Viet Nam’s role at WCPFC: Toward sustainable fisheries governance

Benefits and implementation outcomes

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is the regional fisheries management organization responsible for the conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks, including tuna and billfish, in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO).

Viet Nam's participation in the WCPFC as a Cooperating Non-Member (CNM) brings significant practical benefits. It provides opportunities to strengthen the country's capacity to meet international obligations while receiving technical support to improve fisheries governance and management.

In addition, implementing WCPFC conservation and management measures helps promote a sustainable and responsible fisheries sector, demonstrates Viet Nam's commitment to international fisheries governance, and contributes to the sustainable development of regional tuna fisheries. CNM status also enhances international cooperation, facilitates tuna trade, and enables Viet Nam's carrier and bunkering vessels to be considered for authorization to operate in the WCPO.

To translate these benefits into practice, Tran Dinh Luan, Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, said Viet Nam has made strong efforts to fulfill all seven core responsibilities of a CNM under the WCPFC framework.

To comply with the Commission's Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs), Viet Nam has established a legal framework consistent with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and WCPFC requirements.

The fisheries sector has developed a comprehensive Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) system, implemented the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for all fishing vessels measuring 15 meters or longer, registered fishing vessels in the national VNFishbase database, and introduced the electronic Catch Documentation and Traceability (eCDT) system. Viet Nam has also strengthened port inspection, taken strict action against IUU fishing, and ratified both the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) and the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA).

Regarding data submission, Viet Nam has met all reporting requirements of the WCPFC, including vessel inventories; trip-based and aggregated catch and fishing effort data collected through fishing logbooks; size composition data collected through port sampling; landing monitoring; records of discarded and released catch; catch data for other required species; and relevant biological and ecological information.

The remaining obligations, including registering fishing vessels in the national VNFishbase database, implementing monitoring and inspection through the MCS system, submitting annual compliance reports, making financial contributions, and participating in WCPFC meetings, have also been fulfilled in a timely manner.

Despite these achievements, Viet Nam still faces several challenges in implementing its CNM responsibilities. Under its current status, the country is not authorized to license fishing vessels to operate directly in the WCPO. Observer coverage on fishing vessels operating within Viet Nam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) remains limited, while trip-based catch and fishing effort data are not always submitted on time. In addition, Viet Nam has yet to participate fully in all WCPFC meetings.

Addressing remaining challenges and pursuing full membership

To address the remaining shortcomings, Tran Dinh Luan proposed several concrete measures. Local authorities are encouraged to allocate sufficient resources to ensure comprehensive data collection. The fisheries sector will focus on expanding the onboard observer program and integrating data among the national VNFishbase database, the eCDT system, and the WCPFC's TUFMAN2 database. Relevant agencies will also ensure Viet Nam's participation in all future WCPFC meetings.

Drawing on its experience as a CNM, Viet Nam now considers full membership in the WCPFC an urgent priority. Becoming a full member would enable the country to establish a stronger legal framework and a more effective MCS system that fully complies with the 1982 UNCLOS and the WCPFC's CMMs.

Full membership would also provide the legal authority needed for fisheries management agencies to access information and regulate tuna imported into Viet Nam that has been harvested by vessels operating under WCPFC member countries.

In addition, full membership would enable Viet Nam to provide more comprehensive data and make greater contributions to the WCPFC's work. It would also strengthen the country's international commitment to sustainable fisheries management and combating IUU fishing, while paving the way for deeper cooperation within the regional fisheries management framework.