US Vessels To Begin Tuna Fishing In Fijian EEZ

American longliners and purse seiners will soon start fishing in the tuna-rich EEZ of Fiji. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said that the Fijian cabinet has endorsed the execution of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between some Pacific governments and the US regarding fishing access terms for 2024. “Fiji is a party to the treaty that gives the US’ tuna fleet access to fishing in Pacific waters,” he told Fijian news sites.

The US was granted permission to fish for tuna, under the historic South Pacific Tuna Treaty (SPTT), in a renewed deal in March this year. The previous agreement expired in 2023. Sixteen Pacific Islands, including Fiji, are part of this agreement.