The Marshall Islands has announced a plan to put some of its income from tuna towards conservation and climate adaptation.
The American purse seiner Raffaello off-loads tuna in Port Majuro Photo: RNZI GIff Johnson
Its Blue Fee is among initiatives announced by the Marshalls on the sidelines of the Thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Mexico.
Government official Mae Adams said the Marshalls strongly feels the health of its natural resources is its responsibility.
She said the Marshalls economy, cultural and traditional heritage, and its future depends on it.
The Marshalls also extended marine protection around two of its atolls, Majuro and Kwajalein, by 80 kilometres.
The country is a member of the Micronesia Challenge and has committed to conserve at least 30 percent of the near-shore marine resources and 20 percent of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020.
The Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Guam and the Northern Marianas are also members.
