Papua New Guinea's National Fisheries Authority says a proposal to develop a management body to protect fish other than tuna will take a long time.
The NFA project manager, Ron Kuk, says it took about 40 years for the Pacific Community and the Forum Fisheries Agency to research tuna and its markets to set up the Tuna Commission.
He says the problem with this idea, is that other fish aren't as big money earners as tuna.
Mr Kuk says Pacific countries will struggle with the idea and more indepth research is needed.
"We've not really quantified the approach on how to address this complex issue. So we've been concerned that the bulk of effort in the Pacific has been targeted around tuna. And I guess Pacific Islanders haven't been unified around the other fish species."
Ron Kuk, PNG's National Fishing Authority's project manager.
