The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) is delighted to announce that the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), at its 2020 annual meeting, has accorded The Bahamas the status of Cooperating Non-Member (CNM) within the organisation. This decision not only recognises The Bahamas’ non-compromising commitment to transparency, regulatory compliance and better control over fishing-related activities by the Bahamas fleet, but also strengthens its position as a strong supporter of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations’ (RFMO) efforts in total eradication of Illegal, Unregulated and Un-reported (IUU) fishing practices on a global scale.
The WCPFC was established in 2004 on the basis of the Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stock in the Western and Central Pacific region. The Commission is acting as the regulatory authority in the management of high seas fisheries activities and conservation efforts in the convention area.
Cooperation with WCPFC paves the way for The Bahamas to establish a fisheries cargoes transhipment authorisation program with
the Commission. The program will allow reefer carriers flying The Bahamas flag to undertake high-seas transhipment of cargoes originated from the WCPFC regulatory area. Such cooperation will open new commercial opportunities to Bahamian flagged reefers available through the Transhipment Authorisation program enrolment and allocation to the list of WCPFC Fishing Vessels.
This follows closely on the heels of the renewal of The Bahamas’ status as a Cooperating Non-Contracting party to the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) for the North East Atlantic whose objective is to ensure the long-term conservation and optimum utilisation of the fishery re-sources in the Convention Area.
The continued NEAFC membership is beneficial for Bahamian flagged refrigerated cargo ships that wish to be authorised to engage in transhipment operations in the NEAFC regulatory area during 2021. The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) works collaboratively with the Bahamas Department of Marine Resources to ensure that all NEAFC’s measures are adopted and implemented.
