Multibillion-dollar tuna management body at a crossroads

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pew Environment Group will host a media phone briefing on the upcoming meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in Manila, Philippines. The briefing will take place Tuesday, Nov. 27.

Twenty-five member WCPFC governments will gather Dec. 2-6 to discuss conservation and management of tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean, the source for more than half of the world's tuna. They also will take up management measures for several species of threatened sharks and explore possible solutions to illegal fishing.  In addition, Pew experts attending the Manila meeting will provide an overview of economic and environmental issues related to tuna, sharks, and illegal fishing. A question-and-answer session will follow brief remarks by the speakers.

WHAT: Tele-press briefing on WCPFC

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 27, 8 p.m. EST (New York)
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 0100 GMT/9 a.m. PHT (Manila)/12 p.m. noon EDT (Sydney)

WHO:

• Gerald Leape, Pew's WCPFC delegation lead, will give a brief overview and touch on actions the WCPFC can take to crack down on illegal fishing.
• Amanda Nickson, director of global tuna conservation for the Pew Environment Group, will address the key tuna issues on the WCPFC agenda.
• Elizabeth Wilson, manager of global shark conservation for the Pew Environment Group, will speak about shark conservation measures that the WCPFC may consider.

CALL LOGISTICS:
Philippines toll-free number: 180011160492       Passcode: fish
U.S. toll-free number: 1-800-311-9402 USA        Passcode: fish
Australia toll-free number: 1800124231              Passcode: fish
New Zealand toll-free number: 0800441106        Passcode: fish

Please Note: For countries without a toll-free option above, please email rbrittin@pewtrusts.org to be dialed in to the call free of charge.

This briefing is for credentialed media only.  An audio file of the call will be posted to www.PewEnvironment.org after the briefing. High resolution images and B-roll video will be available online and by request.

The Pew Environment Group is the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a nongovernmental organization that works globally to establish pragmatic, science-based policies that protect our oceans, preserve our wild lands, and promote clean energy. For more information, visit www.PewEnvironment.org.

CONTACTS:
Joanna Benn, 202-247-5823, jbenn@pewtrusts.org
Rachel Brittin, 202-286-4149, rbrittin@pewtrusts.org

SOURCE The Pew Environment Group