Pacific nations in PNA urged to boost profits

2:40 pm on 22 June 2017

Island countries controlling most of the Pacific's tuna fishery are being urged to increase their profits from the trade further.

The nine Parties to the Nauru Agreement were recognised by Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine for growing fisheries revenues from about $60 million USD dollars to nearly $500 million USD dollars in seven years.

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine, fourth from left, joined with government ministers and PNA officials for the 12th Ministerial Meeting in Majuro this week.

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine, fourth from left, joined with government ministers and PNA officials for the 12th Ministerial Meeting in Majuro this week. Photo: RNZI / Giff Johnson

Dr Heine's comments came at an annual meeting of the PNA in Majuro on Wednesday, where she called for the parties to further capitalise on this success.

The three-day event will also hear reports on the vessel day scheme, a fisheries management system, which was recently praised for its sustainability at the UN Oceans Conference.