THE Pacific Islands Tuna Association (PITIA), in expressing serious concern over the rapid buildup of the Southern Long Line fleet, is reiterating the unease being felt by its members.

PITIA's membership comprises the various national fishery associations in the Pacific Islands, including but not limited to those with a long term commitment and experience in the Southern Fishery who are dismayed at the continued increase of fishing effort in the High Seas area primarily South of Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga.

New fleets are constantly appearing in the area having been displaced from, or departed on their own accord from other Northern Pacific and Indian Ocean Fisheries. Whilst stock assessment models indicate that the Albacore fishery is in a relatively robust state, scientists have warned for some time that increased catch will come at the expense of economic viability. The actual experience at sea tells that this is already happening. Recent years have shown both a decrease in catch per unit effort (CPUE) and fish size. Practice shows that there has been a fast local depletion regardless of the perceived state of the overall stock.

Whilst it is acknowledged that the management of the Bigeye and Yellowfin Tuna stocks has, of necessity, been a priority for the Western Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) there is now increased urgency in addressing the Southern Albacore situation. PITIA wishes to extend its support to requests from FFA members, Te Vaka Moana participants that a closer look at the position of Southern Albacore be given higher priority within the WCPFC agenda, and seek the support of Distant Fishing Water Nations when the issue is considered. In particular, PITIA supports the call from TCC7 for a comprehensive report on the fishery that integrates all available data sources in order to ensure a common understanding of the magnitude of this problem. WCPFC must give adequate recognition to the rights and aspirations of small Island Developing States in this fishery, and the constraints and opportunities of the small scale domestic fleets that they manage. PITIA strongly supports the push by FFA members in the last few WCPFC meetings for establishment of zone based, rather than flag Based limits in the longline fishery. This is to address the emerging increase in effort that the sheer numbers of vessels relocating to this area has created.

These vessels are nomadic in nature and will depart as soon as stocks are depleted. It is then left to those resident Pacific Island fishing companies and associations to seek out an existence on low CPUE's until the stock recovers. Whilst the new fleets have Albacore as their target species there is the inevitable catch of Bigeye and Yellowfin and given the vessel numbers the catch of these two species will not be insignificant.

We cannot over-emphasise the gravity of the situation and trust that the Commission will take appropriate notice and act accordingly. PITIA Secretariat, 08/12/11.