Agreement reached on South Pacific albacore tuna distribution, ending nearly two decades of stalled negotiations

This agreement was approved at the ministerial level during the recent Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) meeting. The new system will drive the long-standing pole-and-line tuna fishery, which has been managed through traditional methods, to transition to a "regional quota-based management" model, seen as a significant advancement in modern fisheries management. FFC Ministerial Chair Mona Ainu'u stated that the long-finned tuna is the backbone of the pole-and-line fishery and the national economy for many coastal island countries, and this agreement symbolizes regional solidarity and a shared commitment to resource conservation for future generations. FFA Director General Noan David Pakop emphasized that this agreement not only demonstrates the spirit of cooperation based on science and fairness among Pacific countries but will also strengthen the regional countries' position in broader negotiations within the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), particularly ...