Accountability.Fish Urges WCPFC to End Secrecy at General Meeting

Accountability.Fish is urging the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to open its General Meeting, starting November 28, to media and end its practice of barring NGO observers from the critical Technical & Compliance Committee (TCC) sessions.

“WCPFC governs nearly 60% of the global tuna supply and often touts its sustainability efforts,” said Ryan Orgera, Global Director of Accountability.Fish. “Yet, the commission shuts its doors during key compliance meetings and excludes media from its General Meeting. This contradicts its founding charter, which mandates transparency.”

Call for Accountability

The WCPFC Convention’s Article 21 emphasizes transparency and participation from NGOs and intergovernmental organizations in decision-making. However, current practices hinder access to crucial information and prevent independent evaluation of WCPFC’s sustainability claims.

“The General Meeting is an opportunity to align actions with values,” Orgera said. “Closing these proceedings fosters a culture of secrecy that undermines WCPFC’s credibility in ocean sustainability.”

Implications of Secrecy

The exclusion of NGO observers from TCC compliance report discussions leaves the WCPFC region as a “massive, unverified gap” in the global sustainability landscape, Orgera noted. He called on sustainability advocates like Tuvalu, New Zealand, Canada, and the EU to champion openness and accountability within the Commission.

“This is the moment for WCPFC members to walk the talk and ensure transparency in their operations,” Orgera concluded.