Solutions to overfishing

In the Pacific, coastal communities are losing their most precious resource to overfishing. Pirates are left free to plunder while distant water fishing nations are exhausting this last remaining relatively healthy fishery.

There is a range of solutions to these problems, but they need to be implemented quickly. These solutions are:

• Establishing marine reserves
• Reducing bycatch
• Stamping out pirate fishing
• Reducing capacity migration
  

The Pacific is at a crossroads. One path leads to sustainable and equitable fisheries, a healthy marine environment and stable and prosperous island communities.

The other path leads to the collapse of the major tuna fishery and loss of livelihood and food supply for the people of the Pacific.

Solidarity and strength amongst Pacific nations is required to act on these solutions and protect the food supply of island peoples. Pacific nations should make compliance with these measures a condition of doing business.