Pacific Island Countries will offer member countries of the European Union access to fishing rights in the region in return for investment in the industry and EU market access.
The Fiji Times reports that this has been revealed by Fiji's minister for foreign affairs and external trade, Kaliopate Tavola, who chaired the Pacific ACP Trade Ministers meeting in Nadi this week.
Mr Tavola says Pacific island countries are negotiating with the EU to develop a multi-lateral fisheries partnership agreement.
He says the main focus of the agreement would be market access into the EU for island countries.
At present Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia have bilateral agreements with the EU, but Pacific Trade Ministers have agreed to maintain unity and negotiate a multi-lateral fisheries agreement.
