Environmental group Greenpeace applauds new measures by the Forum Fisheries Agency as the first step to setting aside marine reserves.
Fishing ministers from 17 FFA member countries agreed this week to implement new conservation measures to better manage rapidly declining tuna stocks in the Pacific.
Greenpeace's Pacific Oceans team leader, Nilesh Gounder, says it supports their call to set up protected marine areas.
He says it sends a strong message to the international community, including distant fishing nations such as China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan.
"It is a historic moment for the Pacific, its people, for marine life and for future food securities. And it goes to show the whole world what can be achieved when countries work together for the common good of all. It's a very good step to halt tuna overfishing and its the steps really to create the world's first marine reserves in international water."
Nilesh Gounder
