Reflections on Electronic Monitoring in tuna RFMOs

As I’m sitting down at Bar Bergara in Donostia-San Sebastian … having a final pintxos session before the LONG travel back to Wellington, New Zealand … it’s a time to reflect on two very successful weeks focused on Electronic Monitoring (EM).

The short version is that WCPFC adopted comprehensive EM standards and then I chaired an awesome (for me at least) meeting with key people across five tuna RFMOs and EM providers plotting a path for successful use of EM to achieve better fisheries management outcomes.

But for those interested, I do have a few observations to share with those with the patience to read an article in amongst the work parties leading up to Christmas.....

1.        EM will give significantly greater information to verify longline catches (a long-standing gap), including interactions with species of special interest;

2.        EM will enable better fisheries management outcomes … both better utilization of target fish stocks and reduced impacts on bycatch (both fish and non-fish); and

3.        Done correctly EM will achieve a greater cost/benefit ratio than current human at-sea observers in these fisheries (not a criticism of our awesome observers!)

The only question is when, i.e., how soon, this transformation will occur.

Across the two meetings I have attended I can categorize participants into one of three categories:

1.        Those afraid of the unknown … they haven’t really tried EM and so it is a new thing and a little scary;

2.        Those afraid of the known … they have had some trials or pilot programmes (typically funded by others or through special one-off funding) and they are worried about how to rollout a regulated and affordable EM program; and

3.        Those who been through the trials and have a regulated programme .. they are often little scarred .. but are universally wanting to help groups 1 and 2 because they know its worth it ..

I have also had the privilege of talking with many of the providers working in tuna fisheries today – including my first in person meeting with Dr. Josh Wiersma of Integrated Monitoring, Inc. who are a huge part of the New Zealand regulated EM programme rolled out in our inshore and tuna fisheries!

I think we need to recognize these things about the EM Providers:

1.        They WILL need to be profitable if they are to be there to help us realize the benefits of EM in global tuna fisheries;

2.        They aren’t in it to become billionaires like the Musk’s, and Zuckerberg’s of the world; and most importantly; and

3.        They know that Governments and industry don’t have open pockets for EM programmes so they are trying to build us EM systems that will be scalable and cost effective.

I think we need to work closely with the providers, especially in these early days – tell them what we want to achieve and then listen to them tell us what they think we need to achieve it!

Now I just want to acknowledge some people and organisations that have been helpful to me in my EM journey over the last 12-18 months.

First – the ENGOs out there supporting policy development, trials and pilot programmes, and bringing key people together in particular The Pew Charitable Trusts ( Jamie Gibbon ), and The Nature Conservancy (Craig Heberer).

Second – those providers who are generous enough to listen to me rant and then share their insights: Satlink ( Javier De la Cal and Manuel Menchaca ), Teem Fish Monitoring Inc. ( Amanda Barney ), THALOS , ZUNIBAL , and DataFish , and OnDeck Fisheries AI .

Finally, other folks and organisations that have helped me this year in my work on EM: Hilario Murua of International Seafood Sustainability Foundation , Jenny M. , and the excellent teams at the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) .