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The Pacific's Fisheries Commission must implement strong regulations to ensure vital fisheries remain sustainable.
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However, political and economic self interest, and differences between
distant water fishing nations and Pacific island nations have made
these attempts unsuccessful.
Capacity migration and the large number of licenses issued by Pacific nations signal an impending crisis in the fishery unless action is taken now to halt capacity migration and operate only the number of vessels that will allow a sustainable catch.
Grave warnings by scientists against over-fishing the main commercial tuna species in the region must be heeded. Canada’s failure to listen to scientific warnings led to the collapse of the cod fishery.
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 resolutions and protect the food supply of island peoples.
Pacific nations could make compliance with these measures a condition of
doing business. Regional fisheries management organisations like the Forum Fisheries Agency should be transparent and provide information on numbers of licenses granted and to whom they are given.
Transparent and accountable fisheries management is vital for the region. This includes proper decision-making when determining input and output controls and the application of agreed principles like the precautionary approach.
The new conservation and management regime established by the Western and Central Pacific Ocean Tuna Convention will help address these issues. Its task will be to balance capacity with sustainable catch levels. Application of the precautionary approach must translate into a reduction in fishing effort.
Capacity migration and the large number of licenses issued by Pacific nations signal an impending crisis in the fishery unless action is taken now to halt capacity migration and operate only the number of vessels that will allow a sustainable catch.
Grave warnings by scientists against over-fishing the main commercial tuna species in the region must be heeded. Canada’s failure to listen to scientific warnings led to the collapse of the cod fishery.
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 resolutions and protect the food supply of island peoples.
Pacific nations could make compliance with these measures a condition of
doing business. Regional fisheries management organisations like the Forum Fisheries Agency should be transparent and provide information on numbers of licenses granted and to whom they are given.
Transparent and accountable fisheries management is vital for the region. This includes proper decision-making when determining input and output controls and the application of agreed principles like the precautionary approach.
The new conservation and management regime established by the Western and Central Pacific Ocean Tuna Convention will help address these issues. Its task will be to balance capacity with sustainable catch levels. Application of the precautionary approach must translate into a reduction in fishing effort.
