The Pacific Islands Tuna Industry Association, which represents the tuna industry of 14 Pacific island countries, is urging its members’ national governments to use their highly sought-after tuna fishing licenses to bolster local economic growth.
“Few of us have the resources for the large capital investments that a tuna operation calls for. Taking advantage of foreign fleets and their eagerness to fish in our zones is an opportunity to gain access to the capital required,†says the group.
PITIA believes the licensing agreements negotiated with foreign fishing nations are opportunities for onshore investment, infrastructure development, crewing and onshore jobs, and market and product intelligence.
“Licenses with little or no obligation to the resource owners are not smart fisheries management. PITIA strongly believes in Management and Development being one and the same.â€
The group adds: “We as Pacific Islanders should be in control of our own developments and only when we are in control of what happens in our waters are we able to drive development in our favour and at the same time maximizing returns to our small and vulnerable economies.â€