An independent report released by the Forum Fisheries Agency has for the first time put a value on the amount of illegal, unreported and unregulated tuna fishing in the Pacific.
The report, which took two years to complete, indicates the amount of lost revenue annually in the region is around US$616 million dollars, or just over 306 million tonnes.
It also shows most offending is due to misreporting by licensed fleets, with unlicensed fishing vessels only making up four percent of offending.
The FFA's Director General James Movick said although the figures were daunting, the actual value stolen of fish stolen through IUU fishing from Pacific countries was much lower.
"Using economic rent calculations, this report estimates that the actual loss to Pacific Island countries from lost fishing excess revenues is around $152 million dollars."
James Movick said that figure was still significant because every penny lost to the island countries was valuable.
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