28 Jul 2011

PNA countries say US has to pay more to fish for tuna in the Pacific

6:42 pm on 28 July 2011

The Parties to the Nauru Agreement have affirmed their position that current tuna fishing by the United States in the Pacific region cannot continue at current levels.

Under the current treaty between the US and 17 Pacific countries, up to 40 American vessels can fish unrestricted catches for unlimited days in Pacific Exclusive Economic Zones and on the high seas.

However the treaty expires next year.

The PNA wants the US to buy fishing days like other bilateral partners.

The PNA fishing ministers have agreed a minimum rate of five thousand US dollars a day will apply from next year.

The ministers say they'll seek a measure on skipjack tuna at this year's meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission in December, which will renegotiate a conservation and management measure on tuna.