Fiji, Nov. 25 -- The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has declared that "human rights are non-negotiable" as it enters 2026 with sweeping reforms, including the first-ever

binding labour standards for fishing crews and major steps toward long-term harvest strategies for the world's biggest tuna fishery.

In its Twenty-Second Regular Session Annual Report, the Commission says 2024 and 2025 marked a turning point for the organisation from crew protections and bycatch rules to advanced monitoring systems and new conservation measures backed by Pacific science.

"The measure will take effect in 2028, and its adoption sets in motion the process for members to set forth the required legal framework at the national level...