Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC)

Current status of the Convention

Date of Adoption

5 September 2000

Place of Adoption

Honolulu, United States of America

Requirements for Entry into Force

Pursuant to Article 36, entry into force will be 30 days after the deposit of instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession of:

  1. three states situated north of the 20 parallel of north latitude and
  2. seven states situated south of the 20 parallel of north latitude.

General Entry into Force

19 June 2004

Membership (States Eligible to become Party)

Open for signature (subject to ratification, acceptance or approval) until 5/9/2001.

The following states are eligible to become party to the Convention:

Australia, Canada, China, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, France, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Republic of Palau, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in respect of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno islands, United States of America and Republic of Vanuatu.

Languages

English

List of Participating States (as at 26/03/2007)

Signature Date

Ratification Date

Entry Into Force

New Zealand* 05/09/2000 19/12/2003 19/06/2004
Australia 30/10/2000 22/09/2003 19/06/2004
Canada 02/08/2001 01/11/2005 01/12/2005
People's Republic of China**   02/12/2004 (accession) 02/12/2004
Cook Islands 05/09/2000 01/10/2003 19/06/2004
European Community   20/12/2004 (accession) 20/01/2005
Federated States of Micronesia 05/09/2000 20/12/2003 19/06/2004
Fiji Islands 05/09/2000 13/03/2001 19/06/2004
France***   12/06/2005 (accession) 12/06/2005
Indonesia 31/08/2001    
Japan   08/07/2005 (accession) 08/08/2005
Republic of Kiribati   09/06/2003 (accession) 19/06/2004
Republic of Korea 5/09/2000 26/10/2004 (accession) 26/11/2004
Republic of the Marshall Islands 05/09/2000 23/04/2001 19/06/2004
Republic of Nauru 05/09/2000 26/08/2003 19/06/2004
Niue 5/09/2000 17/12/2003 19/06/2004
Republic of Palau 17/10/2001 02/11/2005 02/12/2005
Independent State of Papua New Guinea 5/09/2000 17/10/2001 19/06/2004
Republic of the Philippines 5/09/2000 17/06/2005 17/07/2005
The Independent State of Samoa 23/04/2001 9/02/2001 19/06/2004
Solomon Islands 5/09/2000 09/06/2003 19/06/2004
Kingdom of Tonga 23/04/2001 13/10/2003 19/06/2004
Tuvalu 5/09/2000 13/04/2004 19/06/2004
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (for Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands)      
The United States of America**** 05/09/2000 27/06/2007 27/07/2007
Republic of Vanuatu 23/04/2001 06/10/2005 06/11/2005

Notes:

*On 19 December 2003 the Government of New Zealand advised that, in accordance with Article 43, Tokelau is authorised by the Government of New Zealand to participate in the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.

**Upon accession, the Government of the People’s Republic of China advised that the Convention shall apply to the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China but not to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China prior to further notice by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

*** On 12 May 2005, the Government of France advised that, in accordance with Article 43, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna, are authorised by the Government of France to participate in the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.

****Upon ratification, the Government of the United States of America advised that, in accordance with Article 43, American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are authorised by the Government of United States of America to participate in the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.

On 5 September 2000 a representative of Chinese Taipei signed an Arrangement for the Participation of Fishing Entities. On 2 November 2004, in accordance with that Arrangement, Chinese Taipei advised the Depositary that it had fulfilled its domestic requirements and that it agreed to be bound by the regime established by the Convention in accordance with its Article 9(2) and to participate as a Member in the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.

Further information is available from the Ocean Law Publishing International Fisheries Law and Policy Portal.

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