The North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) has signed a MoU the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO) to facilitate consultation, cooperation, and collaboration among the Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMOs)
The North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) has been strengthening cooperation with several regional and global organizations including the Fisheries and Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS) of the Food and Aquaculture Organization (FAO), the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC), the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO), the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), and the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-Like Species in the North Pacific Ocean (ISC).
In 2023, the NPFC entered into a Partnership Arrangement with the FIRMS which establishes a framework for developing, sharing and maintaining services for the collation, management and dissemination of information on marine living resources and fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean.
Following the establishment of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between NPFC and NPAFC, the two Commissions developed a five-year work plan in 2023 to implement the MoC. The work plan addresses the key areas of mutual interest, such as (1) Exchange of data and information; (2) Collaboration on research efforts relating to stocks and species of mutual interest, and (3) Implementation of conservation and management measures for stocks and species of mutual interest.
The NPFC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2023 with the SPRFMO. The MoU aims at facilitating, where appropriate, consultation, cooperation, and collaboration between the RFMOs, including exchange of reports, data and scientific information, cooperation on research effort, sharing best practices, considering methods of supporting conservation and management measures, and exchange of expertise gained and lessons learned. The NPFC is currently in the process of considering MoUs with WCPFC and ISC.
Informal consultations on the idea of a North Pacific Fisheries Commission to bridge the gap in regional fisheries management of deep sea fish and protection of marine ecosystems began in 2006. Canada, China, the European Union, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Chinese Taipei, the United States of America, and Vanuatu are all members of the NPFC. Panama is a Cooperating Non-contracting Party. The Objective of the Convention is to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of the fisheries resources in the Convention Area while protecting the marine ecosystems of the North Pacific Ocean in which these resources occur.
