Western And Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (wcpfc)

What Western And Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (wcpfc) does

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is an intergovernmental regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) established by the 1982 Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, which entered into force in 2004. The Commission coordinates science-based management of tuna, billfish, and other highly migratory species across the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, managing approximately 55% of the global tuna catch and overseeing a registry of more than 3,000 authorized fishing vessels. Its membership comprises 28 Contracting Parties and 8 Participating Territories, spanning Pacific Island states, distant-water fishing nations, and other entities with interests in the region's fisheries.

WCPFC's operating model rests on a suite of secure web-based portals and information management systems. Core systems include the Record of Fishing Vessels (RFV), the Trackwell-based Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for real-time satellite tracking, the Compliance Case File System (CCFS), the High Seas Boarding and Inspection (HSBI) portal, the Transhipment E-Reporting (TSER) system, and a centralized Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs) database of legally binding conservation decisions. Data collection is anchored by a Regional Observer Programme complemented by Electronic Monitoring (camera-based) systems on longline vessels, with scientific analysis supported by partner bodies including the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species (ISC).

WCPFC does not generate commercial revenue; operating costs are funded through assessed contributions from Contracting Parties based on agreed formulas. The organization coordinates cross-jurisdictional conservation measures (including IUU vessel listing, bycatch mitigation for sea turtles, sharks, seabirds, and mobulid rays, and harvest strategy frameworks) and aligns its measures with external treaty frameworks such as CITES Appendix II and CMS Appendix I. Its secretariat is based in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

Name

Western And Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (wcpfc)

Legal name

Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

Website

https://wcpfc.int

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WCPFC is an intergovernmental regional fisheries management organization coordinating science-based management of highly migratory tuna and billfish stocks across the Western and Central Pacific Ocean for 28 member states and 8 participating territories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Fisheries Management

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

Keywords

• Fisheries management
• Marine conservation
• Vessel monitoring
• Stock assessment
• Regulatory compliance

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WCPFC is an intergovernmental Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) established under the 1982 Convention, which entered into force in 2004, to conserve and manage highly migratory fish stocks — primarily tuna and billfish — across the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The Commission develops and enforces binding Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs), operates a Vessel Monitoring System covering more than 3,000 authorized vessels, runs the Regional Observer Programme, conducts science-based stock assessments, and delivers compliance and enforcement services to its members.

Product overview

WCPFC is a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) offering a suite of secure web-based portals and management systems for managing tuna and billfish fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The core product portfolio includes the Record of Fishing Vessels (RFV) for vessel authorization, the Trackwell VMS for satellite-based vessel tracking, Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs) as the regulatory framework, the CCM Portal for member country access, and the Meetings Portal for commission proceedings. These are complemented by compliance systems including CCFS (Compliance Case File System), the Reporting Dashboard, HSBI (High Seas Boarding and Inspection), and TSER (Transhipment E-Reporting). Supporting systems include the Circulars System, IUU Vessel List, Scientific Data platform, and the Regional Observer Programme with electronic monitoring capabilities. Bycatch mitigation programs for sea turtles, sharks, seabirds, and rays are integral to the sustainability offerings. The organization does not offer a public API; all systems are accessed through authenticated secure portals for authorized users.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WCPFC Convention & Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs) Binding Conservation and Management Measures adopted by the Commission that govern catch limits, fishing effort, transhipment, observer coverage, bycatch mitigation and compliance for tuna and billfish fisheries in the Convention Area. Used by Contracting Parties, flag States, port States and operators of the more than 3,000 authorized fishing vessels.
• WCPFC Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Satellite-based monitoring and reporting system that tracks the position and movement of authorized fishing vessels across the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, supporting fisheries control, surveillance and compliance for member administrations and the Secretariat.
• Regional Observer Programme (ROP) Programme that places trained observers on board authorized fishing vessels and in port to independently verify catch, effort, bycatch and transhipment data, used by the Commission, members and cooperating non-members to support compliance and scientific data collection.
• Record of Fishing Vessels (RFV) Publicly searchable register of the more than 3,000 fishing vessels authorized by Commission members and cooperating non-members to fish for highly migratory species in the Convention Area, used by flag States, port States, market states and operators to verify authorization.
• Tuna Fishery Status Reports (TSER) Annual science-based stock assessment reports covering skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye and albacore tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, used by the Commission and Contracting Parties to set catch and effort limits under the precautionary approach.
• High Seas Boarding and Inspection (HSBI) At-sea enforcement regime that permits qualified inspectors of WCPFC members to board, inspect and report on fishing vessels on the high seas, providing cross-flag enforcement of the Commission's CMMs.
• Electronic Monitoring (EM) System Standards and supporting systems for camera-based electronic monitoring of catch and effort on purse seine and longline vessels, used by operators and members to satisfy observer and catch documentation requirements.
• Compliance Case File System (CCFS) Centralized case management system used by the WCPFC Secretariat and members to record, investigate and resolve alleged violations of the Commission's measures, supporting the annual Compliance Monitoring Scheme review.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of tuna catch occurs within coastal state waters, demonstrating effective jurisdictional coordination
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACAP (Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Formal Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2007 for cooperation on seabird conservation. ACAP provides technical advice on best practices for seabird bycatch mitigation. WCPFC incorporates ACAP recommendations into Conservation and Management Measure CMM 2018-03 for mitigating the impact of fishing on seabirds.
• IATTC (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation on whale shark protection across the Pacific. Both RFMOs have similar rules against intentional setting on whale sharks, ensuring consistent conservation measures across the 150°W boundary separating their jurisdictions.
• ICCAC (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlantic counterpart RFMO with shared shark conservation measures. WCPFC collaborates on shared species like shortfin mako and hammerhead sharks that traverse multiple ocean basins. Best practices and management approaches are shared between organizations.
• CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on species that migrate between WCPFC and CCAMLR areas, particularly petrels and seabirds. Data sharing ensures comprehensive conservation for species moving between RFMO jurisdictions.
• BirdLife InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on seabird conservation efforts. BirdLife provides expertise on seabird species identification and population monitoring, complementing WCPFC's bycatch mitigation work.
• SPC (Secretariat of the Pacific Community)coreTechnology or IntegrationSPC provides scientific support including bycatch data analysis, stock assessments, and species identification resources. SPC-OFP conducts analyses of mobulid bycatch and provides illustrations for WCPFC educational materials.
• CMS (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal environmental framework providing additional protection for migratory species including whale sharks and manta rays. WCPFC measures complement CMS Appendix I and II listings through high seas protections.
• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational trade regulations for endangered species including silky sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, whale sharks, manta rays, and hammerhead sharks. CITES Appendix II listings require sustainability permits for international trade.
• ISPC (International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides scientific stock assessments including North Pacific blue shark and shortfin mako shark assessments. ISC analyses inform WCPFC management decisions on shark fisheries.
• SPREP (Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional environmental organization collaborating on marine turtle status and conservation. WCPFC works with SPREP on broader Pacific environmental protection initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC): IOTC is the RFMO for tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean, with a similar mandate structure, member-driven governance, and conservation focus on highly migratory species. Functionally equivalent to WCPFC in a different ocean basin.
• Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO): NAFO is a regional fisheries management body for the Northwest Atlantic with a comparable intergovernmental structure, conservation mandate, and vessel monitoring/compliance framework as WCPFC.
• North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC): NEAFC regulates fisheries in the North-East Atlantic with a similar RFMO governance model, focusing on conservation and management of straddling and highly migratory stocks.
• Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR): CCAMLR manages marine living resources in the Antarctic, including species that migrate into WCPFC waters. WCPFC has a formal data-sharing collaboration with CCAMLR on petrels and seabirds crossing between jurisdictions.
• South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO): SPRFMO manages non-tuna fisheries in the South Pacific, overlapping geographically with WCPFC and addressing shared bycatch and data collection issues across the same Convention Area geography.
• Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC): The IATTC is the sister RFMO managing tuna stocks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, separated from WCPFC's jurisdiction by the 150°W boundary. Both organizations coordinate on shared species like whale sharks and sharks, making them the most direct functional peer.
• International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT): ICCAT is the Atlantic counterpart RFMO managing tuna and tuna-like species. WCPFC and ICCAT collaborate on shared shark species (shortfin mako, hammerhead) and share best practices for stock assessments and conservation measures.
• North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC): NPFC manages bottom fish and pelagic species in the North Pacific, with overlapping jurisdiction concerns for species that move between NPFC and WCPFC areas, including shared interests in shark and squid management.

Others

• Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC): SPC provides scientific support to WCPFC, including bycatch data analysis, stock assessments, and species identification. SPC's Oceanic Fisheries Programme is a critical data and analysis partner for WCPFC's science-based management.
• Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP): ACAP is a multilateral agreement providing technical advice on seabird bycatch mitigation. WCPFC incorporates ACAP recommendations directly into Conservation and Management Measure CMM 2018-03, making ACAP a key technical advisor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/western-and-central-pacific-fisheries-commission

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Western And Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (wcpfc)