FAO Fisheries & Aquaculture - Regional fishery bodies (RFB)

Regional Fishery Bodies Summary Descriptions

North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC)

Mission
Area of competence
Species and stocks coverage
Legal framework
Languages
Organizations involved
Structure
Activities and meetings
Publications
Contact

MissionObjectives The main objective of the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC) is to promote the conservation of anadromous stocks in the Convention Area. Main functionFunctions The main functions of the Commission are:

to recommend to the parties measures for the conservation of anadromous stocks and ecologically related species in the Convention Area;

to promote the exchange of information on any activities contrary to the provisions of the Convention;

to review and evaluate enforcement actions taken by the parties, and recommend additional action to be taken by the parties to ensure effective and diligent enforcement of the provisions of the Convention;

to promote the exchange of catch and effort information in respect of activities of parties for conducting scientific research and for coordinating the collection, exchange and analysis of scientific data regarding anadromous stocks and ecologically related species, including data to identify the location of origin of anadromous stocks, and provide a forum for cooperation among the parties with respect to such anadromous stocks and ecologically related species.

Strategies Conservation measures under the Convention are:

prohibition of directed fishing for anadromous fish in the Convention Area;

minimization to the maximum extent of the incidental taking of anadromous fish in the Convention Area;

prohibition of the retention on board a fishing vessel of anadromous fish taken as an incidental catch during fishing for non-anadromous fish in the Convention Area.

Area of competenceThe waters of the North Pacific Ocean and its adjacent seas, north of 33° N beyond 200-mile zones from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. For scientific purposes, the activities under this Convention may extend farther southward in the North Pacific Ocean and its adjacent seas in areas described above.

NPAFC area of competence - High seas

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The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) are for illustration only and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries.

Species and stocks coverage For the purpose of the Convention, seven salmonid species are designated as anadromous fish: chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), cherry salmon (Oncorhynchus masou), and steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Legal framework Established by the Convention for the Conservation of Anadromous Stocks in the North Pacific Ocean, signed in Moscow, Russian Federation, on 11 February 1992 and entered into force on 16 February 1993. It replaced the International Convention for the High Seas Fisheries of the North Pacific, which had been in force since 1952.

http://www.npafc.org/new/publications/HandBook/English%20(page1-44).pdf LanguagesEnglish, Japanese, Korean, Russian. Organizations involved

Member: Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United States of America.

StructureCommission The Commission is the main body of the NPAFC. The Commission is composed of the member parties. Each party may appoint to the Commission not more than three representatives who may be accompanied at the meetings of the Commission by experts and advisers. The Commission meets at least once annually. Committee on Enforcement (ENFO) Since the establishment of the NPAFC, the parties have cooperated on the exchange of information regarding violation of the provisions of the Convention and on the exchange of enforcement plans and actions. The ENFO of the NPAFC has significantly improved coordination of the parties' enforcement operations in recent years. Committee on Scientific Research and Statistics (CSRS) At the CSRS, the parties submit their scientific research plans for salmon, report the results of their previous scientific researches and statistical data of their catches and fry releases, and discuss the scientific research cooperation among the parties. The CSRS has established the following subcommittee and working groups:

Science Sub-Committee,
Working Group on Stock Assessment,
Working Group on Salmon Marking,
Ad hoc Working Group on Stock Identification,
Working Group on Stock Identification,
BASIS Working Group,
Working Group on Salmon Tagging.

Committee on Finance and Administration (F & A) The Committee on Finance and Administration is responsible for advising the Commission on all aspects of the Commission's annual budget. The Committee also advises the Commission on staffing and administrative matters. Secretariat The Secretariat provides administrative services to the Commission. It compiles and disseminates statistics and reports concerning anadromous stocks relevant to the Convention and ecologically related species. It performs such functions as follow from other provisions of the Convention or as the Commission may determine. Activities and meetings Information and schedules of annual meetings of the Commission, interim committee meetings, symposia and workshops and other NPAFC events are available on the NPAFC Web site .

Other information on activities related to enforcement and science are also available on the Web site of the Commission . Publications The NPAFC produces a number of annual reports, handbook, NPAFC documents, bulletins, technical reports, newsletters, statistical yearbooks and other miscellaneous documentation.

They are available on the NPAFC Web site.

Contact

NPAFC

Suite 502

889 West Pender Street

Vancouver

British Columbia

V6C 3B2

Canada

Telephone: (+1) 604 7755550

Fax: (+1) 604 7755577

Email: secretariat@npafc.org

Web site: http://www.npafc.org



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