring was at an early stage of development in the WCPO with trials and early implementation underway.
Key risk for WCPFC: lack of documented policies and standards for e-technologies

3. Kerry Smith (Australia)
ERandEM Working Group
Established in December 2014
Objective: “To consider how EM and ER technologies could benefit the work of CCMs and the Commission, in supporting the objective and implementation of the Convention.”
Priority task “to develop draft SSPs for e-technologies in Commission-managed fisheries”
Expected to have a multi-year program of work
Reports to TCC and SC as appropriate
Kerry Smith (Australia)
ERandEM WG Chair

4. ERandEM Working Group TOR - Principles
1. In its deliberations, the working group shall be mindful of existing and proposed data standards and formats in other regional bodies and RFMOs. 2. The working group shall consider the impacts of ER and EM technologies on the broader work of the Commission/Secretariat and look at ways to minimize data management costs. 3. The working group shall specifically consider impacts of ER and EM technologies on SIDS and endeavour to improve SIDS use of electronic technologies, including supporting trials of these technologies, to further understand their application. 4. The working group shall take into consideration recommendations from Kobe III relating to data harmonisation and exchange. 5. The working group shall not prejudice the rights and obligations of flag CCMs on data collecting and validation.
Kerry Smith (Australia)
ERandEM WG Chair

5. ERandEM Working Group Meetings and key outcomes to date
July 2015: Nadi, Fiji
Commission adopted workplan, agreed to testing of draft ER standards
Aug 2016: Bali, Indonesia
Commission adopted ER standards for operational catch and effort data, encouraged EM development where data gaps exist
Commission adopted ER standards for observer data
Aug 2018: Busan, Korea
Commission adopted ER standards for high seas transshipment reporting,
And for E-M…
4. tbc : perhaps 2020?
Kerry Smith (Australia)
ERandEM WG Chair

6. Key E-monitoring related outcomes from ERandEMWG3, Busan Korea, August 2018
Received an update on E-monitoring processing standards work led by SPC
involves guidance on how observer data fields can or cannot be collected with E- monitoring systems
a useful reference for developing E-monitoring programmes
Discussed data needs and E-monitoring
Received a paper examining scientific application of the longline ROP minimum data standard data fields
ERandEMWG recommended that SC and TCC consider if a Commission wide data needs analysis and associated data collection and verification methods was needed.
ERandEMWG noted the strength of the ROP as a data collection and verification programme that comes from its independence and impartiality, and recommended that any WCPFC E-monitoring programme should also have this basis.
The Chair’s E-monitoring concept paper was considered
E-monitoring concept paper
ERandEMWG recommended that the Commission note that the approach outlined in the concept paper could be used as a general framework for progressing issues related to implementation of E-monitoring. The ERandEMWG further noted the Chair would update the concept paper based on discussions as ERandEMWG3, with particular focus on objectives and scope.
ERandEMWG recommended that the Commission agree to prioritizing E-monitoring in areas where independent data collection and verification is currently low and asked SC14 and TCC14 for advice on priority areas.

7. Objectives
Terminology and definitions
Coverage rate vs analysis rate
Roles and responsibilities
Proposed accreditation process
Scope and data needs
Minimum Standards
Programme standards –relating to management of a national or subregional E-monitoring programme
Technical standards –relating to the Emonitoring systems (including cameras, sensors, any storage devices and software (on board and on shore))
Logistical standards – relating to the transfer of records from a fishing vessel to a reviewing or analysis centre
Data analysis standards – relating to converting E-monitoring records into data that are submitted to WCPFC
Chair’s Concept paper –a consultative draft CMM was considered at ERandEMWG3, Busan Korea, August 2018

8. WCPFC15 outcomes The Commission:
Agreed to prioritising E-monitoring in areas where independent data collection and verification is currently low and asked SC15 and TCC15 for advice on priority areas.
Supported the continuation of intersessional work, led by the ERandEMWG Chair Ms Kerry Smith (Australia) to further develop a draft conservation and management measure on E-monitoring for consideration by the Commission in 2020.
The ERandEMWG Chair was tasked to provide a report on progress to WCPFC16 in 2019.
Also adopted the SC14 recommendation for FFA, PNA Office, the Scientific Services Provider and WCPFC Secretariat to jointly work on a project to review the Commission’s data needs and collection programmes (Project 93).
WCPFC15 outcomes

9. SC Project 93 - Review of the Commission’s data needs and collection programs
Objective: to compare the Commission’s data needs against the programs and tools available to the Commission (including the potential for a WCPFC E-M program)
Approach:
Itemize the WCPFC primary data needs arising from WCPFC CMMs
Match current and potential WCPFC data sources with these needs
Identify instances where independent data collection and verification is low, and where there are current data gaps
Consider the potential for E-monitoring to meet the gaps
Output:
Annex 2: Two tables: one for longline and one for purse seine

10. PART A
SC Project 93 - Review of the Commission’s data needs and collection programs
PRIMARY WCPFC DATA NEEDS
WCPFC DATA SOURCES
Catch
WCPFC/
Flag State
Industry/Operator reporting
Monitoring
Automatic
Effort
EM sensor analysis
VMS
RFV
Vessel Operator logsheet and incident report
Vessel Operator unloading, transhipment etc report
Voluntary cannery
Onboard trip observer
EM footage analysis
Inspections (HSBI, Port, PFI, Surveillance etc)
Post-trip including port and TS observing
Position at date/time
Vessel Interactions
At-sea transhipments
Trip Information
Gear attributes
Vessel information
Key:
M=Main source (required or most reliable or greatest coverage)
V=verification or secondary
P=potential for consideration
Observer safety incidents

11. PART B
SC Project 93 - Review of the Commission’s data needs and collection programs
PRIMARY WCPFC DATA NEEDS
Gaps in current WCPFC data
Potential of E-M to fill gap or replace manual reporting
Reference to WCPFC CMM or decision
Purpose of data for WCPFC
Catch
Effort
SCI: Science
CMS: Compliance
MCS
Position at date/time
Key:
Vessel Interactions
Data gap Tiers
3 - no currently
usable data
2 - some usable
1 - usable data
Tiers of EM potential
4 - EM unlikely to cover gap or not adding value
3 - EM likely to useful in verification
2 - EM potential for augmenting main source
1 - EM potential to become primary
At-sea transhipments
Trip Information
Gear attributes
Vessel information
Observer safety incidents

12. VERY FEW DATA GAPS IDENTIFIED
SC Project 93 - Review of the Commission’s data needs and collection programs
Key findings related to WCPFC DATA GAPs:
PURSE SEINE
100% requirement for observer coverage 20°N to 20°S
high availability of operational catch and effort data
VERY FEW DATA GAPS IDENTIFIED
LONGLINE
lower levels of observer coverage
SEVERAL GAPS IDENTIFIED WHERE DATA COLLECTION AND VERIFICATION IS PRESENTLY LOW
Catch: target species
Catch: bycatch key species
Catch: other species
At-sea transhipments
Gear attributes: general
Gear attributes: Mitigation methods
Vessel information: personnel
Vessel information: electronics
Observer safety incidents

13. SC Project 93 - Review of the Commission’s data needs and collection programs
Key findings on E-M POTENTIAL to address WCPFC DATA GAPS:
PURSE SEINE
100% requirement for observer coverage 20°N to 20°S
high availability of operational catch and effort data
NO SIGNIFICANT DATA GAPS THAT MIGHT BE ADDRESSED BY E-M AT THIS POINT IN TIME
LONGLINE
lower levels of observer coverage
MAJOR POTENTIAL APPLICATION OF E-M FOR FLEETS NOT ALREADY SIGNIFICANTLY COVERED BY OBSERVERS
Reporting against longline catch limits, improving precision of longline catch data for scientific purposes
Bycatch and non-target catch monitoring, particularly non-key species
Monitoring discards of, and interactions with, key species that do not result in retention of landing
Augmenting data for science where coverage is currently low (eg size data for key species in longline fishery)
Monitoring any exceptional at-sea transhipments permitted under CMM
Monitoring application of bycatch mitigation measures

14. SC15: Progress report presented (SC15-ST-WP04), with review by and input from an informal working group
SC15 recognised the usefulness of the work conducted to date under Project 93 …
 30th Aug WCPFC Circular
to distribute tables and seek comments by 18th Sept
TCC15: Report on outcomes presented (TCC )
TCC15 supported the conclusions from Project 93 to inform the Commission of the current status of WCPFC data collection programmes and associated data gaps and needs.
TCC15 also recommended that Project 93…
analysis be considered in respect of CMM (ROP)
conclusions be considered at next ERandEMWG meeting
conclusions be considered by IWG-transhipment
SC Project 93 - Review of the Commission’s data needs and collection programs
SC15 & TCC15 outcomes

15. TCC15 E-monitoring outcomes
TCC15: Received Intersessional activity report from ERandEMWG Chair
requested that CCMs with established or emerging national or subregional E-M standards or specifications communicate them to the Chair of the ERandEMWG as soon as possible.
noted that the ERandEMWG Chair will provide a revised E-M concept paper to WCPFC16 taking into consideration Project 93 discussions and any input from members.
recommended that WCPFC16 notes the progress against the ERandEMWG workplan and agrees to a physical meeting for the IWG in 2020 prior to TCC16.
TCC15 E-monitoring outcomes

16. Contact: Dr Lara Manarangi-Trott Compliance Manager - WCPFC
Seafood and Emerging Technologies Conference February 2019, Bangkok, Thailand
Contact: Dr Lara Manarangi-Trott
Compliance Manager - WCPFC
LManarangi-Trott SAFET Feb2019