French Polynesia's Minister of Culture and Marine Resources Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu has told UN's Ocean conference in Portugal that action needs to be taken to combat illegal fishing in the Pacific.
The UN invited many government leaders, experts, organisations, civil societies and non-governmental organisations to talk about durable solutions to fight ocean degradation.
French Polynesia's representative Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu with Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama (left) and Palau president Surangel Whipps Jr (right). Photo: AFP
The minister met with the CEO of International Conservation of Nature Bruno Oberle to discuss a potential partnership to tackle illegal fishing in the EEZs.
Maamaatuaiahutapu told La Premiere news he was in favour of further protection of exclusive economic zones in French Polynesia but added that such protection needs to go further into the Pacific.
"We say we agree on the fight against illegal fishing," he said.
"It is however for the international zones that have no jurisdictions or no protection that we want to debate today.
"They ask us to make some effort, we do make an effort and we can see French Polynesia is much more advanced on the matter than most developed countries.
"However, we want to go further than that. There are zones beyond areas that are under no jurisdictions that need to be absolutely protected to avoid an irresponsible exploitation, which is already happening due to fishing.
"French Polynesia is making an effort but we need every fishing fleet that is in the Pacific and in international waters to respect the rules," he said.
"For example our fishing represents 6,000 tonnes, which means 0.01 percent of the fishing quota in the Pacific.
"Illegal fishing in the Pacific represents 300,000 tonnes of Tuna that disappear."
On Wednesday, Maamaatuaiahutapu met with officials of the Global Island Partnership to establish cooperation with French Polynesia on issues with solutions that islands in the world face.
He also met with other leaders of the Pacific such as Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama and Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr on the subject of regional cooperation.
The minister was invited to meet indigenous representatives from Canada and the Pacific to talk about their similar cultural experiences.