FishSource

Federated States of Micronesia yellowfin and bigeye tuna - longline (FIP)

Status: Completed

FIP Lead: Luen Thai Fishing Venture (LTFV), Anova Fishing and Living (AFL), Norpac Fisheries Export (NFE), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), FSM National Oceanic Research Management Organisation (NORMA) (FNORMO)

Comments:

FIP is now MSC Certified for both species (3/7/19)(10/5/18)

1. FIP Development	Apr 18	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 1 April 2018 — Preliminary Client Draft Report - MSC full assessment FSM fishery 1 July 2015 — MSC Pre-Assessment of the Federated States of Micronesia Yellowfin and Bigeye Tuna Longline Fishery 1 January 2010 — First MSC pre-assessment
2. FIP Launch	Jan 16	Confirmation of project participants 1 January 2016 — FIP participants organized 1 September 2015 — The Nature Conservancy becomes co-lead of FIP
2. FIP Launch	Jan 16	Workplan made public 1 January 2016 — Fishery Improvement Project Work Plan for the Federated States of Micronesia Longline Tuna Fishery 2016-2018 2 June 2014 — FIP Action plan
3. FIP Implementation	May 18	FIP activities undertaken 31 May 2018 — As part of the MSC full assessment process, the MSC assessment team received from FSM NORMA amalgamated observer data in late 2017. The assessment team analyzed the data to assess the fishery against the MSC performance indicators 1 May 2018 — Ensure that domestic dispute settlement and consultation processes meet MSC requirements 1 April 2018 — Create sufficient disincentive for catch sector non-compliance with FSM ecological sustainability rules 31 December 2017 — The annual 2017 log of FSM skipper training, available from the FIP website downloads section, confirms that each FSM-based vessel had the skipper and crew attend the training workshop in 2017, and the base manager confirmed that all current materials and equipment are onboard each vessel. 31 October 2016 — Work continues through October 2016. 1 April 2016 — Each vessel is provided with hard copy handling and release guidance materials, equipment, summary of FSM rules, and summary of company policies –ongoing, annual 1 January 2016 — Engagement to Pursue Robust Harvest Strategies Adopted and Implemented 1 January 2016 — Address P2 deficits, higher quality data for assessments 1 January 2016 — Improve observer data collection fields and data collection protocols for ETP handing and release, and compliance with ban on shark retention and use of shark lines and wire leaders 1 January 2016 — Build captain and crew capacity to implement prescribed handling and release practices for sharks, rays, turtles, birds, marine mammals, etc 1 January 2016 — Through analysis of observer data, identify fishery-specific economically viable best practices to mitigate bycatch 1 January 2016 — Pursue improved understanding of stock and population status of ‘secondary’ and ETP species 1 May 2014 — NGO and stakeholder consultation
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	May 18	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 31 May 2018 — An electronic monitoring (EM) program, initiated in early 2017, continues this calendar year. 30 April 2018 — NORMA produces an annual public summary of longline (i) surveillance activities (ii) identified infractions; (iii) enforcement actions taken for each identified infraction; and (iv) the outcomes of each enforcement action. 1 August 2017 — NW Pacific blue shark assessment conducted in 2017. 1 January 2017 — NORMA, TNC and LTFV begin electronic monitoring pilot project on 6 LTFV vessles. 1 May 2016 — WCPO Tuna MSC Alignment Group workplan 1 April 2016 — Train the trainer workshop 1 January 2015 — Vessel monitoring systems put on FSM based vessels. 1 January 2015 — Radio frequency tags used on frozen tuna for traceability. 1 December 2014 — Training guides for fishermen developed 1 March 2013 — Luen Thai Fishing Venture voluntarily removed all narrow J-shaped tuna hooks and replaced these with wider circle hooks. 1 March 2013 — Luen Thai Fishing Venture adopts a company policy banning the retention of sharks or fishing gear and methods to target sharks 1 December 2012 — WCPFC adopted limit reference points
5. Improvements on the Water	Apr 18	Verifiable improvement on the water 1 April 2018 — Increase in MSC outcome scores: 1.1.1 and 2.2.1
6. MSC certification (optional)	Oct 18	MSC certificate made public 9 October 2018 — FIsheries certified