Seven of the eight members of the fishing arrangement called the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, or PNA, are extending their Vessel Day Scheme.
The scheme controls the numbers of days that foreign nations can fish for tuna within the exclusive economic zone of the members.
It currently applies to purse seiners but the members intend extending it to cover long line fishing as well.
A yellowfin tuna fish with a hook in its mouth from fishing Photo: ftlaudgirl/123RF
They’re looking to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, or Tuna Commission, for support.
The chief executive of the PNA, Ludwig Kumoru, said currently there is a significant “gap” in the region’s management of its tuna fishery.
For the PNA, the Vessel Day Scheme was key to maintaining healthy stocks in the Pacific’s purse seine fishery and had also helped PNA nations reap huge economic benefits.
Revenue to PNA countries has risen from $US60 million to almost $US500 million since the implementation of the scheme.
