The Parties to the Nauru Agreement hope other Pacific nations will join its efforts to conserve tuna stocks in ways that recognise the value of the species to small island states.
Photo: Giff Johnson
The eight countries that make up the PNA control much of the tuna fishery in the Pacific.
Ministers of the member nations met last week in the Marshall Islands and said in a statement they are looking to the Central and Western Pacific Fisheries Commission, or Tuna Commission, to adopt new conservation measures, especially with regard to big-eye tuna.
The PNA also wanted other Pacific nations to back plans to ensure the sustainability of the skipjack tuna fishery.
The organisation also said it was making progress with its initiative to process tuna within the member countries rather than shipping it offshore.
The PNA said its small scale tuna canning training and technical assistance programme is increasing food self-sufficiency through the development of small and medium-sized local enterprises.