PCC praises efforts to protect sustainable fisheries in Pacific
The Pacific Conference of Churches applauds the recent decision by the Solomon Islands government to close its fisheries
to “foreign purse seine vessels” and congratulates Prime Minister Danny Philip and his ministers for their bold stance
in putting fisheries sustainability ahead of profits.
The Solomon Islands cabinet approved the decision last Friday night in Honiara.
PCC general secretary Fe’iloakitau Tevi said: “the decision by the Solomon Islands government to close its fishery to purse seine vessels due to them using tp their
fishing quotas shows that the government is more concerned about the long term impacts of their decision as opposed to
short term gains, which often are unsustainable. ” The PCC also congratulates the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) for keeping their promise to their people and to
each other over the last 3 decades since the PNA was formalized on 11 February 1982 in Nauru. Parties to the PNA include
the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and
Tuvalu.
The PNA operates a scheme where a total number of days for fishing are set for the PNA areas, which is then divided
between the eight PNA ocean states.
Each state is allocated a Party Allowable Effort (PAE) of days, and if they use up their days, they must close the
fishery and purchase fishing days from another country so as to keep the overall fishing effort in the PNA area within
sustainable limits.
In 2010, the PNA set stringent limits on fishing quotas and the parties agreed that the limits would not be exceeded by
anyone.
Last year, when Nauru used up all its fishing days, it closed its fishery and purchased additional quotas from the
Marshall Islands.
Earlier this year, Papua New Guinea also purchased fishing days from Palau.
Collectively, the PNA controls between 25-30 percent of the world’s supply of tuna.
Mr Tevi adds: “the seas between these Pacific Island states are among the last healthy fishing areas left in the world so it’s
encouraging to see the concerned states making wise, sustainable decisions about it.”
Mr. Fe’iloakitau Tevi General Secretary Pacific Conference of Churches
Website: www.pcc.org.fj
ENDS