Exploring the opportunity for developing common standards for the collection, reporting, verification and exchange of data in NPFC

Data collection standards in fisheries are essential for ensuring consistency and fostering collaboration. Standardized methods enable data comparability across spatial and temporal scales, facilitating long-term monitoring of fish stocks and ecosystems. This consistency is vital for effective fisheries management, as it supports accurate stock assessments and informed decision-making while enabling Members to work together on shared fisheries resources. Additionally, standardized data collection allows for better ecosystem-based management by addressing bycatch, habitat impacts, and biodiversity conservation, ensuring a holistic approach to sustainability. 

Furthermore, quality control and validation are central benefits of standardized data, as they minimize bias, improve reliability, and enable transparency. Transparent and standardized protocols build trust among stakeholders, ensuring accountability in fisheries management while enhancing public confidence in sustainability efforts. By fostering transparency and promoting reliable data, these standards underpin the responsible management of fisheries and marine ecosystems, balancing ecological preservation with the needs of global communities.

In the context of the NPFC, Members have made great progress toward working together in a more harmonized way, showing commitment to shared goals. However, moving forward, there’s a need for greater alignment through more organized and formalized structures and processes. By setting up clearer structures and processes, Members can ensure better alignment and stronger cooperation. 

The aim of this delegation paper is to seek views and suggestions from the Scientific Committee (SC) on a possible common and streamlined approach for the collection, reporting, verification and exchange of data in NPFC, that would contribute to strengthening the capacity of the SC to undertake conclusive and robust assessments (and other relevant scientific tasks), while facilitating the work of Members and of the Secretariat.