Greenpeace has expressed its disappointment with the major fishing nations active in the Western and Central Pacific, the world’s largest tuna fishing ground, for their attempts to unravel current conservation and management measures of the region’s declining tuna stocks.
The measures, including the extension of a ban on destructive fishing in the Pacific Commons, areas of international waters bordering island nations’ national waters was discussed at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Technical and Compliance committee, which ended its meeting yesterday in Pohnpei, Micronesia.
“Korea, the EU, Taiwan and Philippines all suggested the existing closures of the Pacific Commons to purse seine fishing be lifted at the end of this year. This is simply unacceptable and would be a setback that would serve the illegal fishers and could spell disaster for the economic prosperity and food security of the Pacific region,†said Lagi Toribau, Greenpeace Australia Pacific oceans campaigner attending the meeting in Pohnpei.
Data presented to the meeting showed the closures have reduced illegal fishing and together with additional conservation moves, will help reverse overfishing of the region’s tuna stocks and create sanctuaries for other marine life.
Nauru, a large fisheries-dependent ocean state, called on nations to close the Pacific Commons to all fishing, in particular long-line fishing, which is still largely unregulated in the region and well known for its role in pirate fishing.
“We need more protection of the Pacific Ocean and its tuna, not less. We call on all the Pacific governments and fishing powers to support Nauru’s call for the closure of the Pacific Commons to long-line fishing and help give future generations of the Pacific region healthy oceans and ample tuna,†continued Toribau.
The science presented also showed that the three-month ban on the use of destructive Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) in 2010 was effective in reducing the catch of juvenile bigeye and yellowfin tuna and led to the catch of larger skipjack tuna, more valuable and suitable for canning.
“The science is clear. It is time to end the use of destructive FADs in purse seine fisheries. Markets around the world are already rejecting these unsustainable products and the Pacific region can and should lead the way and supply consumers with responsibly-sourced tuna,†said Sari Tolvanen, Greenpeace International oceans campaigner also in Pohnpei.
The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is currently on its 2011 Defending our Pacific tour and has just concluded a monitoring mission of the 2011 three-month FAD ban in the Pacific. The ship is now patrolling the Pacific Commons for illegal and destructive fishing.
