The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is currently holding the Seventh Regular Session of its Scientific Committee in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia from 7-19 August.

At the meeting four Working Papers will be discussed that relate to aspects of the non-target mortality of seabirds, including ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels.

A list of these papers follows:

Y. Inoue, K. Yokawa, H. Minami, D. Ochi, N. Sato & N. Katsumata: Distribution of seabird bycatch at WCPFC and the neighboring area of the southern hemisphere.  EB-WP-07

E. Melvin, T. Guy & N. Sato:  Preliminary Report of 2010 Weighted Branch-line Trials in the Tuna Joint Venture Fishery in the South African EEZ.  EB-WP-08.

H. Minami, D. Ochi & N. Sato :  A comparison of two blue-dyed bait types for reducing incidental catch of seabirds in the experimental operations of the Japanese southern bluefin tuna longline.  EB-WP-09.

K. Bigelow:  Seabird interaction rates estimated from observer data (2004-2011) in the Hawaii-based shallow and deep-set longline fisheries.  EB-WP-10.

ACAP is being represented at the WCPFC Scientific Committee meeting by its Executive Secretary, Warren Papworth.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 15 August 2011