WCPFC discusses roadmap for Viet Nam's official accession

Core challenges and the cost of compliance

Dr. Lars Olsen, Director of the Western Pacific East Asia Sustainable Pacific Fisheries Activity (WPEA-SPF), presented a report titled "Roadmap and Strategy for Viet Nam's Accession to Full Membership of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)." According to the report, Viet Nam has participated in the WCPFC as a Cooperating Non-Member (CNM) since 2009.

At the 19th Annual Meeting of the WCPFC (WCPFC19) in 2022, Viet Nam reaffirmed its commitment to contributing actively to the regional fisheries management framework, expressed its intention to become a full Commission Member (CCM), and pledged to strengthen tuna traceability, conserve and sustainably manage highly migratory fish stocks, and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in support of responsible fisheries.

According to Dr. Lars Olsen, the main obstacles to Viet Nam's accession are reservations from existing members, limitations in fisheries data coverage, and the European Union's "yellow card" warning. From a financial perspective, Viet Nam currently contributes about 50% of the assessed contribution paid by full members, meaning full membership would approximately double its financial obligation.

He noted that demonstrating a strong compliance record, including timely reporting, comprehensive VMS coverage, and consistent implementation of WCPFC requirements, is a prerequisite for membership consideration. If consensus cannot be reached, accession would be decided by a three-quarters majority under the Commission's bicameral voting system.

Viet Nam may also face continued scrutiny from members of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) over its past IUU fishing record, closer oversight from international markets and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and increasing competition for tuna resources. Domestically, the accession process has also highlighted gaps in monitoring and enforcement capacity, particularly in ensuring compliance among small-scale fishing vessels.

Becoming a full member would bring substantial benefits to Viet Nam, including equal voting rights and a stronger voice in regional decision-making, while promoting deeper regional integration and reinforcing the country's sovereign interests. Economically, full membership would enable Viet Nam to play a greater role in discussions on allocation arrangements, strengthen its market position, and improve access to financial and technical assistance. From a governance perspective, CCM status would allow Viet Nam to participate directly in developing fisheries management rules, enhance transparency, strengthen data and scientific integration, and increase the credibility of its sustainability certifications.

To achieve this goal, Dr. Lars Olsen proposed a comprehensive strategic roadmap, including submitting a formal notification to the WCPFC and thoroughly preparing for the membership voting process. The roadmap also calls for assessing current capacities, reviewing the international legal framework, intensifying political and diplomatic engagement, and advancing institutional and legal reforms within Viet Nam.

WCPFC assessment and recommendations

Assessing Viet Nam's pathway toward a stronger position in regional fisheries governance, Rhea Moss-Christian, Executive Director of the WCPFC, said the country has demonstrated strong momentum in fisheries reform and made significant progress in fisheries management. From a strategic perspective, she noted that this is a favorable time for Viet Nam to proactively pursue full membership of the Commission.

Although existing members are often cautious about admitting new members, Viet Nam could take the initiative by requesting that the Commission establish a clear set of membership criteria and technical requirements. In practice, she noted, Viet Nam may already be meeting many of these stringent requirements through the reforms it has undertaken.

Explaining the difference between Viet Nam's current status and its goal of becoming a full member, the WCPFC Executive Director said that Cooperating Non-Members are often subject to more stringent accession requirements due to the Commission's limited membership and the complexities of fishing allocation arrangements. However, Viet Nam's case is unique and differs significantly from that of countries in Latin America.

She noted that Viet Nam's establishment of an inter-agency coordination mechanism, together with the active engagement of relevant stakeholders, would provide a strong foundation for highlighting these unique characteristics and advantages throughout the accession process. The WCPFC Secretariat also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Viet Nam by providing detailed guidance on technical reporting obligations to the country's competent authorities. In general, the requirements for full membership are not substantially different from those that Viet Nam is already implementing as a CNM.

At the same time, the Executive Director acknowledged a major challenge related to the availability of real-time fisheries data for commercial decision-making. The WCPFC's mandate focuses on the conservation and management of fish stocks rather than on trade or import-export decisions.

Currently, publicly available information is limited to vessel registration records, lists of vessels connected to the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), and general conservation and management measures, including fishing effort and allocation arrangements. As a result, it is not possible to determine in real time whether a fishing vessel has violated regulations or exceeded its authorized fishing limits during commercial transactions. Such assessments can only be made after fisheries data have been compiled and verified in the following year.

Rhea Moss-Christian emphasized that this limitation in real-time data cannot be addressed by the WCPFC Secretariat alone. Instead, it requires negotiations and agreement among all Commission members. Wider adoption of electronic monitoring systems is expected to play a key role in improving the accuracy and timeliness of fisheries data across the region.