Fiji, Dec. 4 -- Fiji has delivered one of the strongest warnings yet at WCPFC22 in Manila, telling members that adopting the controversial Harvest Control Rule (HCR10) option for South Pacific albacore would push the stock and Pacific economies in the wrong direction.

HCR10 is one of the Harvest Control Rule (HCR) options being considered by WCPFC for the South Pacific albacore Management Procedure. While each HCR option sets different rules for how much the catch or effort limit should increase or decrease depending on the health of the stock, HCR10 is widely regarded by Pacific Island countries as the most lenient and least precautionary option.

Fiji's Assistant Director of Fisheries, Nanise Tuqiri, said the Tuna Commission must decid...