US Tuna treaty

US tuna treaty deal salvaged for 2016

In January, the US pulled out of a 30-year-old fisheries deal with the Pacific, after earlier committing to pay FFA members US$89 million for the right to fish in the region in 2016.

The FFA said the Pacific offered the US a revised package with fewer fishing days, reducing the required payment commitment to US$66 million.

US withdrawal from Tuna Treaty will take effect in January 2017

In his initial response to PACNEWS queries, Norris admits the impact of the US withdrawal ‘will be markedly different among individual Pacific Island Parties (PIPs).’

“Some of them have viable alternative markets that could absorb their fishing days with relatively little impact. Others, however that are reliant on the Treaty to sell their days would struggle to achieve revenues similar to those currently enjoyed, said Norris.