Majuro (21 November 2014) — Overfishing of bigeye tuna in the central and western Pacific must be halted by reducing fishing mortality levels, said the CEO of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA). The eight PNA members and Tokelau, who control waters where over 50 percent of the world’s skipjack tuna is caught, have put a detailed conservation measure on the table for adoption at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) annual meeting in Apia, Samoa 1-5 December.

Funafuti, Tuvalu (13 November, 2014) — Tuna conservation, fishing vessel licensing arrangements, and further development of the successful “vessel day scheme” (VDS) that governs purse seine fishing in the central and western Pacific were key points of discussion at the meeting of government ministers from the eight nations that make up the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) 12-13 November, 2014 in Tuvalu.

Majuro — The CEO of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) recognized Papua New Guinea’s National Fisheries Authority for conducting a successful public tender of fishing days for 2015.
“The tender is allowing Papua New Guinea to maximize the value of the fishing days it is allotted under PNA’s vessel day scheme,” said PNA CEO Dr. Transform Aqorau on Monday 10 November 2014. “By putting fishing days out for public tender, the National Fisheries Authority allowed the industry to put a value on fishing.”

For immediate release

Suva, Fiji (August 20, 2014) — A group of senior Pacific island journalists was briefed on tuna industry developments during a two-day workshop that concluded Tuesday in Suva, Fiji.

Jointly sponsored by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) and the Pew Charitable Trusts, the workshop featured talks from tuna industry representatives, fisheries managers and eco-label officials who monitor sustainability standards in the PNA’s skipjack tuna fishery.

For Immediate Release
WCPFC must address high seas fishing at December meeting

For immediate release

   Majuro, Marshall Islands — The fisheries management organization Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) announced Friday it has launched the search for a new Chief Executive Officer.

   The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is based at Majuro, capital of the Marshall Islands, and is responsible to the eight member nations of the PNA for the overall management, strategic direction and operation of the PNA Office and coordination of cooperative efforts of the Parties.

For immediate release

PNA announces search for new Chief Executive Officer

   Majuro, Marshall Islands — The fisheries management organization Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) announced Friday it has launched the search for a new Chief Executive Officer.

   The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is based at Majuro, capital of the Marshall Islands, and is responsible to the eight member nations of the PNA for the overall management, strategic direction and operation of the PNA Office and coordination of cooperative efforts of the Parties.

   Majuro, Marshall Islands: Ministers from the eight members of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) agreed Friday June 13 to far-reaching decisions that will increase their nations’ economic benefits from the tuna fishery, while expanding management and conservation measures over tuna stocks.

   The Ninth Meeting of PNA Ministers meeting in Majuro June 12-13, 2014 agreed to raise the fishing day fee from the current benchmark of US$6,000 to US$8,000 starting January 1, 2015.

   Majuro — Prices for skipjack tuna on the world market have plummeted since hitting an all-time record high of US$2,350 per metric ton in mid-2013, and now hover in the US$1,200 per metric ton range.

   The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) see skipjack prices beginning to rebound over the next few months because PNA members have agreed to reduce the number of fishing days available to the industry, and the current over-supply of fish on the market that is keeping prices low is expected to end in the near future.