The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Ministers returned to their countries this week from their recent meeting in Samoa, with strong PNA positions calling for distant water fishing nations to take their own conservation actions to make regional tuna management more fair among all the stakeholders in the Western and Central Pacific.
The PNA Ministers were saddened by the death of the Tuvalu Minister for Natural Resources, Isaia Taeia Italeli during their stay in Samoa, and out of respect, the PNA meeting was postponed for a day. The Minister was hailed by the PNA as a great advocate for his fisheries, his country and the PNA, whose call while hosting the PNA Annual Meeting in Tuvalu this year to be “behind the steering wheel†of Pacific fisheries development and management was heeded in their recent discussions.
Key outcomes from the PNA Ministerial 5th Special Meeting include:
WORLD TUNA DAY: PNA Ministers issued a statement calling on the world to celebrate World Tuna Day on May 2nd each year.
The event will put tuna in the spotlight, highlighting the need to address conservation of these key fish, and celebrate the wonders of tuna for healthy consumption, culture, peoples and the environment. Pacifical, which is planning to promote and trade MSC certified and socially accredited tuna will work in partnership with PNA, civil society, industry, retailers and others to promote and celebrate this key event.
US TREATY POSITION: PNA Ministers affirmed their position that current US tuna fishing in the Pacific region is unsustainable and cannot continue at current levels. Under the PNA Vessel Day Scheme there would not be the number of days available for the US that they currently enjoy under the Treaty (which ceases next year). Instead, days could be made available to the US, if - like other bilateral partners - the US delinked aid and fishing access, provided opportunities for local economic development such as joint ventures, and paid the market rate for PNA fishing days.
WCPFC POSITION: PNA Ministers discussed this year’s meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in December, which will renegotiate a conservation and management measure on tuna.
The PNA said it would seek a measure on skipjack tuna (previously the WCPFC has only dealt with overfished bigeye tuna, and also yellowfin tuna). This measure must apply to all countries equally (rather than exceptions to some countries and differing application of the measure from country to country). Instead, the large consumers of overfished bigeye tuna should voluntarily take action to limit their catch and consumption of threatened tuna.
MINIMUM PRICE FOR DAY FISHING IN PNA WATERS: PNA Ministers agreed to apply a $5000 minimum price of access per fishing vessel to its fishing waters for one day. The minimum price will apply from 1 January 2012. Some countries may charge more for its fishing days, but the minimum price acts as a standard benchmark for all PNA countries.
Ministers also signed into effect the minimum net mesh and FAD closure rules agreed in Tuvalu in April which will be implemented in accordance with procedures adopted by the Parties.
