As the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting starts today in the Philippines, the Parties to the Nauru Agreement say it is time for big fishing nations to stop overfishing of bigeye tuna.
The Commission summit draws 25 member countries including Pacific Island countries, Asian nations, the US, Canada and the European Union.
This year the Commission is expected to decide on new conservation and management measures for tuna in the Western and Central Pacific, the world's largest tuna fishery.
The PNA Chair Nanette Malsol says it's up to the big fishing nations to show the world what they are going to do to cut overfishing of bigeye tuna.
She says the PNA is sick of foreign fishing nations pushing for exemptions from the rules and overfishing bigeye.
The island countries have called on fishing nations to cut back fishing, limit the use of fish aggregating devices, respect the closure of high seas and protect whale sharks.
