1 Aug 2016

PNA countries set fishing days through to 2018

2:51 pm on 1 August 2016

Pacific fishing nations say they are satisfied with improved financial gains from their industry, but need measures to rebuild the depleted stock of bigeye tuna, and to manage fishing on the high seas.

The ministers and officials from eight Pacific islands met on Kiritimati Island, in Kiribati, last week to take stock of the multi-billion dollar fishery.

They agreed on further trials of Fishing Aggregation Devices in PNA countries' waters through to 2018.

tuna on the deck of a Pacific fishing vessel

tuna on the deck of a Pacific fishing vessel Photo: Giff Johnson

They also set the 'Parties Allowed Effort' or maximum fishing days for the eight countries and Tokelau at 45,590 fishing days, for 2017 and 2018.

The ministers also agreed to maintain the $8,000 US dollar charge per fishing day for purse seine vessels.

They endorsed a proposal by the Marshall Islands for the PNA Office to provide support to proposals for improving fisheries observer safety.