Majuro, Marshall Islands – August 5, 2025 – The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Office has concluded its 3rd Compliance Internship Workshop, held at the PNA Office in Majuro, from July 28 to August 1, 2025. The five-day event brought together compliance officers, observer debriefers, and Monitoring, Control & Surveillance (MCS) practitioners from Kiribati Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR), Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA), PNG’s National Fisheries Authority (NFA), Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), Tuvalu’s Fisheries Authority (TFA), Palau’s Oceanic Fisheries, and Tokelau Fisheries Management Agency to enhance their skills in fisheries compliance as flag state obligations under the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Convention and PNA legal framework.
The workshop provided a comprehensive overview of the PNA compliance frameworks, including key legal instruments such as the Nauru Agreement, Palau Arrangement, FSM Arrangement, and the broader WCPFC Convention and its applications. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises, case simulations, and practical applications using the PNA Compliance Case Register (PCCR) system to identify, document, and resolve fishing vessel compliance issues.
Key objectives included deepening understanding of observer-reported and Party-reported compliance cases on fishing vessels – such as observer obstruction, catch retention violations, shark including whale shark set violations, FAD fishing during closure periods, unauthorized fishing, VMS infringements, etc. – while aligning with obligations under FSM Arrangement and WCPFC frameworks. Sessions also covered Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for handling observer data, pre-data analysis, case responses, and resolution approaches. The workshop greatly benefited from the contributions of the WCPFC Secretariat, particularly Eidre Sharp, Deputy Compliance Manager, who delivered insightful presentations on the WCPFC reporting process, the development of the Compliance Monitoring Report (CMR), the WCPFC Compliance Case File System (CCFS), and the ROP-IWG priorities ahead.
In her opening remarks, the OIC, VDS Manager Ms. Aketa, on behalf of the PNAO CEO, who was away on official duty, highlighted the critical role of collaboration: “As emerging leaders from PNA member countries, your participation reinforces our collective commitment to protecting the Pacific’s vital tuna resources for future generations. In an era of growing challenges to our oceans, your expertise as the next generation of compliance professionals is essential.”
The highlight of the workshop was the presentations given by the participants showcasing their understanding of the developed Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) to equip them in resolving vessel cases cooperatively. This allowed the participants to practice identifying and drafting violations, collating evidence such as observer statements, and crafting responses in the PNA Compliance Case Register (PCCR) system - a tool that tracks actions taken by relevant Parties, primarily as flag state responsible in accordance with the WCPFC Convention.
The workshop concluded on a high note, with the participants sharing their feedback and recommendations for the workshops, which are valuable for the PNAO in informing future workshops. Most of the participants found the workshop helpful in clarifying the processes for compliance and reporting, and commented that the PCCR is a user friendly and convenient tool.