Leaders warned of threats to Pacific tuna management

The Forum Fisheries Agency is calling on Pacific leaders to be vigilant against international threats to the region's tuna management measures.

Most international fisheries take a flag-based approach to management where countries that own large fishing fleets call the shots.

But the Pacific practices zone based management that empowers resource owners and enables them to leverage fishing rights for their own economic benefit.

The agency's Wez Norris said there was considerable international pressure against this approach and it was important leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Apia were made aware of it.

"So we will be encouraging leaders in our individual discussions and hopefully in some of the group discussions to recognise that threat and to call on other countries to cooperate with the Pacific in pursuit of their economic development gains."