The Western & Central Pacific
Fishery Commission (WCPFC)
lWCPF Convention in force June 2004
lFirst meeting Dec 2004 (est. Rules of Procedures & work budget & programme that enabled decisions on conservation and management measures at 2nd meeting in Dec 2005)
lAdvised by the Scientific Committee (proposed number of Working Groups, including a proposed Ecosystem and By-catch Working Group) and the Technical and Compliance Committee
lMembership is disparate - world’s most powerful states with large established fleets operating in the region, and some of its smallest, for whom the resources involved represent their major economic development opportunity. 
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The WCPF Convention
•Functions & structure follow closely UN Fish Stock Agreement
•“It seeks to conserve and manage highly migratory fish stocks in the Convention Area by adopting measures to ensure long-term sustainability of highly migratory fish stocks and promote their optimum utilization based on the best scientific evidence available……. maintain or restore stocks at sustainable levels qualified by relevant environmental and economic factors, including the special requirements of developing States”
•The mandate as set out in the Convention is ambitious and its implementation will set a number of globally important precedents.