28 Sep 2018

Pacific countries look for help with fisheries admin

From , 5:03 am on 28 September 2018

One of the most pressing issues for Pacific Islands fisheries officials is the struggle they face with the increasing load of fisheries management requirements.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commmission, or Tuna Commission, meets in Hawaii in December.

The Commission's Technical and Compliance Committee reports to that meeting and has come together this week in Majuro to look at the issues.

Among matters such as tuna transhsipping, observer safety and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, there is this concern over a lack of administrative capacity.

Our correspondent in the Marshall Islands, Giff Johnson, spoke with Don Wiseman and began by detailing the matters the small nations are being asked to  report to the Commission about.

Tuna on the deck of a Pacific fishing vessel.

Tuna on the deck of a Pacific fishing vessel. Photo: RNZI/Giff Johnson