The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has opened applications for three independent experts to carry out a formal review of how the Commission is implementing Article 30 of the WCPF Convention, which requires special consideration for developing States — in particular Pacific Small Island Developing States and Territories. The call for expressions of interest follows a decision taken at the Commission’s 22nd Regular Session to commission an independent assessment of Article 30 implementation across WCPFC instruments, activities and processes.
In a circular issued last week, the Commission said the Review Panel will comprise three independent experts, including a chairperson, with demonstrable experience in fisheries conservation, WCPFC processes and conservation and management measures, as well as international cooperation and development aid. At least one member must have “significant knowledge and experience working on developing States, in particular Small Island Developing States and Territories,” and an understanding of the unique operational dynamics and governance structures within Territories, the circular states.
The independent review is scheduled to start in mid-2026 and finish in July 2027. Its findings are to be presented at the Commission’s 23rd Regular Annual Session in 2027, and the final report will be submitted prior to the 2027 meeting of the WCPFC Technical and Compliance Committee for the Commission’s consideration and any subsequent recommendations. The Commission said the review process will include active consultations with members throughout development of the report.
Independent experts interested in joining the Review Panel must self-nominate and submit an expression of interest together with a current resume to the WCPFC Secretariat by 19 June 2026. The circular sets out the selection criteria and the expectation that panel members will be independent of Commission members and stakeholders while bringing relevant regional and technical expertise to bear.
Article 30 of the Convention obliges the Commission to recognise “the special requirements of developing States in Commission processes,” with a particular emphasis on Small Island Developing States and Territories engaged in the conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks. The WCPFC’s decision to commission an external review reflects growing attention within the Commission to how well its rules, decisions and support mechanisms meet the needs of smaller, capacity-constrained members across the western and central Pacific.
For Pacific Small Island Developing States, WCPFC policy and support arrangements have direct implications for fisheries management, compliance, capacity building and access to scientific and technical resources. By assessing past and current WCPFC instruments and processes, the Review Panel is expected to identify gaps and offer recommendations aimed at strengthening how the Commission recognises and responds to those special requirements, though the Commission has not published a specific scope of potential policy changes.
This is the latest development in an ongoing effort to ensure WCPFC processes are equitable and effective for all members. The independent review’s timetable — beginning mid-2026 with results due ahead of the 2027 TCC and Commission meetings — sets a clear path for potential reforms to be discussed at the Commission’s major annual sessions next year.