PROCEEDINGS OF THE FOuRTH INTERNaTIONal FISHERS FORum

6.4.4. Pacific Islands longline fishery
perspectives 2008
Charles C. Hufflett
Pacific Islands Tuna Industry Association (PITIA)
The paper I present today is on behalf of the Pacific Islands
Tuna Industry Association (PITIA) and outlines the current
developing position of the smaller Pacific states as they seek
greater involvement in the commercial property rights of
tuna fishing in the Pacific. The concept of our association was
established in 2004, and the first annual general meeting was
held earlier this year. The 14 Pacific Island nations involved
include Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall
Islands, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Solomon
Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands and Samoa.
Currently 11 of these nations have active trade associations or
organizations which in turn are members of the PITIA.
It is expected that national associations will be formed in the
remaining three countries in the near future.
The PITIA is a trade association of commercial interests and
as such takes a more pragmatic approach to the sustainable
development of the fishery. We understand the need for
overseas markets and acknowledge the role of the pioneering
deepwater nations that have created the Pacific fishery as we
know it today.
However, we note with concern, the increasing pressure
being put on the Pacific tuna resource by the deployment
of additional vessels—both purse seine and longline—into
the region.
As you well know the Pacific Ocean provides some 60%
of the world’s tuna catch and is the very center of the global
tuna industry. In 2005 the Western Central Pacific, home
to our PITIA members, produced some 2.16 million tons
of tuna with 43% being taken from within the EEZs of
the coastal states. This had an approximate value of US$1
billion per annum. More than half was taken by offshore
fishing effort. In the case of tuna throughout the Western
Central Pacific, the proportion is nearer 80%.
Source: DEVFISH
Fig. 1. EEZ’s of the 14 Independent Pacific Island countries
Industry Perspectives on the Status of Latin American and Global Longline Fisheries
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