Can electronic monitoring improve observer safety and security?
While collectively, Pacific fishing nations do not appear to be in a rush to send fisheries observers back to sea unless their environment is safe, some national programs have continued to deploy observers on fishing
Marshalls vaccinates fishermen in Majuro
The Marshall Islands has launched Covid-19 vaccinations for commercial fishermen temporarily in port Majuro — possibly the first Pacific island to vaccinate foreign fishermen. With the country vaccination programme
Pacific fisheries observers finally home
Solomon Island, Fijian and Papua New Guinean fisheries observers are now home after being repatriated from American Samoa this week. Some of them had been away from home since December last year. The nine Pacific
Pacific spearheading global conservation efforts for sharks and rays
Sharks are iconic in the cultures, beliefs and traditions of Pacific people. Their sense of identity of place is reinforced through totems. From Kiribati, Solomon Islands to Fiji and across the Pacific, shark legends
Fisheries Fray
The Papua New Guinea Fishing Industry Association (PNGFIA) wants to widen the scope of its fishery products and fishing vessels covered by its recent Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified status. And the
Pacific fishing surveillance operation ending with 24 boardings
“Fishing doesn’t stop, so neither will our surveillance,” said Commander Robert Lewis, at the Forum Fisheries Agency’s Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre (RFSC) in Honiara as Operation Rai Balang
PNA rocked by abuse allegations
THE important Pacific tuna grouping, PNA has been rocked by serious allegations of mismanagement and illegal operations with its tuna marketing arm, Pacifical. John Kopia, a former employee of PNA (Parties to the
PNA rocked by abuse allegations
THE important Pacific tuna grouping, PNA has been rocked by serious allegations of mismanagement and illegal operations with its tuna marketing arm, Pacifical. John Kopia, a former employee of
Race for FFA top job
Pacific lawyers to replace fisheries boss THERE are two definite frontrunners in the race for the position of Director-General of the Forum Fisheries Agency. Marshall Islands Attorney-General, Dr Filimon Manoni, and
Bullies control tuna
Small countries lose out AFTER 14 meetings of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, one thing is obvious. The Distant Water Fishing Nations – China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States –
Time for compromise
Fiji calls for understanding By NETANI RIKA, Pasay City, the Philippines AS the self-nominated representative for Small Island Developing States, Fiji has found itself in a position where it may have to fight a lone
Fiji looks North
Kiribati, Tuvalu on Fiji’s tuna radar By NETANI RIKA, Pasay City, the Philippines FIJI will seek approval to conduct exploratory tuna fishing in Kiribati and Tuvalu waters for the next five years. The move comes as
Race for FFA job
Pacific lawyers to replace FFA chief By NETANI RIKA, Pasay City, the Philippines A TWO-WAY race is on for the position of Director-General of the Forum Fisheries Agency. With the contract of incumbent James Movick
Embracing a Better FAD for the World’s “Tuna Belt”
A marine scientist who studies a common fishing device’s impact on the world’s oceans – and how to minimise that impact – and a fisheries policy expert urge immediate action to adopt proven innovations. By
Japan, here we come
Flights open By NETANI RIKA, Pasay City, Philippines DIRECT flights from Fiji to Japan are expected to boost sales of tuna from the Pacific and create larger profits for regional exporters Fiji Airways is expected
Tuna price-fixing probe
Veteran faces time behind bars BUMBLE Bee Foods veteran Walter Scott Cameron will likely see a prison term of at least 10 months, pay a $USD25,000 fine and agree to testify in tuna price-fixing investigation, following
Red flag day
China pledges to cut fleet sizes CHINA has pledged to reduce its fleet of medium- and large-sized vessels by 8300, and its total fishing fleet by 20,000 vessels. The move comes after the announcement of a raft of
Fiji chases tuna across the Pacific
FIJIAN diplomats are making good progress on negotiations with Tuvalu and Kiribati for access to valuable fishing grounds in the Northern Pacific. A proposed three-phase plan includes a Fiji-based-and-owned long line
Fishing boom
Industry sees huge last quarter DESPITE industry complaints that fishing has been on the wane, the Parties to the Nauru Agreement Office reported that effort in PNA waters in the last quarter of 2016 was the highest
‘Wild-catch’ tuna tonnage may double
GROWING global market demand for MSC-certified tuna and fishing industry interest is expected to see “wild catch” tuna tonnage double from the waters of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement in 2017. The
Cooks leads the way
Quota system for albacore, bigeye The Cook Islands has become the first Pacific Island nation to adopt a quota management system (QMS) for its longline fishery to control catches of albacore and bigeye tuna. The Marine
Connecting seafood businesses with investors
OVER 60 per cent of the enterprises gained investment, new partners or new customers from connections made during the event participating in an event that aims to connect seafood industries with investors. Founded by
Cooks hauls in fish dollars
Korea, Kiribati pay for services PURSE seining revenue has accounted for the majority of fisheries revenue collected by the Cook Islands since 2014. According to Cooks Islands Fisheries Ministry submission to the