The regional Tuna Data Workshop is conducted on an annual basis for SPC member countries to improve their scientific tuna monitoring and data management capacity, and satisfy their data reporting obligations to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). 2019 marks the 13^th annual Tuna Data Workshop and it is held from the 8th to the 12th of April, in Noumea, New Caledonia.

The workshop was jointly organised and facilitated by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Pacific Community (SPC). Representatives from Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu met in Nadi, Fiji from 06 – 10 February 2017 for the 17th Annual Regional Observer Coordinators Workshop (ROCW17). Observers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), Parties to Nauru Agreement (PNA) Observer Agency, MRAG Asia Pacific and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Secretariat also participated in the meeting

These identification cards were produced to help with the identification of species of special interest (protected species) encountered by fisheries observers while onboard commercial tuna fishing vessels. Observers collect information about sightings of these species and about interactions between these species and fishing activity and/or fishing gear. Regional requirements are in place for observers to report on interactions of fishing activities with species of special interest and on mitigation methods employed by the vessel to reduce the likelihood of these associations and the possible impacts on the animals, such as injuries.

Tuna purse-seine catches associated with Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) are typically more diverse than catches set on “free school” tuna, including both smaller target tuna as well a variety of bycatch species that are often discarded.  In response, an annual FAD-fishing moratorium, of several months’ duration and Pacific-wide, has been implemented since 2009.  Despite the moratorium, there remains concern about adherence to FAD-free fishing requirements.  Additionally, seafood producers and consumers seek certification regarding the source of purse seine captured tuna.

Given this background, we became interested in developing a FAD-association verification test.  We have developed a simple technique, based on observer catch sampling, to determine whether a purse seine set is likely to have been associated with a FAD.  Our methodology, which can be easily implemented “in the field”, has a prediction accuracy rate of up to 86%.  Details of the methodology have been published, in Open Access format, in the journal Fisheries Research.

These identification cards have been produced to help with the identification of fish species encountered by Fisheries Observers while onboard commercial tuna purse seiners that fish in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). The species included in these cards are the ones commonly recorded by observers on tuna purse seine vessels operating in the WCPO. The cards can be easily accessed by observers while working on deck during net hauling and brailing operations to verify and correctly identify fish species. The cards also assist in training observers operating within the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Convention Area.

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