The International Consultations on the Proposed South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation were a series of meetings sponsored by the governments of Australia, Chile and New Zealand. The purpose of the Consultations was to cooperate in addressing the gap in the international conservation and management of non-highly migratory fisheries and protection of biodiversity in the marine environment in high seas areas of the South Pacific Ocean, consistent with international law and best practice.
The first international meeting to discuss the establishment of the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) took place in Wellington, New Zealand, 14 17 February 2006. Bill Mansfield was elected as the independent Chair of the consultations.
Subsequent meetings were held in:
II Hobart, Australia 6 - 10 November 2006,
III Renaca, Chile 30 April - 4 May 2007,
IV Noumea, New Caledonia 10 - 14 September 2007,
V Guayaquil, Ecuador 10 - 14 March 2008,
VI Canberra, Australia 6 - 10 October 2008,
VII Lima, Peru 8 - 22 May 2009,
VIII New Zealand 8 - 14 November 2009.
On 14 November 2009, the Participants in the Consultations adopted the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Resources of the South Pacific Ocean.
(note, the Convention was subsequently corrected during April 2010 see About the SPRFMO)