3. Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei shall, respectively, take measures necessary to ensure that its catches of Pacific bluefin tuna less than 30 kg and Pacific bluefin tuna 30 kg or larger shall not exceed the annual catch limits in the tables below, without prejudice to future agreement on allocation of TAC.
Pacific bluefin tuna less than 30kg
2002-2004 average annual level Annual initial catch limit
Japan 8,015 metric tons 4,007 metric tons
Korea 1,435 metric tons 718 metric tons
Pacific bluefin tuna 30kg or larger
2002-2004 average annual level Annual initial catch limit
Japan 4,882 metric tons 8,412 metric tons
Korea 0 metric tons 501 metric tons
Chinese Taipei 1,709 metric tons 2,947 metric tons
5. Any overage or underage of the catch limit shall be deducted from or may be added to the catch limit for the following year. The maximum underage that a CCM may carry over in any given year shall not exceed 17% of its annual initial catch limit.
6. CCMs described in paragraph 3 may use part of the catch limit for Pacific bluefin tuna smaller than 30 kg stipulated in paragraph 3 above to catch Pacific bluefin tuna 30 kg or larger in the same year. In this case, the amount of catch 30 kg or larger shall be counted against the catch limit for Pacific bluefin tuna smaller than 30 kg*. CCMs shall not use the catch limit for Pacific bluefin tuna 30 kg or larger to catch Pacific bluefin tuna smaller than 30 kg.
*footnote 2: A CCM may count the amount of catch 30kg or larger adjusted with the conversion factor 0.68 (catch 30kg or larger multiplied by 0.68) against the catch limit for Pacific bluefin tuna smaller than 30kg.
7. CCMs are encouraged to conduct research activities to collect reliable indices of recruitment stock and adult spawning stock. Notwithstanding paragraph 3 and 4, setting a catch limit dedicated for research activities to develop and maintain indices may be considered by WCPFC through the Northern Committee based on research plans reviewed and supported by the ISC.
8. All CCMs except Japan shall implement the limits in paragraph 3 on a calendar-year basis. Japan shall implement the limits using a management year other than the calendar year for some of its fisheries and have its implementation assessed with respect to its management year. To facilitate the assessment, Japan shall
a. Use the following management years
1) For its fisheries licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, use the calendar year as the management year.
2) For its other fisheries, use 1 April – 31 March as the management year.*
b. In its annual reports for PBF, for each category described in a.1 and a.2 above, complete the required reporting template for both the management year and calendar year clearly identifying fisheries for each management year.
*footnote 3 For the category described a.2 of paragraph 7, the TCC shall assess in year 20XX its implementation during the management year that starts 1 April 20XX-1 (e.g., in the 2020 compliance review, the TCC will assess Japan’s implementation for its fisheries licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries during calendar-year 2019 and for its other fisheries during 1 April 2019 through 31 March 2020).
18. The provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 shall not prejudice the legitimate rights and obligations under international law of those small island developing State Members and participating territories in the Convention Area whose current fishing activity for Pacific bluefin tuna is limited, but that have a real interest in fishing for the species, that may wish to develop their own fisheries for Pacific bluefin tuna in the future.
19. The provisions of paragraph 18 shall not provide a basis for an increase in fishing effort by fishing vessels owned or operated by interests outside such developing coastal State, particularly Small Island Developing State Members or participating territories, unless such fishing is conducted in support of efforts by such Members and territories to develop their own domestic fisheries.