20 Aug 2014

PNA wants scheme extended to long-line fleet

7:41 pm on 20 August 2014

The Parties to the Nauru Agreement, the PNA, is hoping a new scheme will be in place next year to control long-line tuna fishing in the region.

The Pacific fishing agency hopes the extension of its vessel day scheme to include long-line fishing vessels will generate more revenue for member nations as well as control tuna harvesting in the region.

The scheme currently focuses on purse-seine vessels which buy days to fish in PNA waters.

The PNA's head Transform Aqorau says so far the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru and Solomon Islands have signed up to the new initiative and he expects the Marshall Islands to sign soon.

"By doing that it will be easier for us to then start controlling what's happening with the long-line fleet particularly the long-line bigeye tuna fleet. I think there'll be better control, better monitoring."

Transform Aqorau says as countries see the value of the fishery increase and stocks conserved under the new scheme they will want to join in.