A working group of the Pacific Island parties met last week with the United States to hammer out some options for a possible structure for the US Pacific Tuna Treaty.
The interim treaty, which allows US purse seiners to fish in the Exclusive Economic Zones of island countries, is to expire at the end of December
The Director General of the Forum Fisheries Agency, James Movick, told Pacific journalists at a workshop in Palau, that the small working group and the United States reps came up with several options for the treaty,
These would be presented to the full group of Pacific Fisheries Ministers and also by the US reps to their industry group.
Mr Movick said it is hoped that by July there will be a proposed treaty in place.
He didn't disclose the options but said there was a good exchange, and by having a small informal group, the exchange was more free flowing