Vanuatu's prime minister has told Pacific Forum Fisheries Ministers the new Fisheries Treaty signed with the United States will contribute significantly to Pacific economies.
Pacific Forum Fisheries Ministers at the 13th FFC Meeting Photo: supplied
Charlot Salwai was speaking at the opening of the 13th meeting of the Forum Fisheries Committee in Port Vila.
He said the ministers needed to develop a stronger commitment to the management of the fisheries resource in order to ensure its sustainability.
Mr Salwai said Pacific countries were still not getting the maximum return from their resource.
He said the ministers were expected to make progress on the Future of Fisheries Roadmap on tuna fisheries and the call for domestic development of the tuna fishing industry as endorsed by Forum Leaders last year.
Last month's deal between the US and Pacific island countries will govern US fishing vessels' access to the region's exclusive economic zones..
It has been seven years in the making.
It provides more flexibility for US fishing boats to pick and choose the number and type of fishing access days they want while at the same giving Pacific Island countries more control over their respective EEZs.
